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Does a pitcher in HS have to stride Forward within the width of the pitching plate or are they permitted to step outside that area?
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Pitcher must remain within the width of the rubber. They added lines in college this year to emphasis the point, but they don't last much more than an inning.
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A thing to remember, the base umpire is not going to see this unless he is standing directly behind the pitcher. So, the plate umpire is usually going to have to call this. Multi-tasking will be at a maximum. Please take this into consideration before you start blasting an umpire for not calling it. Also, just like batters in the batter's box, the whole foot will need to be outside of the imaginary lines of the pitcher's lane.
BTW, I am not an umpire. But I do try to sway their thinking
BTW, I am not an umpire. But I do try to sway their thinking
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Like Jedi Mind Trick!
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http://www.nfhs.org/core/contentmanager/uploads/2009_Softball_Comments_on_Rules_and_POEs.pdf
Point of Emphasis, but I watched a pitcher last night they replanted and the umpire could see daylight each time on the back foot. So getting it called seems to be an issue. I know of a local high school pitcher that has been illegal for years and we brought it to the umpire attention. His comment " She has been doing this for years we are not going to call it now! I even told him it is a point of emphasis. She is still pitching this year and has a hop and replants. Still not called.
Point of Emphasis, but I watched a pitcher last night they replanted and the umpire could see daylight each time on the back foot. So getting it called seems to be an issue. I know of a local high school pitcher that has been illegal for years and we brought it to the umpire attention. His comment " She has been doing this for years we are not going to call it now! I even told him it is a point of emphasis. She is still pitching this year and has a hop and replants. Still not called.
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We saw it this year as well at the Wendy's tournament. It was so clear that by the 2nd inning there was actually a small hole where the pitcher foot planted about 8 to 10 inches outside the pitching rubber. Was told after the game that it's too hard to watch during the pitch. Ok I guess that may be the case but the divot that was being left outside the pitching rubber did not leave anything to the imagination.
BTW you can still see plenty of this in the college game as well. As the hitters are getting better pitchers are looking for a way to attack a little differently and for now hitters have not quite found a way to consistantly hit the pitch at that angle. I guess that will change as hitters see more of it.
BTW you can still see plenty of this in the college game as well. As the hitters are getting better pitchers are looking for a way to attack a little differently and for now hitters have not quite found a way to consistantly hit the pitch at that angle. I guess that will change as hitters see more of it.
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Rich you played the team at MVD, not sure she pitched. When it is obvious and they still won't call it, that puzzles me. Not treating all the rest of the kids that pitch legally fair.
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SBFAMILY I did not see that game but I know who you are talking about. She did pitch against us. I didn't see it so I can't comment on it.
I do think that it is tough for the umpire to call in real time. The base umpire is normally off to one side or the other of the mound and can not get a good look. The home plate umpire is concentrating on watching the pitch location and if they spend too much time watching the pitchers feet they will get fooled. However, it is often very clear where the pitcher is landing when she is outside the pitching rubber because often this area of the diamond is clean and level. After a few innings when there is a 2 - 4 inch rut dug in there and it is 8 inches or more outside the rubber well that to me seems obvious.
Having said that I think it is an advantage at this point for a pitcher if she can do it effectively because it is not an angle that the batter sees very often. If I were to coach agaisnst a team that I knw had a pitcher who did that I would at the very least plant the seed prior to the game and then let the umpires deal with it as they see fit. Theres not really much more you can do. Once the game is on I don't see the umpires being influenced by it being brought to their attention because then it makes it look as if they have been missing it the whole game, and nobody likes to have that pointed out.
I do think that it is tough for the umpire to call in real time. The base umpire is normally off to one side or the other of the mound and can not get a good look. The home plate umpire is concentrating on watching the pitch location and if they spend too much time watching the pitchers feet they will get fooled. However, it is often very clear where the pitcher is landing when she is outside the pitching rubber because often this area of the diamond is clean and level. After a few innings when there is a 2 - 4 inch rut dug in there and it is 8 inches or more outside the rubber well that to me seems obvious.
Having said that I think it is an advantage at this point for a pitcher if she can do it effectively because it is not an angle that the batter sees very often. If I were to coach agaisnst a team that I knw had a pitcher who did that I would at the very least plant the seed prior to the game and then let the umpires deal with it as they see fit. Theres not really much more you can do. Once the game is on I don't see the umpires being influenced by it being brought to their attention because then it makes it look as if they have been missing it the whole game, and nobody likes to have that pointed out.
