jonriv wrote:Where are the coaches in all of this?
That is the real question. A pitcher has reached the collegiate level and still doesn't know what is and isn't legal in her delivery. And the coaches know and choose to ignore the pitcher's shortcomings in the delivery process. If the coach is the "once they call it, we will address it" type, well, IMO, not much of a real coach and I certainly wouldn't want my DD's softball career in his/her hands.
It isn't as if the different rule sets have different requirements, in this aspect, they are all the same. They must all step into contact with the
pitcher's plate with their hands separated, hesitate using whatever reasoning (i.e. simulating taking a signal) and then start their delivery routine.
The different organizations may have different manners or levels of contact with the PP (contact, on top, one foot, both feet, etc.), but none permit the initiation of that contact to be simultaneous or part of the pitcher's delivery.