Illegal Pitch?

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Jun 21, 2017
7
1
Would this be an illegal pitch? Amongst the people that were at this game, there was discussion on both sides of the fence on this. Some thought it was legal, some thought it was illegal. To me, it looks as though she is leaping (not much of a leap, but definitely not dragging her foot) off the pitching plate, replanting, and pushing off again. As a side note, her drag mark that her pivot foot made in the dirt did not begin until the point where she replanted. There was about a 8" to 12" gap between the pitching plate and where her replant occurred and the drag mark started. Some people thought that there was no leap and replant at all, and everything here is perfectly legal. Your comments and opinions are appreciated.

https://youtu.be/TIfzB7RFuuQ
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
She is fully airborne so it is an illegal pitch. She definitely has some mechanical challenges. If she learned to open naturally, it would go away and she would be a much better pitcher for it. This is why IP's need to be called, they are not doing her any favors by allowing her to pitch like this.
 
Last edited:
Jun 25, 2014
159
18
I watched a 10u pitcher hit 51mph consistently on my pocket radar this weekend and guess what she crow hopped bad. Opposing teams complained and complained some more but no umpires would call it and would get defensive about when it was brought up.
 
Jun 21, 2017
7
1
This was an opposing pitcher that we played in the Championship game of a 12u tournament this past weekend. I asked the field ump to watch her for the leap, and the opposing coach flipped out on me and the ump and told us to stop harassing his pitcher. Right then I figured the opposing coach knew she was illegal, and was trying to intimidate the ump and get him not to call it. I basically told the ump that I thought it was illegal and that he should call it so the girl will know she has to correct it. We faced her again in league last night (in which I did not bring it up to the ump since we only had one - tough to call this from behind home plate), but I thought I would get video to see if my thoughts were correct. Video is great for teaching in my opinion.
 
Jun 4, 2014
159
28
She has the tell-tale right knee re-flex. Any time you see the right knee pointed back and bent, you have a replant. Clearly illegal.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Still illegal and will remain so until she fixes her mechanics. As usual the leap is only a symptom of other issues You do not fix leaping, rather you fix the issues that cause the leap.
 
Feb 22, 2013
206
18
I've watched both of these videos and I don't see anything that would give me cause or concern for calling these pitches illegal for leaping. It looks like she drives off of the rubber, lands on her left foot and gets a second push against her front side left foot. So, like the guys at the ball park, I am going to be on the other side of the fence and say that this looks like a legal pitch.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
I've watched both of these videos and I don't see anything that would give me cause or concern for calling these pitches illegal for leaping. It looks like she drives off of the rubber, lands on her left foot and gets a second push against her front side left foot. So, like the guys at the ball park, I am going to be on the other side of the fence and say that this looks like a legal pitch.

I agree. I cannot see anything definitive that would make my mind think "ilegal"
 

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