Thread: The future of crow-hopping in girls fastpitch?

I agree, RubberBiscuit. It's frustrating to watch girls pitching illegally and mowing players down and the ones who do pitch legally and produce easily fielded balls get overlooked.

Given the move to 43' and complete lack of consistent enforcement, I would like to see crowhopping and leaping legalized. For that matter let them start with one foot on the rubber and forget that 24" lane. Anything goes just so long as it's an underhand pitch.

Originally Posted by crystlemc

Here is something I found interesting. I had three different umpires compliment my DD on her "beautiful" pitching mechanics. All three of them told me that if she got a "little air" under her pivot foot, she's gain speed and would never get called on it. One of them even showed me how her DD does it.

Well, my DD can't bring herself to do it, so she has learned well. I'm proud of her for doing it the right way.

Neither is wrong. According to the rules, the pitcher must be higher then the the rubber in order to be "leaping". Since the rubber is usually higher then the field, and there is usually a hole or divot in front of the rubber, a "little air" is perfectly normal and legal, and even recommended since every field is going to have a different hole there. Usually pitchers who are overly critical of field conditions have an overly heavy drag foot.

Kudos to your daughter for choosing the right path according to the knowledge she had at the time.

-W

Originally Posted by RubberBiscuit

I go back to this thought process =>
1. Those who skip/replant/crow-hop have an advantage.
2. I believe it specifically states in the rules that you can not replant that back foot until after the release of the ball.
3. Therefore I blame the organization of umpires for not having a pair & being consistent. It taints the sport like steroids & corked bats.....

Let's fight for consistency for the future genrations of athletes.

I totally agree 1 and 2.
Its starts with a Tournament director that will only have umps that will do it. That might be a challenge in itself because the umps are going to have a terrible day. They are going to delay games, p*ss off at least 1/2 the teams and feel like they need an excort to their cars. All to collect that little bit of money they getting for their effort and time.

I don't think you will find a TD that will want to run off 1/2 the teams....and try to explain to the local boards why he has a financial loss or decreased revenues and why some teams no longer coming to play.

Its a tough cycle that could be changed...but its going to take TD, Local boards, Umps and Coaches to all have a BIG pair. Its not all on the umps.

Good clarification to my #3 there bobbyb!