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PART ONE OF THREE:
Taken from the 2008 ASA Official Rules of Softball.
For illustrative and clarification purposes only.
RULE 6 ? PITCHING REGULATIONS (FAST PITCH)
[FONT="]Section 1. PRELIMINARIES.[/FONT]
Before starting the delivery (pitch), the pitcher shall comply with the following:
A. The pitcher may not take the pitching position on the pitcher?s plate without
possession of the ball.
B. The pitcher shall not be considered in the pitching position unless the catcher
is in position to receive the pitch.
C. Both feet must be on the ground within the 24-inch length of the pitcher?s
plate. The shoulders shall be in line with first and third bases.
1. (Male) The pitcher shall take a position with their pivot foot in contact
with the pitcher?s plate and their non-pivot foot in contact with or behind
the pitcher?s plate.
2. (Female) The pitcher shall take a position with both feet in contact with
the pitcher?s plate.
D. While on the pitcher?s plate, the pitcher shall take the signal or appear to
take a signal with the hands separated. The ball must remain in either the
glove or pitching hand.
E. The pitcher shall bring the hands together for not less than one second and
not more than 10 seconds before releasing it,
1. (Male) If the pitcher decides to pitch with the non-pivot foot to the rear
and off the pitcher?s plate, a backward step may be taken before,
simultaneous with or after the hands are brought together. The pivot
foot must remain in contact with the pitcher?s plate at all times prior to
the forward step.
2. (Female) Both feet must remain in contact with the pitcher?s plate at all
times prior to the forward step.
[FONT="]Section 2. STARTING THE PITCH.[/FONT]
The pitch starts when one hand is taken off the ball after the hands have been
placed together.
[FONT="]Section 3. LEGAL DELIVERY.[/FONT]
A. The pitcher must not make any motion to pitch without immediately delivering
the ball to the batter.
B. The pitcher must not use a pitching motion in which, after bringing the hands
together, the pitcher removes one hand from the ball, and returns the ball to
both hands.
C. The pitcher must not make a stop or reversal of the forward motion after
separating the hands.
D. The pitcher must not make two revolutions of the arm on the windmill pitch.
A pitcher may drop the arm to the side and to the rear before starting the
windmill motion.
E. The delivery must be an underhand motion with the hand below the hip and
the wrist not farther from the body than the elbow.
F. The pitch shall be delivered on the throwing arm side of the body and not
behind the back or through the legs.
G. The release of the ball and follow through of the hand and wrist must be
forward and past the straight line of the body.
H. (Men?s Fast Pitch) In the act of delivering the ball, the pitcher must take one
step with the non-pivot foot simultaneous with the release of the ball. The
step must be forward toward the batter. It is not a step if the pitcher slides
the pivot foot across the pitcher?s plate toward the batter, or if the pivot foot
turns or slides in order to push off the pitcher?s plate, provided contact is
maintained with the plate. Raising the foot off the pitching plate and returning
it to the plate creates a rocking motion and is an illegal act.
I. (Women?s and all JO play) In the act of delivering the ball, the pitcher must
take one step with the non-pivot foot simultaneous with the release of the
ball. The step must be forward and toward the batter within the 24-inch length
of the pitcher?s plate. It is not a step if the pitcher slides the pivot foot across
the pitcher?s plate toward the batter, or if the pivot foot turns or slides in order
to push off the pitcher?s plate, provided contact is maintained with the plate.
Raising the foot off the pitching plate and returning it to the plate creates a
rocking motion and is an illegal act
J. Pushing off with the pivot foot from a place other than the pitcher?s plate is
illegal.
K. (Women?s and all JO Play) Pushing off and dragging the pivot foot in contact
with the ground is required. If a hole has been created, the pivot foot may
drag no higher than the level plane of the ground.
L. (Men?s) Pushing off and dragging the pivot foot in contact with the ground,
or if both feet are in the air, having the toes of the pivot foot in the downward
direction is required.
M. The pitcher must not make another revolution after releasing the ball.
N. The pitcher shall not deliberately drop, roll or bounce the ball in order to
prevent the batter from hitting it.
O. The pitcher has 20 seconds to release the next pitch after receiving the ball
or after the umpire indicates ?play ball.?
CONTINUED IN NEXT POST...
