Kudos NCAA Rule enforcement

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You might want to re-think your position...

While searching through the NCAA web site for an interpretation on this, I came across an "Ask the Expert" section, headed by one Dee Abrahamson. Dee is the NCAA Secretary Rule Editor on their softball rules committee and a member of their Softball Umpires Improvement Program.

I sent her an email with this question, figuring that I probably wouldn't hear anything back. I was sure that the NCAA folks have better things to do with their time!

To my surprise, I received a reply this evening.

First, my question:

"I know that under ASA/NFHS rules it is not a violation for the pitcher to take a signal from the catcher prior to stepping on the pitcher's plate, so long as she subsequently takes, or simulates taking, a signal once she does engage the plate. My understanding is that the intent of this rule is to prevent the pitcher from stepping on the plate and immediately rolling right through with the pitch, in an effort to catch the batter off-balance. The requirement of pausing before starting the delivery is intended to prevent a "quick pitch". My question is if the NCAA rule is interpreted the same way."

The reply:

"You are absolutely correct...she can take as many signals as she wants BUT must take, or simulate taking, the last one once positioned on the pitcher's plate.
Hope you can pass that along to her.

Dee Abrahamson

Senior Associate Athletic Director/SWA
Northern Illinois University
Convocation Center Suite 200
NCAA Softball Secretary Rules Editor"

That works for me!

 

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You might want to re-think your position...

While searching through the NCAA web site for an interpretation on this, I came across a "Ask the Expert" section, headed by one Dee Abrahamson. Dee is the NCAA Secretary Rule Editor on their softball rules committee and a member of their Softball Umpires Improvement Program.

I sent her an email with this question, figuring that I probably wouldn't hear anything back. I was sure that the NCAA folks have better things to do with their time!

To my surprise, I received a reply this evening.

"You are absolutely correct...she can take as many signals as she wants BUT must take, or simulate taking, the last one once positioned on the pitcher's plate.
Hope you can pass that along to her.

Dee Abrahamson

Senior Associate Athletic Director/SWA
Northern Illinois University
Convocation Center Suite 200
NCAA Softball Secretary Rules Editor"

That works for me!

That being correct I really wonder how many umps actually know this rule. I have seen that called on pitchers more than anything. That's one of the reasons I thought that a pitcher couldn't take a signal off of the pitching plate.

POSITION RE-THUNK

 

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I'm glad we got that settled :lmao::lmao:

 

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Yep

 

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bretman, you must have good pull. I emailed the same person last night and not surprisingly didn't get a reply. Yours will do however. Still leaves me wondering what the umpire did call on my DD. Guess she must have just stepped up and pitched. I can't say I am riveted to every pitch of the game, so can't say either way what happened other than what I did hear him say.

Thanks for looking into it.

 

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We also have seen illegal pitches this spring at the college level--more so in the last couple of weeks. We even have two pitchers with Balks this season--daughter's team lost a game Sunday in the bottom of the 7th on an illegal pitch.

 

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That being correct I really wonder how many umps actually know this rule.

My own experience is that most do, but that it is also a rule that is sometimes misinterpreted.

The ones that have it wrong usually make the same mistake. They read that rule and assume that if a rule requires you to something while you're touching the plate, then the opposite must be true- you are prohibited from doing it while you're off the plate. That is really faulty logic and not how the rule is written or interpreted.

 

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We also have seen illegal pitches this spring at the college level--more so in the last couple of weeks. We even have two pitchers with Balks this season--daughter's team lost a game Sunday in the bottom of the 7th on an illegal pitch.

BALKS!

Just like "there's no crying in baseball"...there is no such thing as a balk in softball!

Balks are something from a...different...sport. Different sport, different rule, different application and different penalty!

 

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We also have seen illegal pitches this spring at the college level--more so in the last couple of weeks. We even have two pitchers with Balks this season--daughter's team lost a game Sunday in the bottom of the 7th on an illegal pitch.

In college, you see a lot of batters hold up a hand to request time be called - BUT the plate umpire is not obligated to call time. Pitchers have to be taught to ignore batter requests, and only recognize the umpires calls. In other words, if the ump doesn't call time, it's play on and continue the pitch.

I'm guessing the pitcher you described stopped mid-pitch without the ump calling time?

 

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My own experience is that most do, but that it is also a rule that is sometimes misinterpreted.

The ones that have it wrong usually make the same mistake. They read that rule and assume that if a rule requires you to something while you're touching the plate, then the opposite must be true- you are prohibited from doing it while you're off the plate. That is really faulty logic and not how the rule is written or interpreted.

Now that I know how the rule is suppose to be assested I will have alot more bite to my bark when questioning the next ump that calls it.

This is how it usually goes......pitcher appears to be taking a sign from behind the pitching plate. Then legally stands on the pitching plate and takes a sign. The apposing coach points out that she is taking signs from behind the pitching plate, and the next pitch is called illegal. I'm an assistant on a very good tourney team with a daughter who pitches, and I've seen our head coach get this called a number of times simply by ranting and raving. I'll give him a whisper next time......weeeellllll maybe not because he's gotten it called every time

 

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the sign she recieved behind the pitchers plate, is not a type of pitch to pitch, it's a defensive play sign............. How can you say it is not blue.......