Pitcher Receving Signals

We are switching to wristbands this year with our older group. If a pitcher is wearing a wristband and receiving the signals from the catcher, can she check her wristband while on the rubber after receiving those signals from the catcher or does she have to do that before she steps on the rubber? Any help is appreciated.

I'm not positive of the answer on this, but I do some pitch-calling wristband systems for teams, and I always talk about this with the coaches I am doing the systems for so as to not slow down the game or interfere with the pitcher's rhythm. My assumption is that most teams using wristband systems for pitch-calling are having the coach call the pitches, and that they are concerned with signs being stolen between the coach and the catcher ... so the alternative is to have the catcher wear the wristband, and then "translate" the signal to the pitcher with a traditional sign (i.e., one digit for location, and one for the pitch).

Pitcher needs to be on the rubber to receive signals from the catcher

mj1569 said:

Pitcher needs to be on the rubber to receive signals from the catcher

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Not true. The pitcher does not have to receive signals from the catcher, but must simulate receiving a signal from the catcher for each pitch. The pitcher can receive the signal while off of the pitching plate, toe the pitching plate, simulate receiving a signal from the catcher, then throw the pitch. The pitcher can receive the signal from a coach, players on the bench, the catcher, etc.

If the pitcher is receiving the signal from the catcher, can she reference her wristband while on the rubber?

Pitcher can receive the signal from anyone, anywhere. She must simply simulate taking a signal after stepping onto the pitching plate with the hands separated. The only thing I could possibly see a problem with in checking the wrist band after engaging the pitching plate was if she happened to bring the hands together with the ball and separate without pitching the ball.

Lenski said:

Not true. The pitcher does not have to receive signals from the catcher, but must simulate receiving a signal from the catcher for each pitch. The pitcher can receive the signal while off of the pitching plate, toe the pitching plate, simulate receiving a signal from the catcher, then throw the pitch. The pitcher can receive the signal from a coach, players on the bench, the catcher, etc.

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You are right, I should of been more specific. I was meaning hand signals from the catcher while she is in the receiving position.

Lenski said:

Not true. The pitcher does not have to receive signals from the catcher, but must simulate receiving a signal from the catcher for each pitch. The pitcher can receive the signal while off of the pitching plate, toe the pitching plate, simulate receiving a signal from the catcher, then throw the pitch. The pitcher can receive the signal from a coach, players on the bench, the catcher, etc.

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Dad in the stands... ect

Comp said:

Pitcher can receive the signal from anyone, anywhere.

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I have had a lot umpires from different rule sets tell me that you cannot take a signal from the coach while in contact with the rubber. Can you clarify?

GunnerShotgun said:

I have had a lot umpires from different rule sets tell me that you cannot take a signal from the coach while in contact with the rubber. Can you clarify?

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Ask them to show you the rule because there is none.

"ASA rule 6-1-D While on the pitchers plate, the pitcher shall take the signal or appear to take a signal with the hands separated. The ball must remain in either the glove or pitching hand."

The rule does not specify who the pitcher must take the signal from.

"NFHS 6-1-b While in this position, the pitcher shall take (or simulate taking) a signal from the catcher."

Notice it merely says take or simulate taking from the catcher. As long as the pitcher looks at the catcher with the hands separated she is fine, she can still take a signal from anyone and anywhere.

USSSA has the same wording as NFHS. There is no restriction on where or from who the pitcher may take a signal as long as they meet the requirements of the rule to look at the catcher while engaged with the pitching plate with the hands separated.