Softball Illegal Pitches: Everything You Need To Know - Sample Chapter

SOFTBALL

SOFTBALL ILLEGAL PITCHES: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

ILLEGAL

PITCHES EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

BY TODD KORTH

R

FROM REFEREE MAGAZINE AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPORTS OFFICIALS

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION

7

THE EXPERTS

9

CHAPTER 1: THE RULES

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Legal Pitching Position

15

Starting the Pitch

18

NCAA Takes Step To Make Chute More Visible Pivot Foot Positioning Windup

Legal Delivery

Legal Pitching Motions Pitching Infractions Dropping the Ball

Foreign Substances

Throwing to a Base Intentional Walk

Defensive Positioning

CHAPTER 2: COMMON ILLEGAL PITCHES

17 20 22 22 24 30 30 31 31 32 32

35

Leaping

37

Replant

39

Crow Hop No Wipe

Taking the Signal in the Set Position

Outside 24-Inch Width of Pitcher’s Lane

CHAPTER 3: INTESTINAL FORTITUDE

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40 41 42

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See It. Call It.

49

Move to Improve Look

54

Coaches Want It Called Consistency is Goal

51 55

CONTENTS (CONTINUED) CHAPTER 4: ENFORCEMENT Rules Differences

Main Responsibilities

57 59 60

CHAPTER 5: PREVENTIVE MEASURES

63

EXPERT OPINIONS

68

FINAL CHECKLIST

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CHAPTER

ONE THE RULES

IN THIS CHAPTER » NOTABLE DIFFERENCES IN CODES » STARTING THE PITCH » LEGAL DELIVERY » INFRACTIONS

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The definition of an illegal pitch by rule is fairly simple and similar under the major fast-pitch rules codes. An illegal pitch, according to the NCAA rulebook (1.60), is “any pitch by the pitcher that is in violation of the pitching rules or an effect for a rule violation.” NFHS, On any illegal pitch, the umpire shall ASA and USSSA all have signal delayed dead ball and verbalize similar definitions. That’s it “illegal pitch.” in a nutshell, but the illegal pitch rule is much more complicated than that because of the many variables involved.

“The rule is tough to write but even tougher to enforce,” said ASA National Softball Hall of Fame umpire and former SUP regional adviser Emily Alexander. “And it’s darn near impossible to enforce consistently because it is subjective. You’ve got to know the pitching rule. You’ve got to know what is required, so you know what you’re making a judgment on and then you’ve got to be looking. You must look on every single pitch.”

If a pitch is not released and after an illegal pitch is called, the umpire should declare an immediate dead ball. The penalty for an illegal pitch: A ball is awarded to the batter and all runners advance one base from the base they occupied at the time of the pitch. If an illegal pitch hits the batter, she is awarded first base and each runner advances one base.

If the pitch is released, the umpire shall signal delayed-dead ball while verbalizing “illegal pitch” and then make a few determinations.

If the batter does not hit the pitch (or becomes a baserunner): • The umpire should signal dead ball, any runners will be directed to advance one base by the umpire and the batter is awarded a ball.

PlayPic®

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ILLEGAL PITCHES

If the pitcher releases the ball and the pitch is hit by the batter, or the batter becomes a baserunner, the batting team has the following option: • In NFHS, accept the result of the play or accept the illegal pitch penalty. A ball is awarded to the batter and the runner(s) advance one base. In ASA, NCAA and USSSA, if the batter becomes a baserunner and all other baserunners have advanced at least one base, no option is given; the illegal pitch is canceled.

“The game has rules that are supposed to be followed, and you should be playing within those rules,” said Jeff Hulse, NFHS Coaches Association representative on the NFHS Rules Committee and longtime softball coach at Olathe (Kan.) East High School. “You don’t want your kids to be pitching illegally, and you don’t want your opponents to gain an unfair advantage for themselves over the defensive team as well. So you would expect that the game be called fairly both ways. If your kids are airborne and lose contact with the mound they need to be called on it. They need to know how to pitch correctly.”

