Orthodox Pitching

Below is an excerpt from The Canadian Amateur Softball Association (Softball Canada) 2001-2002 Official Guide and Rule Book ©2001.  The portions in Red pertain specifically to Orthodox pitching.

 

RULE 6. PITCHING REGULATIONS (ORTHODOX)

Sec. 1.  PRELIMINARIES.  The pitcher shall take a position with both feet on the ground and in contact with, but not off the side, of the pitcher’s plate.

1. The pitcher, while standing on the pitcher’s plate, must take the signal from the catcher or look at the catcher.  If the signal is taken, it must be taken while the pitcher has both feet with contact with the pitcher’s plate.  The ball must be held in one hand (either bare hand or glove) and the hands must be separated. 
2. Preliminary to starting the delivery, the pitcher must bring his whole body to a full and complete stop facing the batter with his hips in line with first and third base and with the ball held in one or both hands.  This full and complete stop position must be maintained for a minimum of one second and not more than ten seconds before starting the pitch.
3. The pitcher shall not be considered in the pitching position unless the catcher is in position to receive the pitch.
4. The pitcher may not take the pitching position on or near the pitcher’s plate without having the ball in his possession.

 

Sec. 2.  THE PITCH starts when one hand is taken off the ball or the pitcher makes any motion that is part of his windup. 

1. In the act of delivering the ball, the pitcher shall not take more than one step, which must be forward, towards the batter and simultaneous with the delivery of the ball to the batter.  (“Towards the batter” is interpreted as within the 61cm (24 inch) length of the pitcher’s plate).
2. Pushing off the pivot foot from a place other than the pitcher’s plate is illegal.

NOTE:    It is not a step if the pitcher slides his foot across the pitcher’s plate provided contact is maintained with the pitcher’s plate.  Raising the foot off the plate and returning it creates a rocking motion and is an illegal act.

 

Sec. 3.  A LEGAL DELIVERY SHALL BE A BALL WHICH IS DELIVERED TO THE BATTER WITH AN UNDERHANDED MOTION.

1. The release of the ball must be on the first forward swing of the pitching arm past the hip.  The release must have a complete smooth flow-through with no abrupt stop of the arm near the hip. 
2. The ball must not be outside the pitcher’s wrist and the wrist must not be farther from the body than the elbow on the downward motion and during the complete forward delivery. 
3. On the forward swing of the pitching arm, the elbow does not have to be locked at the point of release.  The driving hip must be squared to home plate when the ball is released. 
4. He may take the ball behind the back on the backswing.
5. The delivery must be an underhand motion with the hand below the hip and the palm may be pointing downward or upward.
6. The pitch is complete when the ball is released toward the batter.
7. The catcher must remain within the lines of the catcher’s box until the pitch is released.
8. The catcher shall return the ball directly to the pitcher after each pitch, except after a strikeout or a put out made by the catcher.

EXCEPTION:  Sec. 3h does not apply when (a) a batter becomes a batter-runner, (b) there are runners on base, (c) a foul ball is fielded close to the foul line by the catcher who throws to any base for a possible out or (d) on a checked swing in the dropped third strike situation, the catcher throws to first base to retire the batter-runner.

9. The pitcher has twenty (20) seconds to release the next pitch after receiving the ball or after the umpire indicates “play ball”.
10. The pitcher’s arm should draw a figure eight during the complete motion or the pitcher may use a bowling style.

 

Sec. 4.  THE PITCHER MAY USE ANY WINDUP DESIRED PROVIDED.

1. He does not make any motion to pitch without immediately delivering the ball to the batter.
2. He does not use a pitching motion in which, after having the ball in both hands in the pitching position, he removes one hand from the ball, takes a backward and a forward swing and returns the ball to both hands in front of the body.
3. He does not use a windup in which there is a stop or a reversal of the forward motion. 
4. He does not use a windmill or slingshot type pitch or make a complete revolution in the delivery.

NOTE:   A slingshot type pitch is defined as “turning the body toward the first or third base and bending the elbow during the backswing”.

5. He does not continue to wind up after taking the forward step which is simultaneous with the release of the ball.

 

Sec. 5.  WHILE IN THE PITCHING POSITON, THE PITCHER SHALL NOT DELIBERATELY DROP, ROLL OR BOUNCE THE BALL IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE BATTER FROM STRIKING IT.  A pitchout for the purpose of intentionally walking a batter is not considered an illegal pitch. (Refer to Rule 8, Sec. 2d Effect).

