NCAA Strike zone

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

1fingeredknuckler

TOUCH EM ALL
May 27, 2010
369
0
WISCONSIN
Is the belt considered by NCAA officials to be the top of the strike zone and the side of the ball has to touch the side of the plate in or out or they will give it off the plate in or out?
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
The NCAA strike zone is the entire ball below the sternum, a ball below the knee and any ball touching the width of the plate. They used to call what they refer to as the "river" both sides of the plate but a few years back the issued a directive to bring the strike zone back to the width of the plate.
 
May 30, 2013
1,442
83
Binghamton, NY
They used to call what they refer to as the "river" both sides of the plate but a few years back the issued a directive to bring the strike zone back to the width of the plate.

Watching game 02 of MICH/MIZZOU this weekend,
"The River" was definitely in play.
Betsa benefited from that much more that Lowary did.

Also noted a strike zone much higher than in other games during this tournament.

In general, I enjoyed this somewhat "expanded" strike zone.
 
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
Obviously this is very umpire dependent but it did seem like a lot of the girls were getting squeezed pretty good and high strikes in baseball or softball at any level are always pretty hard to come by.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Watching game 02 of MICH/MIZZOU this weekend,
"The River" was definitely in play.
Betsa benefited from that much more that Lowary did.

Also noted a strike zone much higher than in other games during this tournament.

In general, I enjoyed this somewhat "expanded" strike zone.

My DD noticed a significant difference in the zone at the FSU Regional vs what was typically called in the SEC. In Tallahassee she consistently got the front corner of the plate and at times even the river. Was basically what she saw her first two years in NJCAA. She was a happy camper. :)
 
Last edited:

1fingeredknuckler

TOUCH EM ALL
May 27, 2010
369
0
WISCONSIN
The NCAA strike zone is the entire ball below the sternum, a ball below the knee and any ball touching the width of the plate. They used to call what they refer to as the "river" both sides of the plate but a few years back the issued a directive to bring the strike zone back to the width of the plate.

with that it's strange that very frequently the ump waits for the catcher to show him?, at least corners more so,if they are good at framing.
 

Ken Krause

Administrator
Admin
May 7, 2008
3,911
113
Mundelein, IL
Calling the river definitely helps the pitchers whose game is primarily horizontal. Taking it away doesn't affect the pitchers who are more vertical in their approach as much, although I'm sure there are times they like it too.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
with that it's strange that very frequently the ump waits for the catcher to show him?, at least corners more so,if they are good at framing.

No, the umpire doesn't wait for the catcher to frame the ball. The call is made more than half the time before the ball reaches the glove. Just because you don't hear or see it immediately doesn't mean they are waiting on anything
 
Nov 8, 2014
182
0
MTR - I caution my catchers to not overframe the ball. Meaning - don't hold it there too long. just a quick freeze and that's it. Is it a safe assumption that overframing will tend to irritate an umpire?
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
MTR - I caution my catchers to not overframe the ball. Meaning - don't hold it there too long. just a quick freeze and that's it. Is it a safe assumption that overframing will tend to irritate an umpire?

Would it irritate you if someone remained in a position that provides nothing but an attempt to show you up?
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,478
Members
21,445
Latest member
Bmac81802
Top