New
pitching rule for male midget & up categories
There are six basic features to the pitching rule.
They are:
1. CONTACT WITH THE PITCHING PLATE
> The pitcher must start with two feet in contact with the pitching
plate.
> The feet do not have to be on top of the pitching plate.
> The pitcher may heel and toe but the heel and toe must make contact
with the pitching plate.
> The contact must be within the twenty-four (24) inch width of the
pitching plate.
> The feet in contact with the sides of the pitching plate is not legal.
2. SIGNAL
> The signal must be taken from the pitcher's plate while in
position as described in item 1 above.
> A signal may be taken from the catcher or the dugout.
> Looking at the catcher is the same as taking the signal.
> The hands must be separated while taking the signal.
> The ball may be held in either the bare hand or in the glove.
> The ball may be in front or behind the body.
3. PRELIMINARY TO DELIVERY
> After the signal the pitcher must bring the glove hand and bare hand
together in front of the body. The ball may be in the glove or bare
hand.
> In front of the body means not behind the back. Bringing the glove up
to the pitcher's side and pausing is legal.
> The body must come to a complete stop and the pause must be held for a
minimum of one (1) second and not longer than 10 seconds.
> Movement from the pitcher gripping the ball in
the glove during the pause is not a violation.
> During the entire preliminary process the feet must remain in contact
with the pitching plate.
> The feet may not move backward at anytime.
4. START OF THE PITCH
> The pitch starts when the hands separate or there is any motion that
is part of the wind-up.
> Once the hands have separated, the pitcher cannot stop or step back
off the pitching plate.
> The pitcher may move off the pitching plate by stepping back prior to
the separation or the start of the wind-up, however both feet must be
off the pitching plate prior to the separation or the start of the
wind-up.
> Any movement of the feet must be forward or
sideways.
> Lifting the front of the pivot foot (toes) and rocking on the heel is
legal as long as the rear of the foot (heel) remains in contact with the
pitching plate and does not move back.
> Alternately, the pitcher could lift the heel,
and use the front of the foot (toes) to start his momentum as long as
the front of the foot moves forward or sideways and some part of the
foot remains in contact with the pitching plate.
5. DELIVERY
> The pitcher may drop his hands to the side and then to the rear prior
to starting the windmill. The hands going to the rear does not count as
passing the hip.
> The pitcher's hand may pass the hip twice but
there cannot be two (2) complete revolutions.
> The wrist may not be any farther from the hip than the elbow.
> During the delivery, there cannot be a stop or a reversal of the
forward motion.
6. STEP AND RELEASE
> A step must be taken, and it must be forward toward the batter, within
the twenty-four (24) inch width of the pitching plate.
> The pivot foot must push off from the pitching
plate.
> The pitcher may not step in front of the pitching plate and start the
push-off.
> After the push-off with the pivot foot the pitcher may drag, jump or
leap.
> If airborne (leap or jump) the pitcher may land and then throw.
> Once he lands he cannot take another step.
> It is not considered a step if his landing foot slides forward
simultaneous with the release of the ball.
> The ball must be released when the non-pivot
foot reaches the ground.
