10-Man Modified Pitching proposed rule

The 10-Man Modified game is intended to be more “hitter friendly” vs The 10-Man Modified game is intended to be more “hitter friendly” vs. the 9-Man game, so the pitching rules are more restrictive.

However, Pitchers looking for an edge, are exploiting the current rules.

One of the key differences between 9-Man and 10-Man ASA pitching is that at “no point can the ball be outside the wrist”. This rule limits the height of the backswing.

External rotation of the humereus (which will result in the ball being outside the wrist) allows a greater backswing.

Some Pitchers have found a way to exploit the current rules and increase the backswing without noticeably bringing the ball outside the wrist.

From the Third base perspective: Turn the hips and shoulders towards third base, raise the arm arm to the side while “cocking” the wrist so the ball faces second base.

From the Home plate perspective

From the First Base perspective

The motions previously described, allow a range of shoulder motion that is comparable with the 9-Man style.

By turning the hips and shoulders while bringing the ball back toward second base, these pitchers approximate the 9-Man pitching style without openly or noticeably bringing the ball “outside the wrist”.

By combining these movements, pitchers are now able to bring the ball as high as they can reach (some almost 180 degrees) on the backswing, thus creating a greater range of motion which enables them to generate more force and greater speed.

This is not the intent of ASA 10-Man Modified pitching rules This is not the intent of ASA 10-Man Modified pitching rules. In fact, there is “technically” nothing currently illegal with the following…

This is clearly not the intent of the 10-Man game.

The challenge is to stop the advantage these pitchers gain by bringing the ball as high as they can reach while NOT affecting those pitchers that are pitching within the 10-Man intent. AND to make the rule easy for Players to understand and Umpires to implement.

It is physically impossible to bring the pitching arm above 90 degrees (usually range is 45 to 60 degrees) to the pitchers torso…

……unless one of the following is done: External rotation of the humereus (which will result in the ball being outside the wrist).

OR 2. bringing the arm out to the side (abduction) while turning the hips and shoulders both actions allow the pitcher to bring the ball well above a 90 degree angle to their torso.

Therefore, the following rule change is being proposed: “On the backswing, no part of the pitching arm may be above a 90 degree right angle created by the pitching arm and the pitcher’s torso.”

Note that we are NOT saying that you cannot bring the ball above the shoulder. If you bend at the waist it is possible to bring the ball above the shoulder but not break the 90 degree angle.

“On the backswing, no part of the pitching arm may be above a 90 degree right angle created by the pitching arm and the pitcher’s torso.”

This rule, if approved, will: Limit the range of motion of the shoulder joint, thus reducing the amount of force and speed. This in turn will preserve the integrity of the 10-Man Game be easy for players to understand be easy for umpires to implement…. (especially given the fact that most pitchers who exploit the current rules stand erect).