Pitcher step backward...legal?

Sorry, last thing. To JAD's point.

I do not know of any pitching coaches that teach a step back.

If you pitch with both your feet on the plate you can pitch in all rule sets which is what they teach.

I would guess if a pitcher is stepping back the coach or parent taught her and the P does do have much experience. I would be rooting for her.

Stepping back is still legal in a couple of rule sets. You don't see if often anymore because most pitchers play games under multiple sanctioning bodies and no-step back is legal in all of them.

So depends on what sanctioning body the game is being played under.

Step back is legal only in NFHS, and must be done prior to the hands coming together. Every other rule set I am aware of requires both feet to be in contact with the pitching plate and no step back is allowed.

I thought it was legal in LL? DD has never played LL so I am not sure.

quincy said:

I thought it was legal in LL? DD has never played LL so I am not sure.

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Might be, dont do little LL and dont bother with it. Its rules are baseball based and there are a lot of major differences.

quincy said:

I thought it was legal in LL? DD has never played LL so I am not sure.

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Still legal in LL according to last years rule book (last one I have)

As Comp mentioned, the backward step in HS is legal as long as it happens prior to the hands coming together.

It was mentioned that most pitchers who played more than HS wouldn't use the backward step because it wasn't legal anywhere else. This is what I had observed for a long time, however, I have noticed in the last few years that some pitchers are using the backward step or starting with one foot behind the pitchers plate in HS. It does have an advantage as it allows the pitcher to create some additional drive on their push off and could give them some additional speed.

I did an ASA tournament a few years back the week after HS season ended and I had to call an illegal pitch on the first pitch of the game because the pitcher stepped back....i got about halfway to her to explain what I called...she just looked and said... I know....HS season is over. She then pitcher the rest of the game perfectly legal.

Yes it is legal in LL, but I don't see it as much as I did say 5 years ago. It is also legal in HS as far as I know but I have never seen it done at this level.

IMO and based on personal experience, taking a step back provides a significant advantage. Leaping or replanting not so much.

I would fight against step-back but not for replanting ( in game situation).

marriard said:

Still legal in LL according to last years rule book (last one I have)

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This is correct and LEGAL in LL as well as HS.