Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Pitching question

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Long time reader, first time poster...
I have a question regarding the pitching lane if anyone can help. What is the rule on how long a pitcher must stay in the lane? My (13 yr old) daughter drags her right foot and releases but then lands with a wide stance just outside or on the imaginary line that isn't and has never been drawn out. She says she is better prepared to field a ball that may come back to her?!?

We had an issue after her playoff game that her team won (which they are now 11-0, so no one is happy :lmao She was told they are going to put lines for the championship game so that the umps can monitor her. Her attitude is let them put the lines, I do better when I have a visual line there anyway, so they are only hurting themselves.

 

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Without actually seeing her pitch, it sounds like her pitching motion ends with her standing outside the line. Which is not a legal action.

It also sounds like her stance is too wide - too wide to maintain good balance and still be able to react quickly to a hit ball. Just my opinion, going my the mental picture.

(and welcome to OFC.)

 

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Pretty sure it's just that their plant or landing foot must come down within the 24" width of the pitching rubber. Once lead foot lands within the "lines" she's good, doesn't matter where the drag foot goes. Sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

 

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I'm with you on this one TnT. I think that once the plant foot comes down on or inside the lines and the pitch is released, you are good to go where ever you want.

We both may be wrong though. ;&

 

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I found this reference on the pitchsoftball.com website...

SIDE STEPPING is permissible, but as long as the stride foot lands within the "pitching lane". Some pitchers, particularly those who are stepping-style pitchers, are often taught to not step directly forward toward home plate, but instead to step to the side to gain an advantage with the "closing" (or twisting of the trunk) process. Stepping to the side must be restricted to the width of the pitching plate. Here is the ASA rule:

ASA - "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."

 

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Pretty sure it's just that their plant or landing foot must come down within the 24" width of the pitching rubber. Once lead foot lands within the "lines" she's good, doesn't matter where the drag foot goes. Sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

The stride foot has to land within (can be on the imaginary line) the 24inch plate. Makes no difference where the drag foot lands after pitch is thrown.

 

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The stride foot is the one that must land within the 24" width of the pitcher's plate on the pitcher's one allowed step forward. Where the pivot foot goes is moot.

Once the pitch is released, the pitcher can go anywhere she wants to.

The lines shouldn't be drawn, as they are not part of the official field markings defined in the rule book anywhere below the NCAA level.

 

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Thanks for the welcome. And to clarify, she steps with plant/lead foot inside the lane and drag foot is the one that is questionable. After she drags her right foot her stance is a little more than shoulder width apart.

 

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Sounds like she's fine then, no worry with the drag foot.

 

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Once the pitch is released, the pitcher can go anywhere she wants to.

The lines shouldn't be drawn, as they are not part of the official field markings defined in the rule book anywhere below the NCAA level.

I don't understand the "Drawing a line for the next game" part. Is that the other team that is doing that, her team, or someone else? It is the umpire's judgment that determines whether there is a violation and this is done without any marks. As Bretman points out, this is not part of the official field marking. It seems totally outside of the spirit of any rule to make a special marking that applies to only one player.

 

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Thank you Bretman very much. I hoped if I posted that you would respond as I read a lot of your posts and respect your knowledge of the game.

Re: ab209ljf
The decision of the lines was made by the coach of the other team that we are supposed to play in the championship game and some parents that just can't stay out of kids sports.
She has pitched very well this season but she is on a TEAM that has helped her win every game but IMO it seems that they have lost sight of TEAM and are focusing all their energy on trying to see her fail.
I don't even want to say this because it may sound conceited and is not meant to be. But here it goes, our dd is a travel ball player and the only one on the team and the only one in the county that we play in. We are not from an area that offers travel ball so she is constantly being critiqued and criticized. With someone always saying something like "Well she walked a batter, I guess that traveling doesn't do her any good," or "Wow, I thought she would pitch 66mph with all that traveling."
I am pretty sure parents seem to forget these are "young" girls, but I guess she is supposed to perform at all times like a professional where they are concerned.

 

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Thank you Bretman very much. I hoped if I posted that you would respond as I read a lot of your posts and respect your knowledge of the game.

Re: ab209ljf
The decision of the lines was made by the coach of the other team that we are supposed to play in the championship game and some parents that just can't stay out of kids sports.
She has pitched very well this season but she is on a TEAM that has helped her win every game but IMO it seems that they have lost sight of TEAM and are focusing all their energy on trying to see her fail.
I don't even want to say this because it may sound conceited and is not meant to be. But here it goes, our dd is a travel ball player and the only one on the team and the only one in the county that we play in. We are not from an area that offers travel ball so she is constantly being critiqued and criticized. With someone always saying something like "Well she walked a batter, I guess that traveling doesn't do her any good," or "Wow, I thought she would pitch 66mph with all that traveling."
I am pretty sure parents seem to forget these are "young" girls, but I guess she is supposed to perform at all times like a professional where they are concerned.

