Pitcher with a fast delivery

Yes, but not sure what the rule means. It needs to be eliminated.

(I do not watch it close enough but I think most college pitchers get thier sign from the dugout while in the circle but not on pitching plate yet)

jryan15 said:

Is there any requirement about taking a sign? I thought the big thing with wrist bands was that the pitchers still need to simulate taking a sign after they step on the rubber.

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This is common area of of confusion. They can get the sign anywhere from anyone. Then once they toe the rubber, they must pause. Hands apart with ball in hand, or in glove. The rule book has some very poor wording about about taking or simulate taking a sign. But all they need to do is pause which keeps them from doing what amounts to a walk through. The book also says they must bring their hands together for 1 second prior to bringing them apart which is the actual start of the pitch. Most umpires hold that so long as the hands come together and touch that is close enough. Once they break their hands that is the point of no return. They must deliver the pitch or it is an IP. Chelsea Wilkinson knows this all too well. That said in international play there is the requirement for a significant pause once they bring the hands together. This is the bane of many US pitchers as it takes a conscious effort and will get called as an IP. I think it was a pitcher from Venezuela (?) who in the 2008 Olympics was called numerous times for not pausing. Kind of strange since she probably grew up playing with those rules. I guess even down there pitching rules are not routinely enforced.

Once both feet are in the box you are live and ready to hit per the rules. Even if your hand is up its up to the umpire to grant you time. if they don't put their hand up too then your out of luck.

jryan15 said:

Is there any requirement about taking a sign? I thought the big thing with wrist bands was that the pitchers still need to simulate taking a sign after they step on the rubber.

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You are correct. After stepping onto the pitchers plate with hands separated, the pitcher must pause with the hands still separated, and take or simulate taking a sign from the catcher. This requirement actually has nothing to do with where the pitcher gets her actual sign from, it's purpose is to have the pitcher pause and the batter to know that the pitcher is preparing to pitch.

There is no requirement for the pitcher to wait for the batter to be ready prior to this pause.

Ajaywill said:

You are correct. After stepping onto the pitchers plate with hands separated, the pitcher must pause with the hands still separated, and take or simulate taking a sign from the catcher. This requirement actually has nothing to do with where the pitcher gets her actual sign from, it's purpose is to have the pitcher pause and the batter to know that the pitcher is preparing to pitch.

There is no requirement for the pitcher to wait for the batter to be ready prior to this pause.

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Thanks, that was what I though.

FWIW I'm not saying the pitcher needed to wait on the batter to get set. My beef is that if you look at the video, there is no pause whatsoever after she steps on the rubber. Her left foot bumps the rubber (if at all) and then she is going.

Comp said:

There is no requirement for the pitcher to pause after the hands have come together. The hands can be in motion as they come together and remain in motion.

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There is no rule where the pitcher has to present or pause with the ball in the glove before pitching?

Have often wondered how you require someone to "simulate" seeing something.

martianr said:

There is no rule where the pitcher has to present or pause with the ball in the glove before pitching?

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My comment is exactly what it says and was in response to a comment about the hands must come together and pause. There is no such rule, just as there is no mention of "presenting" the ball in the rule book.

Yes, there is a rule the pitcher must engage the pitching plate with the hands separated and take or simulate taking a signal while in that position. The video posted starts almost immediately as the pitcher is starting her motion, I have no idea what she did before, it would be nice to have at least a few more seconds of video prior to engaging the pitching plate. This is something I have bringing up for several years in various umpire meetings and was actually a point of emphasis in both NFHS and NCAA this year. In fact, NCAA defined the pause as being 2 seconds with the hands separated. While I didnt watch a ton of college softball on TV this year, I only saw it called 1 time and virtually every pitcher in the WCWS was stepping on and immediately bringing the hands together. The rule has been ignored for years at all levels and continues to be ignored even after the point of emphasis came out. Doesnt make it right, but until UIC's across the country insist on umpires cracking down on all the pitching rules not much will happen.

riseball said:

Have often wondered how you require someone to "simulate" seeing something.

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Easy....they have to look at the catcher.....

Ajaywill said:

Easy....they have to look at the catcher.....

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Do they then have to pretend to agree by nodding? My point is that it sounds like it was written by a moron. The rule should be written to accomplish a specific end result, not to facilitate a game of make believe. It is the poor wording that has caused significant confusion throughout the years.