Leaping into Rule 6

Summary Slow Pitch Fast Pitch

Slow Pitch Pitching

Key Topics Contact & Feet Stop Start Step Release Illegal Pitch Excessive Speed Motion prior to contacting pitcher’s plate

Contact, Stop & Start Pivot foot must contact pitcher’s plate Can be off the edge From stop to release Non-pivot foot anywhere One second stop facing batter Pitch starts with first motion after stop Before stop can use any motion

Step Step not required but if taken may be in any direction Must maintain contact with pitcher’s plate Must be simultaneous with the release After release may take more steps

Release Must release on first swing past hip No stop or reversal of forward motion No release behind back, through legs or from glove Palm over or under ball Moderate speed Six to Ten feet from Ground Can’t continue pitching motion the release

Illegal Pitch Call “Illegal Pitch” when it occurs Loud enough for batter and catcher to hear Give delayed dead ball signal If batter does not swing award a ball Ignore illegal pitch if batter swings Be consistent

Excessive Speed Dangerous Entirely Umpire’s Judgment Ball on batter and warn the pitcher Second Violation Remove the pitcher from the pitching position for remainder of the game

Motion Prior To Contact with Pitcher’s Plate Any motion to pitch prior to contacting pitcher’s plate Illegal Pitch Warn Pitcher Second Violation Remove the pitcher from the pitching position for remainder of the game

Review – Pitching Motion Prior to contact with the pitcher’s plate No motion to pitch is allowed After contact with the pitcher’s plate and before the required stop Any motion may be used After stop Pitch starts with the first motion After release Motion can not continue

Fast Pitch

Key Topics Preliminaries Starting the Pitch Delivery Intentional Walk Defensive Positioning Foreign Substances Catcher Throwing to a base Warm-up Pitches No Pitch

Preliminaries Hands must be separated when making contact with pitcher’s plate (ball in hand or glove) Catcher must be in position to receive pitch Take or simulate taking a signal Bring hands together for 1-10 seconds Foot(Men’s) Feet (Women’s, JO) must remain in contact with pitcher’s plate prior to forward step

Starting the Pitch The pitch starts when one hand is taken off the ball after the hands have been placed together

Legal Delivery No motion to pitch without immediately delivering the ball After separating the hands to pitch the hands may not come back together May not make a stop or reversal of forward motion after hands separate

Legal Delivery-Fast Pitch May not make two revolutions of arm in windmill May drop the arm to side and rear before starting windmill

Legal Delivery- Fast Release of ball and follow through must be forward past the straight line of the body Must not make another revolution after release of the ball Known as the Eephus (Ephus) pitch

Eephus Pitch Pic 1 Pitcher starting the pitch. Pic 2 Hand dropped down and behind as if to start the windmill pitch. Pic 3 Ball released at hip on forward motion. Pic 4 Pitcher continues to follow through. Pic 5 Pitcher turns shoulder and hand backward. This is a deliberate act and is when the pitch becomes illegal. Pic 6-8 Pitcher continues the windmill motion. Note: This infraction must be called by the base umpire.

Legal Delivery-Men’s Fast Pitch One step simultaneous with release of ball Must be forward toward batter May slide foot in any direction across pitcher’s plate As long as contact is maintained No rocking motion

Men’s Fast Pitch Pic 1 Pitcher brings hands together. Pic 2&3 Pitcher rocks back behind the pitching plate. Pic 4 Pitcher steps back on gaining momentum to pitch the ball. Pic 5 Pitcher pushing off to deliver the ball

Legal Delivery- Women’s JO Fast Pitch One step simultaneous with release of ball Must be forward within the 24” length May slide foot in any direction across pitcher’s plate As long as contact is maintained No rocking motion

Women’s / JO Fast Pitch Pic 1 Pitcher stepping outside the 24” width to deliver pitch. Pic 2 Green lines depict the 24” width.

Men’s Fast Pitch Pic 1 Front view of pitcher bringing hands together. Pic 2 Pitcher driving off pitcher’s plate. Pic 3 Pitcher stepping outside the 24” width. Pic 4 Pitcher delivers the ball. Note: This is legal in the Men’s game.