pitching distance for 14/16 this season????

[carolinafan]

Do any of the blues on here know if 14U or 16U will be going to 43' this coming tourney season? ASA and NSA speaking. Thanks!

[SoCalASABlue]

The annual ASA pow-wow is November 7-13 in Reno and I'm sure this will be discussed. Even though it makes sense to get the pitchers working at the 43' distance earlier rather than later, my guess is that 14U will stay at 40'. As is stated on numerous other posts where ASA "corporate" is concerned, they'll probably need to figure out some kind of money angle first. IMHO

[softballdadcoach]

We have been talking about this in our area, and we are expecting the 14U to go to the 43' rule in addition to the 16U because of the high number of JV players who are playing in that age group (14U, that is). My daughter's team this summer season (14U) had 2 pitchers and 4 other players who played on their respective JV or Varsity teams.

[SnocatzDad]

We have been talking about this in our area, and we are expecting the 14U to go to the 43' rule in addition to the 16U because of the high number of JV players who are playing in that age group (14U, that is). My daughter's team this summer season (14U) had 2 pitchers and 4 other players who played on their respective JV or Varsity teams.

I could understand having 14UA play at 43 ft because those are the kids as mentioned above that could be pitching HS, but I would hate to see B/C Rec pushed to 43 ft at that age. Kids are still entering our sport at that level and most of the games consist of a concerted effort to not walk in 5 runs. Pitchers at that level are still struggling to throw a strike when they want to and adding 3 ft doesn't make that easier. In addition many 13yr olds aren't completely physically mature whereas I would say about 99% of 15 yr old girls have reached full adult size and should be expected to be able to handle anything at that point.

[wadeintothem]

Agree with the above.

Already the pitching at 14U is not as great as is commonly thought. All but the elite pitchers have little movement or speed right now. Adding 3 feet will hurt.

Seems like we have blind parental ego driving this, because its not the skill level at 14U forcing this.

At least the base umpire will get some exercise.

[Sftbll4ever]

I agree with Wade. Moving 14u back is just a bad idea. If anything, move 16u back seeing that most (not all) will be pitching 43 on their Varsity teams. I think that some of the posters are missing the part where this will only affect Varsity.

[softballdadcoach]

Our understanding was that the new rule will affect ALL highschool play--both Varsity and JV. Does anyone know differently?

I personally agree that the 14U pitching in our area (apeaking of the ASA tourney teams like my two DD play for) is mostly 'adequate' at best, but many of these girls are pitching on their JV and/or varsity teams as well. That was the only reason I would want the change down at that level--I am not sure if even a good 14U pitcher can adjust her 'movement' pitches back and forth from the 40' to 43' spot. I was never a pitcher, but having your pitch 'curve' or 'drop' at 2 different lengths sounds like it would be difficult...

[PDad]

Our understanding was that the new rule will affect ALL highschool play--both Varsity and JV. Does anyone know differently?

The press release from NFHS only says Varsity. Some people have posted that a state association could adopt it for JV too. Here is the press release:

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (July 7, 2009) - Effective with the 2010-11 school year, the pitching distance for high school varsity softball pitchers will increase from 40 feet to 43 feet.

The new pitching distance was one of four rules revisions made by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Softball Rules Committee at its annual meeting June 8-10 in Indianapolis. The rules changes subsequently were approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Although the new pitching distance is mandatory beginning with the 2010-11 school year, NFHS-member state high school associations may adopt the 43-feet distance in 2009-10, if desired.

After at least 10 years of debate by committee members, the NFHS has extended the fast-pitch pitching distance to 43 feet. The change to Rule 1-1-2b was made after two member state associations experimented with 43 feet - Florida for four years and Oregon for one year. Coaches surveyed within these states were overwhelmingly supportive of the change.

Creating a better balance between the offense and the defense was the major rationale for the rule change. Experimentation results from both states indicated more batted balls were hit into play.

"Our main thrust is getting the defense more involved," said Mary Struckhoff, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Softball Rules Committee. "When more balls are hit into play, the defense is more involved in the game, thus enhancing skill development."

[Clean_up]

I heard it will be up to each region or section to adopt 43' for Junior Varsity, they will have the choice to leave it at 40' if they want. I assume that would be decided by the Leagues, not exactly sure if you can have some schools in the same league with different pitching distances, I'm new to all the HS logistics and rules, etc...I would think they would decide as a league..?

[PDad]

It will probably be decided by "section" otherwise playoffs would be a mess

JV doesn't have playoffs. I guess you're talking about adopting 43' for varsity this year instead of waiting until 2010-2011...