NSA goes to 43 Feet

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Just noticed that the 18U division for NSA is now using the 43' pitching distance....

 

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I think that is a great idea, and will be good for the sport.

 

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nsa made the move others will follow

 

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Do you think they will in 2007? Seems like it would be tough to go back and forth if you play a mixed season.

 

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Do you think they will in 2007? Seems like it would be tough to go back and forth if you play a mixed season.

According to the NSA web page I ran across today, it's a done deal. So I expect they'll start at 43 and stay there. The problem will be the teams that also play ASA, PONY, or USSSA, although with USSSA they could go 18U-Major I guess.

 

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That complicates a TD's and field Maint crew life--having to have another pitching plate and not being able to interchange fields--also having to have 2 circles. It will work if the event is a 18U only, but to be fair to the pitchers the 40 ft pitcher's plate should be removed. The guys who set the rules never take those things in consideration--it is always one association trying to one up the other It would seem they could get together on this and be standardized.

 

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The problem will be the teams that also play ASA, PONY, or USSSA, although with USSSA they could go 18U-Major I guess.

Yes, that's what I meant. Someone said the "others will follow" - if that's logical, could they follow for the 2007 season?

 

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What about high school? Changing to 43' also?

 

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I wonder how soon the others will follow. :-?
My DD is going to be a freshman next year. We throw about 30-40 pitches every workout from 43 feet so she can get a feel for it. I have to say the drop ball is a little harder to catch. A lot of people think it won't make a lot of difference and a lot of people do. I know there has been a lot of debate on here about moving the rubber back 3 feet and I am not trying to start that again. Catching my dd I do know that the extra 3 feet make the movement pitches move more. For her I think it will help but we won't know till it happens. Does anybody else do any workouts at 43 feet?

 

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What about high school? Changing to 43' also?

Last thing I read on the NFHS site said not for 2007. Florida is still listed as experimental.

 

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I wonder how soon the others will follow. :-?
My DD is going to be a freshman next year. We throw about 30-40 pitches every workout from 43 feet so she can get a feel for it. I have to say the drop ball is a little harder to catch. A lot of people think it won't make a lot of difference and a lot of people do. I know there has been a lot of debate on here about moving the rubber back 3 feet and I am not trying to start that again. Catching my dd I do know that the extra 3 feet make the movement pitches move more. For her I think it will help but we won't know till it happens. Does anybody else do any workouts at 43 feet?

Noticed that with my DD also this summer. Seems like since she has to throw it harder to cover the extra 3 feet, that when the spin does overcome the forward velocity it jumps harder - may just be my eyes playing tricks on me, but it certainly looks that way.

 

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Bear,

Where did you find the info on the 43ft? Looked at playnsa.com and could not find it.

Thanks

 

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bearmay the same thing happened when my dd pitched from 43 feet this summer and at a couple of showcases. ? it appears to me that the movement pitches move harder. ? i'm not sure how moving the pitcher to 43' is good for the game, ? but people have been pushing that way for a long time now.

 

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ASA 18Gold has been using 43-foot pitching distance.
Yes, it does cause consternation for tournament directors -- most dedicate one or two fields for the 18Gold and just let it go.

 

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The ASA national convention is being held this week and there are a couple of dozen rule changes on the table. Moving the pitching distance to 43 feet is one of the changes being considered.

There is one proposal to make this change for both 16U and 18U. From what I'm hearing, the greatest possibility would be for a change that affects 18U only. And, of course, it's possible that no change will be made at all!

We should know what rule changes are in place for 2007 in the next week or so.

 

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Bear,

Where did you find the info on the 43ft? Looked at playnsa.com and could not find it.

Thanks

It's on the NSA Ohio site: http://www.ohionsafp.com/

 

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bearmay the same thing happened when my dd pitched from 43 feet this summer and at a couple of showcases. it appears to me that the movement pitches move harder. i'm not sure how moving the pitcher to 43' is good for the game, but people have been pushing that way for a long time now.

It gives you more reaction time to hit the fastball (see http://www.game-ex.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1161005699/0#4 ), but other than that....

 

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Thanks! Found it!

 

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If this is really the case - as Bear says - IMO it's about time! This idiotic thing been hashed and beat to death over the last few years, and still there's no real VALID reason to leave the distance at 40' for the older girls. By high school age (14u and up) there's simply no reason to have a 40' distance. Can you imagine having a 54' distance in high school baseball? Talk about an advantage! How about a 75 yard football field?

Girls are stronger now (or should be if they are working out). It's just another slap in the face to female athletes to give them special treatment when no other high school sanctioned sport does this. The fair and logical progression should be similar to the distance progression in baseball. Somebody PLEASE give me a reason for 40' that doesn't belittle the game of girls fastpitch!

 

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The high schools will NOT change because the VAST majority of the players are pedestrian level at best and the pitchers who struggle to reach the plate at 40 feet are far greater in number the Ohio high school pitchers being recruited by Big Ten, Horizon and MAC schools.
High school softball is for the masses -- have fun with your friends playing on your school team. It's spring training for summer ball, which is for the competition.