FASA pitching Rules

Tango · Oct 25, 2020

In FL HS both feet had to stay in contact with the rubber, the did not adopt the Federation rules even though they use them. In 2021, they are allowing the start back.

How would you teach it to someone that has never Only practiced touching the rubber with a rocker style and out of the glove.

Hillhouse · Oct 25, 2020

How would I teach someone? Easily, have them pitch with 1 foot on the rubber until they get comfortable with it. Ultimately, that's the bottom line: comfort. Like anything new it will take some time to get the timing right and comfort level to throw strikes but, once she does the thought of going back to 2 feet on the rubber will be terrifying. lol. But there is no magical way of teaching this, no magic pill, no magic words regardless of who your coach is. It takes good old fashioned practice and work. That's it. I'd be cautious if someone tried to tell you they have a new, amazing technique that will make the transformation easy. They don't. Nobody does. It just takes practice, like anything else. I will say it's a much easier transformation going to this vs. teaching someone who is already used to it that they must pitch the old way, 2 feet on the rubber. In 5 years time, if you tried to get a girl to pitch with both feet on the rubber, they 'd look at you like you're nuts and nobody would know how to do it. Hopefully we never have to go back to those dark days of 1960's pitching rules.

radness · Oct 25, 2020

Hillhouse said:
Sadly, this isn't correct. Or at least I'm not reading it correctly. Either is possible. I'm not sure what you mean about "comfortable width apart". The actual difference is not having to start and keep both feet in contact with the rubber. One foot can start 1 inch, 3 inches, or 2 FEET behind the rubber with the other foot on the rubber. The back foot doesn't have to be in touch with the rubber at all, but the pitcher cannot extend or increase the distance of the back foot. Once it's planted behind the rubber, it has to stay there.

This is an obvious huge advantage compared to the rules of yesteryear where both feet had to stay in touch with the rubber. Now only 1 foot has to touch.

The "step back" provides the ability to gain more momentum than the "start back" does but, either rule is 100x better than needing to keep 2 feet on the rubber.

If Tango is right, that Florida only now has approved this, they must've been one of the last HS federations to not allow 1 foot on the rubber. Most high schools have allowed this for some time now, even though it's been disallowed in summer or travel ball.

It's beyond insanity that they can't get actual pitchers to come up with one single uniformed rule, instead of some old men sitting in a room trying to make themselves relevant in a sport played by girls. What little is left of men's fastpitch on Earth pretty much has a uniformed rule now. Rulebooks might say different things but nobody cares and people just show up to play regardless of the "rules".

LOL. "its beyond insanity" funny read with clear mechanics to understand!

Still looking forward to seeing the impact of the rule over more time.

BrianTx01 · Oct 25, 2020

Hillhouse said:
The STEP back provides more momentum and more power. NO question. But you can only do it in certain places not ALL places.

The START back is accepted at all parks in all organizations. It's easier to learn this way and keep it going, vs. switching back and forth between start/step backs.

Go with the start back.

Just played a Triple Crown tournament with the Start Back rule and she didn't do too hot. She has been able to transition before without much problem. The last time we didn't even know until she got called for an illegal pitch. She is still 11 so who knows it might of just been her time to have a crappy weekend. She hasn't had one of those in a long time. I definitely hate the multiple standards. She rarely plays Triple Crown.... usually USSSA or USA. She didn't even start using the step back until sometime this past summer. It was something that just happened more naturally. Her pitching coach was actually encouraging her to do it sooner but she resisted for quite a while. When she started to do and it worked we didn't stop it. Maybe that was a mistake?

The problem she was having was throwing high. I am sure the lack of the step back impacted that but the other issue was the darn fields were not level. They had the circle built up....even on the turf fields. I assume for drainage purposes.

FASA pitching Rules

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