Angel Bunner: Crowhop?

[Ken B]

While watching game 2 of the Auburn/Alabama game, I noticed Bunner's drag foot plant just before the stride foot touched, then continue on with the drag. A friend's daughter will be entering HS next year and plants very similarly to Bunner. In regular time, it looks like a pause in the drag, but like Bunner, in slo-mo it really looks like a second push. Any chance she will get called in HS if she continues this?

Thanks,
Ken

 

[Comp]

Big discussion on this very issue on an umpie board. A single picture from a pitch delivery does not really tell the whole story, but, up until this week the majority of umpires would probably have ruled this to be illegal. However, in the last month or so, NCAA has come out with a ruling that as long as the drag foot maintains contact with the ground on the initial push off the pitch should be considered legal. I have not seen the ruling as yet, but it has been mentioned that FED is taking the same stance. ASA is suppose to be issuing a clarication next month indicateing they are essentially following the same basic ruling, and have even stated that it is impossible for a pitcher to drag, replant and push again with the non pivot foot in the air.

 

[starsnuffer]

Wow, Comp, just Wow.

With that interpretation, it would be possible for the pitcher to do a sideways shuffle all the way to home plate and then throw the ball into the catchers glove from 5 inches away, so long as her feet didn't loose contact with the ground.

And they say people are too mean to the ASA nutjobs making the rules.

-W

 

[MandM]

What would you call this? Is this what is going to be considered a legal pitch. IMO this is crow-hopping and at full speed it is hard to see whether the pivot foot leaves the ground or not. But it very clearly gives the pitcher a speed advantage over girls who do not do this.

Grace Moll - YouTube

I have never seen this pitcher live, so this may be an aberration for her- I am just using the clip as an example.

 

[Comp]

What would you call this? Is this what is going to be considered a legal pitch. IMO this is crow-hopping and at full speed it is hard to see whether the pivot foot leaves the ground or not. But it very clearly gives the pitcher a speed advantage over girls who do not do this.

Essentially the same motion as the video posted on the umpire discussion. Based on the NCAA ruling that came out last month, and what Im reading that is coming out of FED and ASA, yes this is considered to be legal as long as the pivot foot does not leave the ground.

 

[cshilt]

I think that the NCAA interpretation is also looking at the arm circle. There must not be a pause in the circle. If there I'd a hitch in the circle it well be called illegal.

 

[Perfect Circle]

I think that the NCAA interpretation is also looking at the arm circle. There must not be a pause in the circle. If there I'd a hitch in the circle it well be called illegal.

crowhop is caused by a hitch in the arm circle... First side effect of trying to learn a CU.

 

[tojo]

The pitcher in the video is illegal because she is leaping. There is no drag mark from the rubber and the re-plant hole in front of the rubber. I would probably not call this crow hopping as much as leaping. The pivot foot does re-plant but it appears that the pivot foot is pulled forward by the hips closing. Although, when she throws the drop curve she does push off with the pivot foot. She is definitely leaping.

 

[Comp]

NCAA memo that wasnt out.

Eff. March 28, 2012 from the NCAA Rules Interpreter.

FOR THE RECORD--REGARDING THE ONE ALLOWABLE STEP TOWARD HOME PLATE, IT IS ILLEGAL IF THE PIVOT FOOT BECOMES AIRBORNE IN A REPLANT, LEAP OR CROW HOP. IT IS LEGAL FOOTWORK IF THE PIVOT FOOT IS IN CONTACT WITH THE PITCHER'S PLATE PRIOR TO THE INITIAL DRIVE AND THEN REMAINS IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND THROUGHOUT THE PITCHING MOTION AS THE FRONT FOOT LANDS INSIDE THE PITCHER'S LANE.

As indicated earlier, it is my understanding from things I have read FED will be taking the same position.

 

[Perfect Circle]

I think that the NCAA interpretation is also looking at the arm circle. There must not be a pause in the circle. If there I'd a hitch in the circle it well be called illegal.

When learning it, not after you have mastered it... and you probably don't have a crowhop either... do they ???

I can see this being very reverential to this topic. Cause & effect. Because it gives Ump an easier view...they can't watch for it in every circumstance.