Illegal Pitch?

I can't get the ASA rules to pull up on my PC tonight. So, I'm hoping folks can clarify something for me.

I watched a HS freshman pitch tonight. It seems to me that she was "illegal" every pitch she threw, although no one questioned it. Here is what she did.

She would step onto the pitching rubber with the ball in her glove, hands separated. After getting the sign, she sticks her throwing hand into her glove near her waist. She then separates her hands to begin her backswing. Both hands pass her hips on the backswing. As she brings her hands back up towards the top of her motion, she brings them together again (ball hand into glove) slightly above her head. She then completes the windmill motion and delivers the ball. If my memory serves me correctly, it is illegal to bring the hands together two times during the delivery. Am I correct?

 

here's what i have dug up so far...

• the pitcher must not take the pitching position on the plate w/out possession of the ball.
• Both feet on the ground w/in the 24" length of the plate and (for women) in contact w/ the plate, both feet must remain in contact w/ the plate at all times prior to the forward step.
• shoulders in line w/ 1st and 3rd
• while on the plate the pitcher shall take or appear to take the signal with the hands separated. the ball can be either in the glove or pitching hand.
  
• the pitcher shall bring the hands together for at least 1 sec and not more than 10 secs, the pitch begins when 1 hand is taken off the ball, you cannot return the ball to both hands after separation
  
• you may drop your arm to the side and rear before beginning the windmill motion
  
• you cannot make 2 revolutions of the arm on the windmill pitch
  
• the hand must be below the hip and the wrist not farther from the body than the elbow, the release and follow through must be forward and past the straight line of the body.
  
• In the act of delivering the ball the pitcher must take one step with the non-pivot foot simultaneous w/ the release of the ball. The step must be forward, toward the batter and w/in the length of the plate Pushing off and dragging the pivot foot in contact w/ the ground is required
  
• the pitcher cannot make another revolution after releasing the ball.

 

Are You Sure !!!

''she cannot be on the rubber to accept signals from the catcher. signals must be made before she even gets on the rubber.''


Are you sure about that, we get told all the time that the pitcher must be on the rubber before she can receive the signal ??


Guru

 

You have it backwards... you must be on the pitching plate to receive the signals.. this is to prevent the ole " quick pitch" running start.

 

Illegal Pitch

The problem at the present time, is that with the different organizations fighting for their own idenity, the girls are the ones who are suffering. In different organizations, the pitching rules are different, some with the foot remaining in contact with the pitchers plate, to those who allow a step behind the plate. With any luck and a lot of effort, your daughters will get an opportunity to play at the college level. Therfore, why won't the parents get together and push to have all of the pitching rules uniform. Also, so many see that a young lady has some talent pitching and even though she has mechanical flaws, they refuse to correct her and this really hurts her when she gets ready to enter college, because she will either be called for so many illegal pitches that it's not beneficial for the school to allow her to continue pitching or they have to revamp her motion so drastically, that she can no longer pitch effectively. My advise to all parents of young ladies that aspire to pitch, check out the "so-called" pitching instructors that are out there. Although they might have had a good career at the colege level, doesn't mean that they can teach someone else how to pitch. Remember, any pitching instructor that will tell a young lady, that it is not necessary for her to push and drive with her legs, and instead trys to teach her just how to spin the ball, is hurting your child. ANY collegiate coach will tell you that girls are not strong enough in their upper body, to "Throw like a man", they MUST use their legs.
Good luck to all of the young ladies, and I hope to someday see them at the next level.

 

is that the umpires can not see that far to call an illegal pitch

 

Even though there are different rules in the various sanctions. If the girls are taught to start with both feel in contact wit the pitching plate they are in compliance in any sanction without giving up any speed or movement.