Illegal Pitch?

[P&C Dad]

Last night, the home plate umpire came over after the first half of the first inning of a 12u game to let HC and I know that my DD was pitching illegally (he didn't call an IP and said that he wasn't going to call one on her, but wanted to let us know that others will call it going forward). She is RH and starts with her right heel touching the front of the pitching plate and the left foot touching the back of the plate. Her right foot is in contact with the plate at the start of her motion and does not move forward prior to pushing off.

He said the pitches become illegal once she gets ready to push off and the heel comes up and loses contact with the plate. The next inning, she adjusted by starting with her foot on the plate and he didn't have any further issues.

My question is this, is it illegal? She has never been called for an IP before - but that doesn't mean that what she is doing is correct. What do you think?

 

[Sweet Lou]

Sounds like an ump who doesn't understand the rule.
What you describe sounds perfectly legal to me.

 

[RubberBiscuit]

Not reflecting any rule references but from what I have seen in college ball, which in this special IP case has been pretty darn consistent, is that as long as the push-foot does not creep forward just before digging in, I have not seen an IP called on this.

 

[smddad]

Pushing off with the pivot foot from a place other than the pitcher’s plate is illegal.

 

[SoCalASABlue]

Legal pitch.

 

[coach james]

I dont believe the rule states that you must push off the rubber, only in contact with it at the start of the pitch. That said, this is exactly how Hillhouse teaches...

 

[Comp]

She is legal for ASA which only says the foot has to be touching the pitching plate at the start of the pitch. Most other associaitons, however, require at least a portion of the pivot foot to be on top of the pitching plate.

So, for ASA Legal, most others illegal.

 

[smddad]

I dont believe the rule states that you must push off the rubber, only in contact with it at the start of the pitch. That said, this is exactly how Hillhouse teaches...

You are right. It doesn't say you must push of the rubber. It does, however, say that pushing off a place other than the pitcher's plate is illegal. ASA 6.3.J

 

[Comp]

You are right. It doesn't say you must push of the rubber. It does, however, say that pushing off a place other than the pitcher's plate is illegal. ASA 6.3.J

As long as she starts with the foot touching the pitching plate and does not slide the foot any further forward at the start of her delivery she is completely legal under ASA rules. Other rule sets require the foot to be at least partially on top of the pitching plate.

 

[smddad]

As long as she starts with the foot touching the pitching plate and does not slide the foot any further forward at the start of her delivery she is completely legal under ASA rules. Other rule sets require the foot to be at least partially on top of the pitching plate.

I quoted it word for word from ASA's rulebook in the fastptich section. Now you're saying it's not a rule. Please explain.


ASA 6.3.J says: Pushing off with the pivot foot from a place other than the pitcher’s plate is illegal.