Equipment checks and pitching
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Umpires are again required to check
equipment this year.
Focus will be on bats and helmets
Coaches will still have to verify that all players
are legally equipped
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Bats
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Must have a 2004 or newer ASA certification mark
and not be on the non-approved list (IGHSAU
adaptation)
Be one piece, muti-pieces and permanently
assembled, or two pieces with interchangeable
barrel construction
Be free of rattles, dents, burrs, cracks and sharp
edges
Broken, altered or bats that deface the ball are illegal.
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Helmets
Must have NOCSAE stamp and legible exterior
warning label
 Must have ear flaps which cover both ears and
temples
 Broken, cracked, dented or altered helmets are illegal
 Must have a NOCSAE approved face protector
 Must have a chin strap
 Eye shields (if worn) must be a rigid material that is
clear (not tinted)
 Required to be worn while the ball is live and in liveball territory by players and non-adults
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Catcher’s equipment
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Helmet/mask combination with NOCSAE seal
Must have a throat protector
Can use “goalie” mask, but it must be NOCSAE
approved
Eye shields must be clear
Shin guards
Body protector
Non-adults warming up a pitcher MUST wear a
mask/helmet combination (on and OFF field)
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Player equipment
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Caps, visors and headbands may be mixed
 Caps/visors must be the same color
 Any color headband/hair device (or multi-colored)
may be worn. Teammates do not have to match
Players may also wear unadorned unadorned
devices, such as bobby pins, barrettes or hair clips,
no longer than two inches, to control a player’s hair
 Sleeve lengths may vary
 EXPOSED undergarments must match among
teammates, but upper and lower body
undergarments need not match
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Player equipment (cont.)
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The pitcher may not wear any item on her pitching
hand, wrist, arm or thighs which, in the umpires
judgment, be distracting to the batter.
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Pitching distance is now 43 feet
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This is measured from the tip of home plate to the
front of the pitcher’s plate
This should create a better balance between
offense and defense
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Prior to delivery:
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Both feet must be in contact with the pitcher’s plate
The pitcher shall take (or simulate taking) a signal
Bring both hands together in front of the body for
not less than one second but no more than 10seconds
May step off with both feet—either foot may be
removed first
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Stepping on/off example
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About the pitch
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Pitch starts when one hand is taken off the ball or
any motion is made which is part of the windup
The pitcher may take one forward step towards the
batter
The pivot foot may remain in contact with or may
push off and DRAG away from the pitcher’s plate
prior to the front foot touching the ground, as long
as the pivot foot maintains contact with the ground
and within the 24-inch length.
 Crow hop and leap are illegal!
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Crow hop
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Leap
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24 inch length violation
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Legal Delivery
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The release of the ball and follow-through of the
hand/wrist must be forward past the vertical line of
the body
The hand shall be below the hip and the wrist not
farther from the body than the elbow
 Sidearm delivery is illegal
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The pitch shall be delivered on the throwing arm
side of the body and not behind the back or between
the legs
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This is illegal…
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Windup
Pitch must be delivered as soon as motion starts
 Once hands separate, pitcher is committed to pitch
 Windup may not stop or reverse forward motion
 Pitcher may not make more than 1.5 revolutions of
the arm
 Windup may not continue after taking the forward
step or after the ball is released
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Example of windup after ball is released
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Other infractions
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Deliberately rolling the ball to prevent the batter
from striking it (DDB-Ball/1 base)
Using tape/foreign substance on pitching hand or
ball.
 Pitcher who licks her fingers must wipe them off before
contacting the ball (Dead ball/illegal pitch)
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Ball slips out of pitcher’s hand during backswing or
forward motion
 Ball to batter. Ball is LIVE and runners may advance at
their own risk. Defense may retrieve ball immediately
unless batter has no opportunity to contact ball.
 IF batter has a legitimate opportunity to hit and swings
at the pitch, a strike shall be called. The ball is in play if
it is batted
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Other infractions
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Pitcher shall not throw to a base while in contact
with pitcher’s plate (DB/IP)
It is an illegal pitch if all defensive players are not in
fair territory (except the catcher) (DB/IP)
Catcher is not in catchers box with pitch is released
(DDB/IP)
Catcher fails to return ball directly to pitcher (except
to make a play on a runner or a strikeout/putout
made by the catcher) (Ball )