Equipment checks and pitching

Umpires are again required to check equipment this year.

Focus will be on bats and helmets Coaches will still have to verify that all

players are legally equipped

Bats Must have a 2004 or newer ASA certification

mark and not be on the non-approved list (IGHSAU adaptation)

Be one piece, muti-pieces and permanently assembled, or two pieces with interchangeable barrel construction

Be free of rattles, dents, burrs, cracks and sharp edges

Broken, altered or bats that deface the ball are illegal.

Helmets Must have NOCSAE stamp and legible exterior

warning label Must have ear flaps which cover both ears and

temples Broken, cracked, dented or altered helmets are

illegal Must have a NOCSAE approved face protector Must have a chin strap Eye shields (if worn) must be a rigid material that

is clear (not tinted) Required to be worn while the ball is live and in

live-ball territory by players and non-adults

Catcher’s equipment Helmet/mask combination with NOCSAE seal Must have a throat protector Can use “goalie” mask, but it must be

NOCSAE approved Eye shields must be clear Shin guards Body protector Non-adults warming up a pitcher MUST wear a

mask/helmet combination (on and OFF field)

Player equipment Caps, visors and headbands may be mixed

Caps/visors must be the same color Any color headband/hair device (or multi-colored)

may be worn. Teammates do not have to match Players may also wear unadorned unadorned

devices, such as bobby pins, barrettes or hair clips, no longer than two inches, to control a player’s hair

Sleeve lengths may vary EXPOSED undergarments must match among

teammates, but upper and lower body undergarments need not match

Player equipment (cont.) The pitcher may not wear any item on her

pitching hand, wrist, arm or thighs which, in the umpires judgment, be distracting to the batter.

Pitching distance is now 43 feet This is measured from the tip of home plate to

the front of the pitcher’s plate This should create a better balance

between offense and defense

Prior to delivery: Both feet must be in contact with the pitcher’s

plate The pitcher shall take (or simulate taking) a

signal Bring both hands together in front of the body

for not less than one second but no more than 10-seconds

May step off with both feet—either foot may be removed first

Stepping on/off example

About the pitch Pitch starts when one hand is taken off the ball or

any motion is made which is part of the windup The pitcher may take one forward step towards

the batter The pivot foot may remain in contact with or may

push off and DRAG away from the pitcher’s plate prior to the front foot touching the ground, as long as the pivot foot maintains contact with the ground and within the 24-inch length. Crow hop and leap are illegal!

Crow hop

Leap

24 inch length violation

Legal Delivery The release of the ball and follow-through of

the hand/wrist must be forward past the vertical line of the body

The hand shall be below the hip and the wrist not farther from the body than the elbow Sidearm delivery is illegal

The pitch shall be delivered on the throwing arm side of the body and not behind the back or between the legs

This is illegal…

Windup Pitch must be delivered as soon as motion

starts Once hands separate, pitcher is committed to

pitch Windup may not stop or reverse forward

motion Pitcher may not make more than 1.5

revolutions of the arm Windup may not continue after taking the

forward step or after the ball is released

Example of windup after ball is released

Other infractions Deliberately rolling the ball to prevent the

batter from striking it (DDB-Ball/1 base) Using tape/foreign substance on pitching hand

or ball. Pitcher who licks her fingers must wipe them off

before contacting the ball (Dead ball/illegal pitch) Ball slips out of pitcher’s hand during

backswing or forward motion Ball to batter. Ball is LIVE and runners may

advance at their own risk. Defense may retrieve ball immediately unless batter has no opportunity to contact ball.

IF batter has a legitimate opportunity to hit and swings at the pitch, a strike shall be called. The ball is in play if it is batted

Other infractions Pitcher shall not throw to a base while in

contact with pitcher’s plate (DB/IP) It is an illegal pitch if all defensive players are

not in fair territory (except the catcher) (DB/IP)

Catcher is not in catchers box with pitch is released (DDB/IP)

Catcher fails to return ball directly to pitcher (except to make a play on a runner or a strikeout/putout made by the catcher) (Ball )