Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Have a Pitching Form Question???

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Without seeing it might be hard to visual. In High School and or College Does both feet have to start from the Rubber? Is there a case where you can Step back with the Landing foot and then begin your Pitch? ( w/a right handed pitcher that would be the left foot) Just woundering?? :-?

 

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Re:  Have a Pitching Form Question???

I think you can for high school, but not for college.

 

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Re:  Have a Pitching Form Question???

RULE 7. PITCHING RULE



Sec. 1. A. Prior to the pitch, the pitcher shall take a position with: (1) the pivot foot on or partially on the surface of the pitcher's plate; (2) the non pivot foot in contact with or behind the pitcher's plate. Both feet must be on the ground within or partially within the 24-inch length of the pitcher's plate. The hands must be apart.



B. Preliminary to pitching, the pitcher must take a position with the shoulders in line with first and third base with the ball in the glove or pitching hand, with the hands separated.



C. While in this position, the pitcher shall take (or simulate taking) a signal from the catcher.



D. After completing ?B? above, the pitcher shall bring the hands together in front of the body for not less than one second and not more than 10 seconds before releasing the ball. The hands may be motionless or moving.



E. ABOUT THE PITCH:

a. The pitch starts when one hand is taken off the ball or the pitcher makes any motion that is part of the windup after the hands have been brought together.

b. Once the hands are brought together, the pitcher shall not take more than one step, which must be forward, toward the batter and simultaneous with the delivery. Any step backward shall begin before the hands come together. The step backward may end before or after the hands come together.

 

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Re:  Have a Pitching Form Question???

ASA Rule 6.1.C.2 States that both feet must be in contact with the pitcher's plate. Its the same for NSA (Rule 6.1.a). They both go on to say that the step of the non-pivot foot must be forward.

 

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Re:  Have a Pitching Form Question???

High school and USSSA allow a step back.

 

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Re:  Have a Pitching Form Question???

I've never understood why, in today's women's fastpitch, anyone would teach a "step back" to a pitcher. Any girl that wants to go beyond high school ball would be learning how to pitch illegally. If rec or slow pitch is your goal, then it doesn't really matter.

This must be a relic from the past that may have given women pitchers an edge in momentum. IMO, with today's better conditioned athletes and better instruction, the step back should be dropped entirely. It's just one more bad habit to have to un-learn.

 

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Re: ?Have a Pitching Form Question???

:exclamation I agree wholeheartedly with you Sammy. ?I guess I just don't understand all the politics of the game and all the different organizations. However, you would think that High School would be the first to comply and teach how the player must learn to pitch as they continue on to higher education. ?

Oh well, maybe someday they can all get together on the rules and maybe even the pitching distance. ?

Have a great day and I think the question has been answered very well.

 

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Re:  Have a Pitching Form Question???

I also wonder why men are allowed to take a step back and not women.

 

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Re: ?Have a Pitching Form Question???

I compare stepping back at the beginning of the windup, to hitting. ?The pitcher is getting that "negative" movement, to start her delivery. ?If you have ever really watched the girls that do step back, they have a more fluid delivery. ?
I'm not going to get on here and debate anyone on what is right or wrong, I'm just merely stating.

Up onto my Soapbox.....
How many, (#'s from OHSAA) of the 765 Ohio HS softball teams, actually have pitchers that will compete, or want to compete, at the college level? ?I would guess thats it less than 10% and closer to > 5%. ?That has the number being between 76 and 38, Ohio HS pitchers that will move onto the college level, each year.
With this being the case, it continually amazes me as to how many people want to change the HS game to mirror the college game, when it comes to pitching and other aspects of the game. Sorry, but the numbers just don't back it up. :-X

 

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Re:  Have a Pitching Form Question???

Sorry LADY_KNIGHTS, but I don't agree with that school of thought (on the comparison of high school to college). I know very well that the high school game is an entirely different game than college, and I've heard that theory and seen those statistics quoted many, many times before.

Nothing personal, but to me your reasoning sounds like a grading curve that the "dumb-down" schools use. If little Suzy is flunking, it's ok because the rest of her classmates are too! If you don't expect much, that's just what you'll receive. I like to think more optimistically and demand more of the athletes at the high school level. Since they are basically young adults, I don't think that's too much to ask. I am against the "stepping back" because it is a form of favoritism, and I think those type of things gradually erode respect for the sport. And yes - I'm in favor of going to 43' in high school, too.

Your statistics do prove one theory though - most average high school pitchers don't have the drive or desire to put in the necessary work to improve themselves, which would also help their team. But that's ok - it's only high school ball...

 

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Re: ?Have a Pitching Form Question???

Well said SAMMY ;D


I think you all have answered my question. Thanks for the help

 

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Re: ?Have a Pitching Form Question???

We are starting to veer of the original post, so I will try and start a new one to address where this post is headed.

Follow me to.....http://www.game-ex.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1115493986/25#34