This weekend, the pitcher on DD's 8U team got called for around 20 illegal pitches over the course of two games.
Each time, the umpire told her that she had to step on the rubber with her hands apart and the ball in her pitching hand (not glove). Then she had to stay with her hands apart for two seconds, then put her hands together and pause for two seconds, then she could pitch. If she stepped on the rubber with the ball in her glove, he'd call an illegal pitch. If her hands were apart for less than whatever he decided two seconds was, then he called an illegal pitch. If she wasn't still for two seconds while her hands were together, then he called an illegal pitch.
DD has been taught that the ball could be in the glove or the pitching hand when the pitcher steps on the rubber, but that the important thing is that the hands are apart. She's also been taught that she steps on with hands apart, brings them together for at least one second, and then she's free to pitch.
So is DD's pitching coach wrong, or did the ump blow the call over and over again this weekend?
Edited to add: this was an ASA tournament.
Each time, the umpire told her that she had to step on the rubber with her hands apart and the ball in her pitching hand (not glove). Then she had to stay with her hands apart for two seconds, then put her hands together and pause for two seconds, then she could pitch. If she stepped on the rubber with the ball in her glove, he'd call an illegal pitch. If her hands were apart for less than whatever he decided two seconds was, then he called an illegal pitch. If she wasn't still for two seconds while her hands were together, then he called an illegal pitch.
DD has been taught that the ball could be in the glove or the pitching hand when the pitcher steps on the rubber, but that the important thing is that the hands are apart. She's also been taught that she steps on with hands apart, brings them together for at least one second, and then she's free to pitch.
So is DD's pitching coach wrong, or did the ump blow the call over and over again this weekend?
Edited to add: this was an ASA tournament.
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