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TOPIC: 14-U Girls Pitching |
| Kristen C
April 11, 2014
12:57:25 AM
Entry #: 4120164
| I was told that 14-U girls are not allowed to take a forward step off the pitching rubber and drag their pivot foot. Is this true? If they are not allowed to do a step-drag then what is the reason behind this?
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| Terry B
April 11, 2014
8:31:03 AM
Entry #: 4120183
| I don't know who told you that but they obviously have no idea what they are doing. What you have described is the process of the pitch. They are not allowed to take a step backward before delivering the pitch, but a step forward is a necessity.
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| Terry B
April 11, 2014
8:47:36 AM
Entry #: 4120189
| Here is the proper pitching techniques straight from the PONY Rulebook.
PRELIMINARIES. Before starting the delivery (pitch), the pitcher shall comply with
the following:
a. She shall take a position with both feet in contact with pitching plate. Both feet must be on the ground within the 24 inch length of the pitcher’s plate. Her shoulders shall be in line with first and third bases. The hands shall be
separated. The ball can be in the glove or pitching hand.
NOTE: Both feet must remain in contact with the pitching plate at all times prior to the forward step.
b. While in the position described above, she shall take or simulate taking the signal from the catcher.
c. After completing ‘‘b” above, she shall hold the ball in both hands for not less than one second and not more than 10 seconds before releasing the ball.
d. The pitcher shall not be considered in pitching position unless the catcher is in position to receive the pitch.
e. The pitcher may not take the pitching position on or near the pitcher’s plate without having the ball in her possession.
Sec. 2 THE PITCH starts when one hand is taken off the ball or the pitcher makes any motion that is part of the wind-up after the hands have been brought together.
a. Once the hands are brought together, the pitcher shall not take more than one step, which must be forward, toward the batter and simultaneous with the delivery of the ball to the batter.
NOTE: Toward the batter is interpreted as within the 24 inch length of the pitcher’s plate.
b. The pivot foot may remain in contact with or may push off and drag away from the pitching plate prior to the front foot touching the ground, as long as the pivot foot remains in contact with the ground. Pushing off with the pivot foot from a place other than the pitcher’s plate is illegal.
NOTE: It is not a step if the pitcher slides her foot across the pitcher’s plate, provided contact is maintained with the pitcher’s plate.
Sec. 3 A LEGAL DELIVERY SHALL BE A BALL WHICH IS DELIVERED TO THE BATTER WITH AN UNDERHANDED MOTION.
a. The release of the ball and follow through of the hand and wrist must be forward, past the straight line of the body.
b. The hand shall be below the hip, and the wrist not farther from the body than the elbow.
c. The pitch is completed with a step toward the batter.
d. The catcher must be within the lines of the catcher’s box when the pitch is released.
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PLAY: A pitch is delivered with the catcher outside the boundaries of the catcher’s box.
RULING: Illegal Pitch.
e. The pitcher has 20 seconds to release the next pitch after receiving the ball from the catcher.
PLAY: Bases are empty and the batter has a count of one strike and no balls. On the next pitch, the batter hits a foul ball which the catcher retrieves and throws to the third baseman.
RULING: A ball is awarded to the batter and the count becomes two strikes and one ball.
f. Quick Pitch is an illegal pitch.
Sec. 4 THE PITCHER MAY USE ANY WINDUP DESIRED, PROVIDING:
a. She does not make any motion to pitch without immediately delivering the ball to the batter.
b. She does not use a rocker action in which, after having the ball in both hands in the pitching position, she removes one hand from the ball, takes a backward and forward swing, and returns the ball to both hands in front of the body.
c. She does not use a windup in which there is a stop or reversal of the forward motion.
d. She does not make two revolutions of the arm in the windmill pitch. A pitcher may drop her arm to the side and to the rear before starting the windmill motion.
e. She does not continue to wind up after taking the forward step, which is simultaneous with the release of the ball.
f. Techniques such as the “crow hop,” the replant of the pivot foot prior delivering of the pitch, and the “leap,” prior to the release of the pitch are illegal.
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| Kristen C
April 11, 2014
5:16:14 PM
Entry #: 4120285
| Ok, I just took on an assistant coach position and it was the former coach who told me this. Maybe he just misinterpreted the rules. I know "crow-hop" and "leaping" are illegal. I just want to make sure the girls could get the correct full pitch motion and not be limited. I had mentioned to him that it would be an extreme hindrance on the pitch motion if that were really the rule...Thank you for confirming my suspicion.
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