1. Leaping into Rule 6

2. Summary
Slow Pitch
Fast Pitch

3. Slow Pitch Pitching

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Fast Pitch

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

14. 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

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

16. 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

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

18. 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

19. 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.

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

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

24. 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.