Pitching regualtions

6.1 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. a. The pitcher, while standing on the pitcher's plate, must take the signal from the catcher or look at the pitcher's plate. The ball must be held in one hand (either bare hand or glove) and the hands must be separated. b. 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. c. The pitcher shall not be considered in the pitching position unless the catcher is in position to receive the pitch. d. The pitcher may not take the pitching position on or near the pitcher's plate without having the ball in his possession.

6.2 THE PITCH starts when one hand is taken off the ball or the pitcher makes any motion that is part of his wind-up. a. In the act of delivering the ball, the pitcher shall not take more than one step (maximum 1 meter or 39inches from the pitching rubber), 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 (align) with the 61cm (24 inch) length of the pitcher's plate. b. 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.

6.3 A LEGAL DELIVERY SHALL BE A BALL WHICH IS DELIVERED TO THE BATTER WITH AN UNDERHANDED MOTION. a. 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 follow-through with no abrupt stop of the arm near the hip. b. 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. c. On the forward swing of the pitching arm, the elbow has to be locked at the point of release. The driving hip must be squared to home plate when the ball is released. d. He/she may take the ball behind the back on the backswing. e. At no time during the delivery of the pitch shall the pitcher’s arm exceed the height of his/her shoulder on his/her ‘windup’. f. The delivery must be an underhand motion with the hand below the hip and the palm must be pointing upwards (fingers pointing to the ground) g. The pitch is complete when the ball is released toward the batter. h. The catcher must remain within the lines of the catcher's box until the pitch is released. i. 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: rule 6.3.i does not apply when (1) a batter becomes a batter-runner, (2) there are runners on base, (3) a foul ball is fielded closed to the foul line by the catcher who throws to any base for a possible j. The pitcher has twenty (20) seconds to release the next pitch after receiving the ball after the umpire indicates "play ball".

6.4 THE PITCHER MAY USE ANY WINDUP DESIRED PROVIDED: a. He/she does not make any motion to pitch without immediately delivering the ball to the batter. b. He/she 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 forward swing and returns the ball to both hands in front of the body. c. He/she does not use a windup in which there is a stop or reversal of the forward motion. d. He/she 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". e. He/she does not continue to wind up after taking the forward step which is simultaneous with the release of the ball.

6.5 While in the pitching position, the pitcher shall not deliberately drop, roll or bounce the ball in order to prevent the batter from striking it

6.6 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 or captain(s), 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.

6.7 THE PITCHER SHALL NOT DELIVER A PITCH unless all defensive players except the catcher, who must be in the 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- Rule 6.1 to 6.7 Any infraction is an illegal pitch with the exception of 6.3.i and which is covered separately. A ball is declared on the batter. EXCEPTION: If the pitcher completes the delivery 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. 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.

6.8 Warm up Pitches 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 catchers 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.

6.9 NO PITCH SHALL BE DECLARED WHEN: a. The pitcher pitches during the suspension of play. b. 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. c. A runner is called out for leaving a base prior to the pitcher releasing the pitch. d. The pitcher pitches before the runner has retouched his base after a foul ball has been declared and the ball is dead. EFFECT- Sec. 9 a-d: The ball is dead, and all subsequent action on that pitch is cancelled. e. No player, manger 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. 9e: "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.

6.10 If the ball slips from the pitcher’s hand during his windup or during the backswing, a ball is declared on the batter.

6.11 NO INTENTIONAL WALKING - applies only for Tournament (Pool A & B match ups), and Playoff (Tier A) Pitcher must throw one pitch in the strike zone as per rule 1.64 to a batter which is followed by a female batter! EFFECT: If a pitcher throws 4 consecutive balls (with no strike registered), to male batter at one at bat, which is followed by a female batter, the male batter receive a walk of two bases & the female batter will have a option of a walk of one base or taking her at bat. The female batter must be in the on deck circle, for her to receive her walk. “If no on deck circle available, due to unsafe condition “a lack of foul area”, she or her team must notify the pitcher she (or female) on deck”

6.12 The batter may reduce the speed of the pitches a) Before a batter steps into the batter’s box to take his / her first pitch, the batter may ask the pitcher to make one practice pitch to judge the speed of the pitch. b) The batter may ask the umpire to instruct the pitcher to slow down the pitches. If the pitcher does not slow down the next pitch, it is automatically considered a ball. NOTE: If Pitcher is asked to slow his/her pitches down, for control purposes the pitcher has a option of moving closer to a position (pitching plate) which is centered on a straight line between 1st and 3rd base. (approximately 42 ft from home plate) c) The batter may not ask that the pitches be slowed down so much as to make it difficult for the pitcher to properly deliver the ball. d) The pitcher may always vary the speed, the spin and the style of the pitches, even after the batter has asked for slower pitches, as long as the pitcher does not pitch the ball faster than what the batter had requested. e) If a male hitter request for pitches to be reduced in speed, and hits a pitch (error free) for anything greater than a double, The hit will be a single only and any runners can only move up one base, and battering team will be revoked the right of requesting rule 6.12 for male batters only. f) A male cannot request for pitches to be reduced in the last or extra innings, if the following is occurring. – His team is winning – The game is tied The tying or winning runs on base and/or at the plate