Drive Mechanics

[javasource]

So the female physique is "unique" (what of only two available types??!!!) and "from what you know about the female physique," does this mean you teach boys and men a different motion? I don't buy that for a minute. And gym stepping ala Finch is recommended, ie moving the foot? Ask the ump about that.

I'm sorry, I will only respond to those that are in my circle of trust...

 

[javasource]

Yes. Without a doubt, a step is illegal and should be. The refs should nail the violators and the coaches/parents should adjust teaching appropriately.

The focus of this thread is not the rule, but the fundamental mechanics that can be studied and learned from.

Thanks, Ken... your response is spot on.

In ASA, both feet are required to maintain contact with the plate until the stride. A slide across, pivot, or any other movement of the feet on the plate, that does not break contact PRIOR TO THE STRIDE, is perfectly legal.

Do realize that I fully understand and advocate an understanding and adherence to the rules of softball pitching. That said... the small 'step' forward CAN and should be performed in games legally. View knightsb's previous post of Cat Osterman if you want to see what the legal step forward looks like... and I'll leave it at that...

I'm going to wrap up the Dominance posts in the next day or two with a bunch of posts related to conditioning. From there, we're going to revisit knightsb's comments with a further look into the importance of posture. After that, I hope to provide you all with a collaborative video effort with another PC... who has... and will continue to be, pivotal in my development and improvement in this incredible sport. Bit of a teaser... but we hope to make it well worth your wait...

 

[Ken B]

Looking forward to the conditioning chapter.

 

[Rocketech1]

Just so we are clear, you are not advocating the stride foot leaves the pitching plate and ground just prior to the push off of the plate with the pivot foot. If so, it's illegal and should not be encouraged. Monica Abbott's "gym step" would be illegal unless there are some international rules allowing it that I am unaware of.

KenB- you are coaching too much soccer : )

 

[Ken B]

KenB- you are coaching too much soccer : )

The other day I'd just returned from SB open gym and needed to make a few call to BB parents, some of which had also been on my soccer team. A couple of the calls went like, "Hi, this is Coach Ken from softb... er, socc..., I mean basketball!"

I've heard my parents snicker from the sidelines during basketball practice when I say stuff like "throw in" instead of "inbounds."

 

[Doug Romrell]

...the small 'step' forward CAN and should be performed in games legally. View knightsb's previous post of Cat Osterman if you want to see what the legal step forward looks like...

I quite like what Osterman does in this regard.

 

[GunnerShotgun]

I quite like what Osterman does in this regard.

I would like to discuss this further. Where is the Cat Osterman clip? I searched for it.

Does she position her feet so she can step while still remaining on the mound (legally)? What is the thinking/strategy behind this?

 

[knightsb]

 

[knightsb]

I would like to discuss this further. Where is the Cat Osterman clip? I searched for it.

Does she position her feet so she can step while still remaining on the mound (legally)? What is the thinking/strategy behind this?

GS, I beleive JS's point is, if Cat were pitching with a plate under her foot, she can legally reposition her foot on the plate during the course of the pitch. Without a plate in the above clip it may be hard to see, but one could imagine being able to take a short step forward as long as the foot remains in contact with the pitcher's plate. Why do this? 1) To give the feel of the sudden transfer of weight from the stride foot to the pivot foot. 2) To give the pitcher the feel of a running start. I think many times when people freak out about the skip step, it is not valid because the heel of the pivot foot is still in contact with the pitchers plate, or (and this may be the controversial part), the pivot foot is still in the plain (think of the NFL and the nose of the football crossing the imaginary end zone plain) of the pitchers plate, even if the heel has been lifted off.

 

[CoachScott]

Be careful with your words here knightsb.

she can legally reposition her foot on the plate during the course of the pitch

According to ASA, if that reposition of her foot involves lifting, that is an illegal pitch. There can be no daylight under that drive foot. I know she slides her foot across but maintains contact.

I cannot see the clip at work so it's hard to tell exactly what you are referring to.

I also can't envision this as legal either.

take a short step forward as long as the foot remains in contact with the pitcher's plate.

I envision air under a step, thus illegal.

Upon pushing off the heel does leave the pitcher's rubber but then the toe/toes much maintain contact with the ground. If there is a trench then the foot/toes cannot be any higher than level of the field.

The way you describe it, I envision air/daylight under the foot which is an illegal pitch. Again, I don't see the reference video clip. I'm going off your description.