LEGAL PITCHING POSITION PlayPic®

The pitching regulations for ASA, NCAA, USSSA and NFHS are very similar but there are a few notable differences in a pitcher’s mechanics that umpires should remember, especially if working the different codes.

NFHS, NCAA and USSSA require that the pivot foot be on or partially

The pitcher is considered in the pitching position when with her hands apart, she steps forward with the ball in either the glove or pitching hand.

THE RULES

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on the top surface of the 24-inch pitcher ’s plate. ASA requires that both feet be “in contact with the pitcher ’s plate.” NFHS, compared to the other major codes, allows the non-pivot foot either be “in contact with or behind the pitcher ’s plate.”

Also, ASA, USSSA and NFHS require that both feet be on the ground within or partially within the 24-inch length of the pitcher ’s plate. In NCAA, both feet must be completely within the 24-inch length of the pitcher ’s plate, though, any part of the foot not in contact with the ground can be outside the length of the pitcher ’s plate.

“I think umpires should view every pitch as legal until the pitcher violates the rule,” said Julie Johnson, NFHS Softball Rules Committee Chair and ASA National Softball Hall of Fame umpire. “When the pitcher steps onto the pitcher ’s plate until she delivers the ball there is an order of requirements that must be met. The umpire’s job is to observe those mechanics and make sure each one is met. That is why rules knowledge is so important for umpires. Umpires must know what the pitcher is required to do and be able to explain to the pitcher or coach what section of the rule was violated.”

The preliminary positioning before starting delivery of a legal pitch is very similar among the major codes for fast pitch. That includes: • When taking the pitching position in contact with the pitcher ’s plate, the pitcher is considered in the pitching position when with her hands apart, she steps forward with the ball in either the glove or pitching hand. At the same time, the catcher must be in position within the catcher ’s box (with no part of the feet outside the lines) to receive the pitch.

• The pitcher cannot take the pitching position on or near the pitcher ’s plate without having possession of the ball.

• With both feet on the ground within the 24-inch length of the pitcher ’s plate, the pitcher ’s shoulders should be in line with first and third bases.

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ILLEGAL PITCHES

NCAA TAKES STEP TO MAKE CHUTE MORE VISIBLE In 2009, the NCAA took a step toward helping umpires identify if a pitcher was landing outside of the 24-inch width of the pitcher’s plate by adding mandatory lines on each side of the pitcher’s lane to the edge of the pitcher’s circle toward home plate. That change was one of a number of rules revisions for 2009.

The decision to add lines to the area to which the pitcher is restricted (see MechaniGram) when delivering a pitch was prompted by some pitchers pushing off the pitcher’s plate to the side in order to change the angle of the ball to the plate. Along with it being an unfair advantage to the pitcher, it also is stressful on a pitcher’s arm.

“It does disadvantage the batter. We’re also concerned about injuries to pitchers,” said Dee Abrahamson, NCAA secretary-rules editor. “If you do step out to the side and cross your body, you can spin the ball differently, but that’s not necessarily a good thing for your arm.”

The pitcher’s lane is eight feet in length extending from the outer edges of the pitcher’s plate toward the edges of the inside front corners of the batter’s boxes.

The pitcher must remain on or within the lines of the chute during her delivery. To be considered inside the pitcher’s lane, the pitcher shall not have her entire non-pivot foot in contact with the ground completely outside of any part of a line that defines the pitcher’s lane.

Though the lines are often erased in the early part of games from natural foot traffic, the NCAA has remained committed to requiring the lane markings to not only help prevent illegal pitches, but also for safety.

“The (rules) committee just thinks that it’s a great reminder for however long (the lines) last for the pitcher warming up to stay in the lane and for the umpire starting the game behind home plate,” said Abrahamson. “If (the lines) last, that would be great. If (the lines) don’t last, then at least we started that way. If umpires, either on their own or at the request of the opposing coach, think that there is a clear violation and would like the lines re-drawn, the umpire can ask to have them re-drawn.”

MechaniGram®

THE RULES

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