 

Sec. 6.  THE PITCHER SHALL NOT AT ANY TIME DURING THE GAME BE ALLOWED TO USE TAPE OR ANY OTHER FOREIGN SUBSTANCE(S) UPON THE BALL, THE PITCHING HAND OR THE FINGERS.  NOR SHALL ANY OTHER PLAYER APPLY ANY FOREIGN SUBSTANCE(S) TO THE BALL.  Under the supervision and control of the umpire, powdered resin may be used to dry the hands.  The pitcher shall not wear a sweatband, bracelet or similar-type item on the wrist or forearm of the pitching arm.

EXCEPTION:  A medical alert bracelet.

 

Sec. 7.  THE PITCHER SHALL NOT DELIVER A PITCH unless all defensive players except the catcher, who must be in catcher’s box, are positioned in fair territory.

NOTE: It is an illegal pitch if a fielder takes a position in the batter’s line of vision or, with deliberate unsportsmanlike intent, acts in a manner to distract the batter.  A pitch does not have to be released.

EFFECT – The offending player shall be ejected from the game and an illegal pitch shall be declared.

EFFECT – Sec. 1-7:  Any infraction of Sec. 1-7 is an illegal pitch with the exception of Sec. 3h and i which is covered separately.  A ball is declared on the batter.  Runners are entitled to advance one base without liability to be put out.  NOTE:  If an illegal pitch hits the batter, the batter is awarded first base and all runners are awarded one base.

EXCEPTION:  If the pitcher complete the deliver of the ball to the batter and if the batter hits the ball and reaches first base safely and if all runners advance at least one base on the action resulting from the batted ball, the play stands and the illegal pitch is nullified.

NOTE:  An illegal pitch shall be called immediately when it becomes illegal.  If called by the plate umpire, it shall be called in a voice so that the catcher and the batter will hear it.  The plate umpire shall also give the delayed dead ball signal.  If called by the base umpire, it shall be called so that the nearest fielder will hear it.  The base umpire shall also give the delayed dead ball signal.  Failure of the players to hear the call will not nullify the illegal pitch.

 

Sec. 8.  AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH HALF INNING OR WHEN A PITCHER REPLACES ANOTHER, NOT MORE THAN 1 MINUTE MAY BE USED TO DELIVER NOT MORE THAN 5 PITCHES TO THE CATCHER OR OTHER TEAMMATE.  Play shall be suspended during this time.  For excessive warm-up pitches, a pitcher shall be penalized by awarding a ball to the batter for each pitch in excess of 5.

 

Sec. 9.  THE PITCHER SHALL NOT THROW TO A BASE DURING A LIVE BALL WHILE HIS FOOT IS IN CONTACT WITH THE PITCHER’S PLATE AFTER HE HAS TAKEN THE PITCHING POSISITON.

EFFECT – Sec. 9.:  Illegal pitch, the ball is dead, a ball is called on the batter and all runners are awarded one base.  If the throw from the pitcher’s plate occurs during a live ball appeal, the appeal is cancelled.

NOTE:  The pitcher may remove himself from the pitching position by stepping backwards off the pitcher’s plate.  Stepping forward or sideways constitutes an illegal pitch.

 

Sec. 10.  NO PITCH SHALL BE DECLARED WHEN:

1. The pitcher pitches during the suspension of play.
2. The pitcher attempts a quick return of the ball before the batter has taken his position or is off balance as a result of a previous pitch.
3. A runner is called out for leaving a base prior to the pitcher releasing the pitch.
4. The pitcher pitches before the runner has retouched his base after a foul ball has been declared and the ball is dead.

EFFECT – Sec. 10d:  The ball is dead, and all subsequent action on that pitch is cancelled.

5. No player, manager or coach shall call time, employ any other word or phrase or commit any act while the ball is alive and in play for the obvious purpose of trying to make the pitcher commit an illegal pitch.

EFFECT – Sec. 10e:  “NO PITCH” shall be declared.  The ball is dead and all subsequent action on that pitch is cancelled.  A warning shall be issued to the offending team.  A repeat of this type of act by any member of the team warned shall result in the offender being ejected from the game.

 

Sec. 11.  THERE SHALL BE ONLY ONE CHARGED CONFERENCE BETWEEN THE MANAGER OR OTHER TEAM REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DUGOUT WITH EACH PITCHER IN AN INNING.  When the manager crosses the foul line returning to the dugout, the conference is over.  The second charged conference shall result in the removal of the pitcher from the pitching position for the remainder of the game.  The conference rule in regard to pitchers is waived in Squirt and under categories.

NOTE:  If a pitcher has been removed from the pitching position after two (2) defensive charged conferences in the same inning, he can return but not as a pitcher.

 

Sec. 12.  IF THE BALL SLIPS FRM THE PITCHER’S HAND DURING HIS WINDUP OR DURING THE BACKSWING, A BALL IS DECLARED ON THE BATTER, THE BALL WILL REMAIN IN PLAY AND THE RUNNERS MAY ADVANCE AT THEIR OWN RISK.

 

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