Pitching history

[NewCoach]

How long has the rule concerning the pitchers pivot foot staying in contact with the ground been in effect? I was chatting with a woman that told me when she pitched in high school there was no such rule. She went to high school in Texas, and I would guess maybe 20 years ago. I am trying to decide if she knows of what she speaks or is full of it. She has made a few comments that I question, and she is a coach on DDs fall team, either she is a fountian of information or DD and I need to run after this season.

[MTR]

How long has the rule concerning the pitchers pivot foot staying in contact with the ground been in effect? I was chatting with a woman that told me when she pitched in high school there was no such rule. She went to high school in Texas, and I would guess maybe 20 years ago. I am trying to decide if she knows of what she speaks or is full of it. She has made a few comments that I question, and she is a coach on DDs fall team, either she is a fountian of information or DD and I need to run after this season.

Do you mean incontact with the ground in front of the pitchers plate? If so, that is correct. Until that was permitted the pitcher was required to keep the pivot foot in contact with the pitchers until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. I can document that as early as 1936.

[NewCoach]

MTR,
If I am reading your response correctly, you are saying a RH pitcher must keep her right foot in contact with the ground until the ball is released, and that rule has been in effect since at least 1936. Previous to that the right foot must stay in contact with the rubber until release? And that is one of the rule modifications to be considered this winter?

[MTR]

MTR,
If I am reading your response correctly, you are saying a RH pitcher must keep her right foot in contact with the ground until the ball is released, and that rule has been in effect since at least 1936. Previous to that the right foot must stay in contact with the rubber until release? And that is one of the rule modifications to be considered this winter?

No, I asked you to qualify the question. Presently the rule is the pitcher must keep the pivot foot in contact witht he ground. Prior to that allowance being permitted, the pitcher had to keep contact with the pitcher's plate until the ball was released.

In your OP you offered:
I was chatting with a woman that told me when she pitched in high school
there was no such rule. She went to high school in Texas, and I would guess maybe 20 years ago

My request for more information was based upon the possibility of the coach's comment could be that a leap was allowed when she played and if that was the point, I don't think she is correct.

[Sparky Guy]

MTR,
If I am reading your response correctly, you are saying a RH pitcher must keep her right foot in contact with the ground until the ball is released, and that rule has been in effect since at least 1936. Previous to that the right foot must stay in contact with the rubber until release? And that is one of the rule modifications to be considered this winter?

That rule is for Women's Fastpitch. Not for JO fastpitch.

[MTR]

MTR,
If I am reading your response correctly, you are saying a RH pitcher must keep her right foot in contact with the ground until the ball is released, and that rule has been in effect since at least 1936. Previous to that the right foot must stay in contact with the rubber until release? And that is one of the rule modifications to be considered this winter?

That rule is for Women's Fastpitch. Not for JO fastpitch.

What makes you say that?

[Tucson]

HS rules allow you to step back, which ASA does not. But as far as the dragging part, I don't know how long it has been around.

I wouldn't let her teach my DD, if she hasn't updated her training.

[sotolini]

Yeah CIF rules are different in some areas! The rule about the pivot foot is to keep the pitcher from jumping, I believe, but if the dirt just beyong the rubber is worn down a slight hop would be allowed as long as it was at where the dirt level would be if it had not been worn down... so maybe an appearance of a hop... Who knows what the rule was in Texas back in 19????? The question is, what is she teaching the girls now...

[pdj]

In youth ball/hs I cannot remember that leaping (push/pivot foot leaving the ground) was ever legal. By 1980 nearly all the girls were windmill, a lot were leaping but, very seldom was it called.

Old guys can correct me if necessary but, I believe there was an IP called for leaping during the cship game of the men's major in the late 1970's. Ty vs. Burlison with Burlison getting called?

Don't remember when the " in contact with the pitcher's plate" went away. No windmiller paid attention to the rule and I never saw it enforced.