Softball Pitching Distance to Increase to 43 Feet in 2010-11

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Sometimes what we don?t know is scary. It will all work out and nobody will even talk about it in a couple years.

 

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2 Teams? Heck every year I have to recruit kids who have never even played softball just to field a JV team.

You have a JV team? Wow, we just have varsity and we need 9th graders to field that.

(sarcastic, yes, but also true)

 

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It's 3 feet folks. I personally think it will have a minor effect. Great pitchers will still be great and poor hitters will still be poor hitters. Everything in between will be about the same.

If it were about the same they wouldn't be changing it. The original poster mentioned the NFHS has tested this and more balls were put in play. How many more? I don't know, but even 5 more balls in play is 5 more opportunities for a base runner. And once runners get on base the game changes a lot.

 

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You are all travel ball parents and coaches that have girls that are looking to become more. But until you coach HS ball such as myself, and have to put someone on the rubber that pitches strictly rec ball then you will understand. Until then you really don't have a clue let alone a dog in this fight.

When they decide to move travel ball mounds to 46 feet and the bases to 65 or 75 feet then you can have your say.;&

I believe many people here do have a dog in the fight considering their kids are or will actually be the players playing the game. I also understand that a coach might have to put in a rec ball pitcher to throw a game. That's nothing more than the luck of the draw. Either a school has pitching or they don't, regardless of the distance and level of play they compete at during the summer.

If I were a HS coach my top three prioritites would be to teach the players the game, help the kids get better so some just might make it at the next level, and win. There's no better way to get a kid ready for the next level than have them play the game the way it is being played at the next level, and that's why I firmly believe in moving the pitching distance to compare with the college game, and if Ohio refuses to move with the rest of the country then the state is doing all of girls that want to play at the next level a horrible disservice. My guess is the college coaches love the idea of moving the pitching distance back and will focus on those players playing at the college distance.

Just my opinion
Len

 

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It would be interesting to start a poll and see how many runs posters think are scored in a typical high school JV game. I have our conference's answer, since I did a quick summation of last years games. Keep in mind the below is the total runs scored. Just to give you a hint, if was tough with no lights finishing games in our conference.
5+
10+
15+
20+
25+
30+
35+
40+

 

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If it were about the same they wouldn't be changing it. The original poster mentioned the NFHS has tested this and more balls were put in play. How many more? I don't know, but even 5 more balls in play is 5 more opportunities for a base runner. And once runners get on base the game changes a lot.

And that's a bad thing? Have the defense make a play jd! The game is set up for defense so let them get involved.

Honestly, this is not the end of the world and it might actually make some games much more exciting.

Len

 

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It would be interesting to start a poll and see how many runs posters think are scored in a typical high school JV game. I have our conference's answer, since I did a quick summation of last years games. Keep in mind the below is the total runs scored. Just to give you a hint, if was tough with no lights finishing games in our conference.
5+
10+
15+
20+
25+
30+
35+
40+

30+ is my answer to be close to the actual number, but technically they are all correct.

 

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I thought I saw on one of the other sites that OHSAA already adopted it.

 

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And that's a bad thing? Have the defense make a play jd! The game is set up for defense so let them get involved.

Honestly, this is not the end of the world and it might actually make some games much more exciting.

Len

I agree, I am in favor of the move.

 

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hey evil dad; your dd and mine play each other twice a year home and home. Given the level of play in her league city series do u think this is a good thing or not. we are a have and may only field a varsity with no pitching available after liz graduates

 

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She has been pitching from this distance off and on at different showcases and camps for the last 2 years already. She loves it, her pitches break better because of the additional 3 feet. Everyone will adjust, the weaker pitchers are going to have to work more on their technique. dds pitching coach has had her pitching from second base and beyond since 12u ball and she had to throw strikes.

 

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I agree, I am in favor of the move.

Sorry jd, i misread your post.

Len

 

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Mine also. I am referring to the other schools in our area that this will severely hinder. Your dd goes to a hve school. There are plenty of other schools that would kill to have your dd"s schools situation when it comes to pitching. After this year there will be 1 real pitcher in my dd"s league. I feel that for a school that is trying to keep a program afloat this rule change can be very disheartening and or discouraging enough to the girls that no one will even attempt to become a pitcher. Not everyone is in our situation and able to afford the prerequiste lessons and training to become a top-notch pitcher

 

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Changing the pitching distance is fine, but moving the bases to 65' in my opinion will take away from the speed of the game. Fastpitch is a fast game, that's what makes it exciting. No time to mess around with a ground ball hit to short or third, move the bases and it will take away from the game.

 

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Changing the pitching distance is fine, but moving the bases to 65' in my opinion will take away from the speed of the game. Fastpitch is a fast game, that's what makes it exciting. No time to mess around with a ground ball hit to short or third, move the bases and it will take away from the game.

Luckily no one is seriously discussing 65' bases.....

 

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why not 62 feet bases--never understood why the emphasis on numbers like 60/65/75/90>

62 would be worth trying--just would be bother to reset all the base anchors.

 

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I am happy to hear that we at the highschool level are finally able to see the ball move more. My pitcher has a great arm and several pitches that would dance more and I look forward to other teams stepping into the box to take a look!:yahoo:

Also, as a highschool coach, I am tired of getting any girl who wants to play because her friend is on the team. I want the game to be more competitive and 65' bases would make several girls think twice about trying out. I love stealing and pickles so my players run! 65' will bring me stronger players!;&

 

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From the OHSAA website:
[BACKGROUND="black"] NFHS Announces Pitching Distance Rule Change [/BACKGROUND]
July 23 - The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has announced a change to the pitching distance in softball beginning with the 2010-11 school year. The OHSAA will implement this new pitching distance during the 2010-11 school year, not sooner.

 

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From the OHSAA website:
[BACKGROUND="black"] NFHS Announces Pitching Distance Rule Change [/BACKGROUND]
July 23 - The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has announced a change to the pitching distance in softball beginning with the 2010-11 school year. The OHSAA will implement this new pitching distance during the 2010-11 school year, not sooner.

To bad they are waiting
our East Central HS team in Indiana plays alot of Oh teams every year along with northern KY teams, and they probably wont change until forced.
Indiana is going to 43' this season should be interesting

 

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I agree Coach McQueen OHSAA should make this change with the pitching distance asap!! It will only help our pitchers as they move to the next level.