Taken from the 2008 ASA Official Rules of Softball.
For illustrative and clarification purposes only.
RULE 6 ? PITCHING REGULATIONS (FAST PITCH)
[FONT="]Section 1. PRELIMINARIES.[/FONT]
Before starting the delivery (pitch), the pitcher shall comply with the following:
A. The pitcher may not take the pitching position on the pitcher?s plate without
possession of the ball.
B. The pitcher shall not be considered in the pitching position unless the catcher
is in position to receive the pitch.
C. Both feet must be on the ground within the 24-inch length of the pitcher?s
plate. The shoulders shall be in line with first and third bases.
1. (Male) The pitcher shall take a position with their pivot foot in contact
with the pitcher?s plate and their non-pivot foot in contact with or behind
the pitcher?s plate.
2. (Female) The pitcher shall take a position with both feet in contact with
the pitcher?s plate.
D. While on the pitcher?s plate, the pitcher shall take the signal or appear to
take a signal with the hands separated. The ball must remain in either the
glove or pitching hand.
E. The pitcher shall bring the hands together for not less than one second and
not more than 10 seconds before releasing it,
1. (Male) If the pitcher decides to pitch with the non-pivot foot to the rear
and off the pitcher?s plate, a backward step may be taken before,
simultaneous with or after the hands are brought together. The pivot
foot must remain in contact with the pitcher?s plate at all times prior to
the forward step.
2. (Female) Both feet must remain in contact with the pitcher?s plate at all
times prior to the forward step.
[FONT="]Section 2. STARTING THE PITCH.[/FONT]
The pitch starts when one hand is taken off the ball after the hands have been
placed together.
[FONT="]Section 3. LEGAL DELIVERY.[/FONT]
A. The pitcher must not make any motion to pitch without immediately delivering
the ball to the batter.
B. The pitcher must not use a pitching motion in which, after bringing the hands
together, the pitcher removes one hand from the ball, and returns the ball to
both hands.
C. The pitcher must not make a stop or reversal of the forward motion after
separating the hands.
D. The pitcher must not make two revolutions of the arm on the windmill pitch.
A pitcher may drop the arm to the side and to the rear before starting the
windmill motion.
E. The delivery must be an underhand motion with the hand below the hip and
the wrist not farther from the body than the elbow.
F. The pitch shall be delivered on the throwing arm side of the body and not
behind the back or through the legs.
G. The release of the ball and follow through of the hand and wrist must be
forward and past the straight line of the body.
H. (Men?s Fast Pitch) In the act of delivering the ball, the pitcher must take one
step with the non-pivot foot simultaneous with the release of the ball. The
step must be forward toward the batter. It is not a step if the pitcher slides
the pivot foot across the pitcher?s plate toward the batter, or if the pivot foot
turns or slides in order to push off the pitcher?s plate, provided contact is
maintained with the plate. Raising the foot off the pitching plate and returning
it to the plate creates a rocking motion and is an illegal act.
I. (Women?s and all JO play) In the act of delivering the ball, the pitcher must
take one step with the non-pivot foot simultaneous with the release of the
ball. The step must be forward and toward the batter within the 24-inch length
of the pitcher?s plate. It is not a step if the pitcher slides the pivot foot across
the pitcher?s plate toward the batter, or if the pivot foot turns or slides in order
to push off the pitcher?s plate, provided contact is maintained with the plate.
Raising the foot off the pitching plate and returning it to the plate creates a
rocking motion and is an illegal act
J. Pushing off with the pivot foot from a place other than the pitcher?s plate is
illegal.
K. (Women?s and all JO Play) Pushing off and dragging the pivot foot in contact
with the ground is required. If a hole has been created, the pivot foot may
drag no higher than the level plane of the ground.
L. (Men?s) Pushing off and dragging the pivot foot in contact with the ground,
or if both feet are in the air, having the toes of the pivot foot in the downward
direction is required.
M. The pitcher must not make another revolution after releasing the ball.
N. The pitcher shall not deliberately drop, roll or bounce the ball in order to
prevent the batter from hitting it.
O. The pitcher has 20 seconds to release the next pitch after receiving the ball
or after the umpire indicates ?play ball.?
CONTINUED IN NEXT POST...