Pitching is perhaps the most visible and vital defensive skill of the game of softball. It is the start of every defensive play and the first chance for the defense to make an out. It takes skill, practice and knowledge of the rules to perfect the skill of pitching.
Appearance
A pitcher must wear a team uniform. With the exception of medically-necessary accessories (i.e. tape, braces, splints), they may wear nothing that might distract other players or umpires.
Ball Rotation
There is a minimum of two game balls from which each pitcher may choose at the start of her half inning. She may change balls at any time, provided she does so through the plate umpire. No one may apply anything to a game ball or alter it in any way.
The Warm-up
A pitcher can make up to five warm-up pitches each time she enters a half inning to pitch for the first time.
Time
At the start of each half inning and after each subsequent return throw from the catcher, the pitcher has 10 seconds to get set at the plate for a pitch. She then has five additional seconds to deliver the pitch. Failure to do so results in a ball awarded to the batter.
Positioning
To prepare to pitch, the pitcher must assume the pitching position, which is hands apart, ball in hand, and both feet in contact with the pitcher's plate.
Windup
After taking the pitching position and receiving a signal from the catcher, the pitcher begins her windup. The windup consists of any motion the pitcher makes after bringing her hands together and before eventually separating her hands to deliver the pitch. The hands may not come together a second time, the pitcher may not simulate a pitch, and she may not change direction more than twice.
Stride
Following her windup, the pitcher moves down the pitcher's lane toward home plate with a striding action. Both feet must remain in contact with the rubber prior to this step. During the stride, the back foot, or pivot foot, must remain in contact with the ground. It is neither legal for a pitcher to become airborne, nor for a pitcher to replant her pivot foot prior to delivering the pitch.
Delivery
When delivering the pitch to the batter, the pitcher must release the ball underhand, below the hip, with the wrist no farther from the hip than the elbow. In doing so, the pitcher's arm may legally make up to one-and-a-half revolutions and may not make any additional revolutions after releasing the ball.
Illegal Pitch
An illegal pitch is any pitch noncompliant with the rules of the pitching motion. If the umpire calls an illegal pitch, the standard result is a ball awarded to the batter and a base awarded to each base-runner. If the batter makes a play on the ball enabling her to reach base safely however, the play may stand.
No Pitch
The umpire gives a no-pitch call on a pitch thrown with time suspended, when a base-runner leaves a base early, or when a batter or base-runner have not had sufficient time to return to their starting positions after the previous pitch. The result is a dead ball with no further action taken.
References
- NCAA Softball 2010 and 2011 Rules and Interpretations; NCAA Publications; 2009
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