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Pitching Rules You Should Know

This handout was given to you as a courtesy by your USA Softball umpiring group. Knowledge of the rules will allow you to know what’s expected of both pitchers in a game. These rules should be discussed with recreation level coaches to make beginners and their coaches aware of the legal pitching rules requirements.

Rules for the USA Softball and the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS)

1. The Pitching position: USA Softball and NFHS: The pitcher must assume the pitching position with the ball in either hand with the hands separated. Stepping on the pitching plate with your hands together is a violation. While legally on the pitching plate putting your hands together and then separating them without without the simultaneous delivery of the pitch is a violation. When you separate your hands at any time it must be simulations with starting the pitch or it is a violation. After separating your hands and starting your motion it is a violation if you make a second touch, and separation, as part of your delivery.  

2. The Pitchers plate: NFHS: The pivot foot must be partially on top of the pitching plate. In USA Softball both feet must be in contact with the pitcher’s plate.  USA Softball and NFHS: The back, or non pivot foot, must begin within the 24 inches of the pitcher’s plate and land within or partially within the 24 inch width of the pitcher’s plate.

3. Taking the sign: USA Softball and NFHS: When in the pitching position the pitcher must take a sign or simulate taking a sign from the catcher. This pause allows the batter to be ready for the pitch. Taking the sign from behind the pitchers plate is a violation. Stepping onto the pitchers plate and delivering the pitch is therefor a violation.

4. The delivery: USA Softball and NFHS: The hands must come together in front of the body for about one second and not more than 10 seconds before releasing the ball. The hands may be motionless or moving. 

    NFHS ONLY: As part of the delivery the pitcher can step back with the non-pivot foot prior to or simultaneous with the hands coming together then take a forward step with that foot and deliver the ball. Once the hands are together no further backward step is allowed. 

    USA Softball ONLY: after assuming the pitching position no backward step is allowed, only a forward step with the non-pivot or back foot.

5. Beginning of the pitch: USA Softball and NFHS: The pitch begins when, after the hands are put together, they are separated or the pitcher makes any motion that is part of their windup after the hands are together. The hands may not be put back together again or touch again during the delivery prior to the release. 

6. The pivot foot: USA Softball and NFHS: The pivot foot must remain in contact with the pitching plate to begin the pitch. Breaking contact with the pitching plate, if not simultaneous with the delivery, constitutes a step and is a violation.

The pivot foot may remain in contact with or may push off and drag away from the pitching plate prior to the front foot touching the ground. USA Softball stipulates that if a hole has been created the pivot foot may drag no higher than the level plane of the ground. (The toe should point down as it does when walking or running. If your foot is facing first or third base your toe cannot be facing down nor can you push and drag away legally. You will likely hop and have space under the pivot foot making you illegal).

    Note: A hop, leap or jump is when the pivot foot comes up off the pitcher’s plate while the other foot is still in the air. When the pivot foot comes up and off the pitching plate and lands in front of the pitching plate rather than dragging away, it is a violation. Any part of your delivery that results in your pivot foot coming off the ground before the other (non pivot) foot lands is a violation. When both feet are airborne at the same time, it is classified as a leap, no matter how small. Any space under the pivot foot higher than the level of the ground is a violation.

7.  Completing the pitch: USA Softball and NFHS: The pitch must be completed with a single step toward the batter. The step must be with the non-pivot foot. A first step, breaking contact with the pitchers plate, with the pivot foot followed by an additional step with the non-pivot foot is called a crow hop and is illegal. The pitcher is now closer to the plate because of the extra step and, in effect, is pitching from closer than the legally allowed distance.

Any violation of the steps outlined above is a violation of the rules and is an illegal pitch.

The majority of girls’ 12, 14, 16, and 18U travel tournaments are USA Softball sanctioned. All college and women’s 19 and over State, Regional, National and Olympic levels of competition use USA Softball rules. No sanctioned event, other than those played under high school rules, allows one foot on the pitcher’s plate and a step backward. Any pitcher that follows the USA Softball regulations also complies with the Federation requirements (but not visa versa.)