Copied from the email I received from USSSA:
At its 52nd annual convention in Fort Myers, Florida, USSSA introduced several fastpitch rule changes for the 2020 season. They are effective January 1, 2020 and will be revised in the online rule book. Contact your State Director with any questions on the rule changes.
"Our rule book is now on a two year print cycle and this is the off year," according to Andy Wisk, chairman of the USSSA National Fastpitch Committee. "Off year changes, which are made to the online version of the rule book, are generally made to clarify previous revisions, or to enhance safety."
SUMMARY OF RULE CHANGES:
PITCHER'S FOOT PLACEMENT: this change eliminates the requirement that a pitcher must have part of her pivot foot (the right foot for a right-handed pitcher) on top of the pitcher's plate. The rule will now only require the pivot foot to be in contact with the plate.
It also allows the pitcher to start with the non-pivot ("stride") foot in contact with or behind the plate and allows the pitcher to step back with the non-pivot foot, provided the step-back begins prior to starting the pitch by separating the hands.
"This change aligns our rule on pitcher's feet placement with the other major rule books in youth softball," said Jami Lobpries, National Director of Fastpitch. "With this revision, USSSA, USA Softball, and the National Federation of State High School Associations will have a unified pitching rule."
"This is a 'win-win' for all the stakeholders," according to Wisk. "Nobody who has been pitching legally under existing rules will have to change their pitching style unless they want to, but pitchers who want to pitch using styles legal in college and high school will also be compliant. Additionally, those who administer our events, such as directors and umpires should have less confusion to deal with due to this rule alignment."
COACH SIT OUT FOR EJECTIONS: this clarifies that the sit out game for a coach who is ejected must be the next game that is actually played. A non-played game such as a forfeit does not satisfy the sit out requirement.
NO BUNTING IN COACH/MACHINE PITCH – restores an omitted 2019 revision to Rule 17.
ENHANCED PENALTY FOR A PITCHER DELIBERATELY DROPPING OR ROLLING A BALL DURING THE PITCH: this changes the penalty to a team warning for the first offense, and player restriction/coach ejection for subsequent offenses.
"With the reduction in the illegal pitch penalty made last year, an illegal pitch is no longer the appropriate penalty for this violation," said Don Briscoe, National Rules Coordinator.
BYLAW CHANGES: There were several bylaw changes made to properly reflect the current structure and administration of USSSA fastpitch and a clarification made on determining home/visitor in national championship double elimination brackets. That clarification is as follows:
Bracket play – higher seed gets choice (if equal seeds, then coin flip) Championship game – undefeated (winner's bracket) team gets choice, regardless of seed If necessary game – coin flip
USSSA is headquartered in Brevard County, Florida. USSSA is the world's largest multi-sport organization. Founded in 1968, USSSA has grown to over 4.2 million participants, competing in 14 nationally sanctioned sports including Baseball, Fastpitch, Slow Pitch, Karate, Basketball, Soccer and more! For more information on USSSA and to register your team visit www.usssa.com
Jami Lobpries, Ph.D National Director of USSSA Fastpitch
At its 52nd annual convention in Fort Myers, Florida, USSSA introduced several fastpitch rule changes for the 2020 season. They are effective January 1, 2020 and will be revised in the online rule book. Contact your State Director with any questions on the rule changes.
"Our rule book is now on a two year print cycle and this is the off year," according to Andy Wisk, chairman of the USSSA National Fastpitch Committee. "Off year changes, which are made to the online version of the rule book, are generally made to clarify previous revisions, or to enhance safety."
SUMMARY OF RULE CHANGES:
PITCHER'S FOOT PLACEMENT: this change eliminates the requirement that a pitcher must have part of her pivot foot (the right foot for a right-handed pitcher) on top of the pitcher's plate. The rule will now only require the pivot foot to be in contact with the plate.
It also allows the pitcher to start with the non-pivot ("stride") foot in contact with or behind the plate and allows the pitcher to step back with the non-pivot foot, provided the step-back begins prior to starting the pitch by separating the hands.
"This change aligns our rule on pitcher's feet placement with the other major rule books in youth softball," said Jami Lobpries, National Director of Fastpitch. "With this revision, USSSA, USA Softball, and the National Federation of State High School Associations will have a unified pitching rule."
"This is a 'win-win' for all the stakeholders," according to Wisk. "Nobody who has been pitching legally under existing rules will have to change their pitching style unless they want to, but pitchers who want to pitch using styles legal in college and high school will also be compliant. Additionally, those who administer our events, such as directors and umpires should have less confusion to deal with due to this rule alignment."
COACH SIT OUT FOR EJECTIONS: this clarifies that the sit out game for a coach who is ejected must be the next game that is actually played. A non-played game such as a forfeit does not satisfy the sit out requirement.
NO BUNTING IN COACH/MACHINE PITCH – restores an omitted 2019 revision to Rule 17.
ENHANCED PENALTY FOR A PITCHER DELIBERATELY DROPPING OR ROLLING A BALL DURING THE PITCH: this changes the penalty to a team warning for the first offense, and player restriction/coach ejection for subsequent offenses.
"With the reduction in the illegal pitch penalty made last year, an illegal pitch is no longer the appropriate penalty for this violation," said Don Briscoe, National Rules Coordinator.
BYLAW CHANGES: There were several bylaw changes made to properly reflect the current structure and administration of USSSA fastpitch and a clarification made on determining home/visitor in national championship double elimination brackets. That clarification is as follows:
Bracket play – higher seed gets choice (if equal seeds, then coin flip) Championship game – undefeated (winner's bracket) team gets choice, regardless of seed If necessary game – coin flip
USSSA is headquartered in Brevard County, Florida. USSSA is the world's largest multi-sport organization. Founded in 1968, USSSA has grown to over 4.2 million participants, competing in 14 nationally sanctioned sports including Baseball, Fastpitch, Slow Pitch, Karate, Basketball, Soccer and more! For more information on USSSA and to register your team visit www.usssa.com
Jami Lobpries, Ph.D National Director of USSSA Fastpitch