They just don't get it ! This will only make her stronger as a player and as person.:yahoo: People that work harder are always looked at with critical eyes. We live in a society that many people believe it should be just given to them. Travel ball players are suppose to be better. The lazy just do not see the work that is put in to get them better. Just look at this site, many people trying to learn better ways to improve or learn how to get better. :cap:

 

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For your peace of mind, stand behind the backstop during a pitching practice and take note of where her stride foot lands. As soon as this foot plants (for purposes of a legal stride foot landing) everything else is irrelevant.

Her entire stride foot must be OUTSIDE of the width of the pitcher's plate to be illegal. She can land ON the "line" and still be legal - think of it the same as a baseline - the baseline is IN bounds. There is nothing in the rules dictating where her drag foot must be in relation to being outside the pitching lane. So - if this is just about her drag foot, it is irrelevant.

For a 13u pitcher, I would be concerned if she is striding this far off of her power line (if she is). At the collegiate level, this is entirely different, but a 13u pitcher should be more "down the line" - I'd be wary of WHY she's striding off to the side... is she trying to create spin for a screwball? How far is her elbow from her body as the ball passes her hip? I've seen younger pitchers try to emulate a collegiate pitcher without really understanding the mechanics involved.

Good form and mechanics are important building blocks, and will keep a young pitcher healthy without incurring stress on shoulder and elbow joints.

 

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Thank you Bretman very much. I hoped if I posted that you would respond as I read a lot of your posts and respect your knowledge of the game.

Re: ab209ljf
The decision of the lines was made by the coach of the other team that we are supposed to play in the championship game and some parents that just can't stay out of kids sports.
She has pitched very well this season but she is on a TEAM that has helped her win every game but IMO it seems that they have lost sight of TEAM and are focusing all their energy on trying to see her fail.
I don't even want to say this because it may sound conceited and is not meant to be. But here it goes, our dd is a travel ball player and the only one on the team and the only one in the county that we play in. We are not from an area that offers travel ball so she is constantly being critiqued and criticized. With someone always saying something like "Well she walked a batter, I guess that traveling doesn't do her any good," or "Wow, I thought she would pitch 66mph with all that traveling."
I am pretty sure parents seem to forget these are "young" girls, but I guess she is supposed to perform at all times like a professional where they are concerned.

We've heard similar things about the 6 travel girls on our freshman team. The other parents have made comments anytime a travel girl strikes out or makes an error. One even said that the travel girls, all of whom wear masks in the infield and in the circle, were too scared to play without them. It sounds like your player is probably legal most, if not all, of the time.

Something I might do.......when your daughter takes the field, have her simply erase the lines in the circle with her cleats. Since they are not regulation for softball, there is no rule against it. Better yet, ignore the lines, shut them out and then they will shut up!!

 

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Something I might do.......when your daughter takes the field, have her simply erase the lines in the circle with her cleats. Since they are not regulation for softball, there is no rule against it.

That crossed my mind. But then I thought that if the umpires were dumb enough to let the game begin with non-regulation field markings, then there's to guarantee that they're not also dumb enough to enforce a penalty for removing them.

If I were this kid's coach I would raise the issue before the game and point out to the umpires that the lines don't belong on the field. I wouldn't push it or raise a big stink, but do think you should have every right to question this.

 

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Re: Sammy

I should have clarified that she does what we call "walk the line" when she pitches. When she is throwing her fastball she uses the middle of the rubber but for different pitches she moves to either side but finishes up with her stride foot "between the lines."
I believe from what she was told this is being done because when she finishes her pitch she is outside the lane.
I seem to be less informed on this issue than she is because she shook it off and said "I have already been taught about lane violations."
I thank goodness, am not putting in hours of winding my arm up until it seems like it would fall off, and flipping a yellow ball XXmph at girls with $300 weapons and therefore have no idea what all the rules are.
You have all been very helpful though.

 

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Sounds like she knows the rules! She's probably figured out it takes some thick skin to be a pitcher. She'll be a better prepared adult in the process!

Something to think about - pitching is a poker game at the higher levels. For instance, if she sets up on the RIGHT side of the pitcher's plate every time for a screw ball, and sets up on the LEFT side for her curve, she'll be tipping her pitches. Experienced batters notice those patterns, and it gives them a huge advantage. Like poker, you can't let the batter have the slightest hint about what pitch is coming next. Something to talk to her pitching coach about.

 

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Update:
Arrived at fields to find no lines drawn. After umpires arrived, the coach from other team approaced them and could be overheard discussing the pitching lane. I waited until she left and told them I was the pitchers mom and wondered what the complaints were about.
I was told that she/coach wanted lines put down so that dd could be monitored for violation. Senior umpire (if that's what he is called) told me the lines were not legal but that he had expected to see them when he arrived, do to the conversation the day before. He said that he would have removed the lines himself if they had been there.
All three umpires agreed and said that they had watched dd pitch before and never noticed anything but payed special attention the day before because of the complaints and that she was perfectly legal.
Championship game played and they/dd's team won.

 

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Senior umpire told me the lines were not legal...He said that he would have removed the lines himself if they had been there.

Yeah for this guy! :yahoo:

 

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Update:
Championship game played and they/dd's team won.

Congratulations to your dd for a great game and to you as a parent raising a kid who knows that hard work and perseverance are how you succeed in life! Just awesome!