FED Pitcher's Feet

[Guest Mason]

Are there any restrictions in FED that require the pitchers feet to be within the edge of the pitching rubber? For instance, when in the set position, can the pivot foot be overhanging the edge of the rubber towards the first base side or does his entire foot have to be within the the edge of the rubber? Also, what about the windup? can the pitcher have one foot within the edge of the rubber and the other foot overhanging the edge of it towards first or third base?

[Richvee]

27 minutes ago, Guest Mason said:

Are there any restrictions in FED that require the pitchers feet to be within the edge of the pitching rubber? For instance, when in the set position, can the pivot foot be overhanging the edge of the rubber towards the first base side or does his entire foot have to be within the the edge of the rubber? Also, what about the windup? can the pitcher have one foot within the edge of the rubber and the other foot overhanging the edge of it towards first or third base?

FED rules specify the entire pivot to be in front of the rubber......

"......Before starting his delivery, he shall stand with his entire non-pivot foot in front of a line extending through the front edge of the pitcher's plate and with his entire pivot foot in contact with or directly in front of and parallel to the pitcher's plate."

This rule is very loosely enforced by most umpires in most areas. The condition of the mound,and the holein front of the rubber need to be taken into consideration, IMO.

For me, on a well maintained  mound, I'm not saying anything about a toe, or heal off the end of the rubber. If we're looking at  1/2 his foot off the edge, I'll try to quietly  and discretely tell F1 to get more of his foot in front of the rubber or I'm going to have to call it. 

Ironicly, FED has no such stipulation for the windup. For the windup, the pivot foot needs to be in contact with the rubber, and the free foot needs to be behind a line drawn through the front edge of the rubber. The free foot can be past the outer edges of the rubber.

".........The pitcher's non-pivot foot shall be in any position on or behind a line extending through the front edge of the pitcher's plate."

[ElkOil]

2 minutes ago, Richvee said:

FED rules specify the entire pivot to be in front of the rubber......

"......Before starting his delivery, he shall stand with his entire non-pivot foot in front of a line extending through the front edge of the pitcher's plate and with his entire pivot foot in contact with or directly in front of and parallel to the pitcher's plate."

This rule is very loosely enforced by most umpires in most areas. The condition of the mound,and the holein front of the rubber need to be taken into consideration, IMO.

For me, on a well maintained  mound, I'm not saying anything about a toe, or heal off the end of the rubber. If we're looking at  1/2 his foot off the edge, I'll try to quietly  and discretely tell F1 to get more of his foot in front of the rubber or I'm going to have to call it. 

Ironicly, FED has no such stipulation for the windup. For the windup, the pivot foot needs to be in contact with the rubber, and the free foot needs to be behind a line drawn through the front edge of the rubber. The free foot can be past the outer edges of the rubber.

".........The pitcher's non-pivot foot shall be in any position on or behind a line extending through the front edge of the pitcher's plate."

What he said.

This has also been a point of emphasis this year to be sure we're looking more closely at pitcher foot position and calling balks when it happens. Too many times when an umpire DOES make a call on it, the coach is indignant because nobody has ever called it before.

I agree with Rich that the condition of the mound must be factored in. You can't expect a plyer to stand in a hole six inches deep with his foot all wonky in there. If he has to extend his foot past the rubber to keep from twisting an ankle, I'm not saying anything. In fact, I remember a game or two in which the condition of the mound was SO BAD, I told the coaches at the plate meeting I wasn't going to say anything about foot position.

[maven]

8 hours ago, Richvee said:

FED rules specify the entire pivot to be in front of the rubber......

*Sigh*. No, they don't.

I've been reviewing this with my association, too. You quoted the proper restriction for the set: "...in contact with or directly in front of and parallel to the pitcher's plate."

That is: in the set, the pivot must be

1. Completely within the length of the rubber, AND either

2. (a) in contact with, OR (b) directly in front of and parallel to the pitcher's plate.

We are generally flexible about (1) on fields with a big hole in front of the rubber. Otherwise, if I can see half F1's foot outside the length of the rubber, I have him fix it. I usually can't see toes or 10% of a heel or whatever extending out.

Some folks wonder about the "parallel" restriction applying to (2a), but if his entire foot is on the rubber, it will have to be parallel (so adding the restriction there would be redundant).

To the OP: the restrictions on the pivot in the windup are different and do not require the feet to be within the length of the rubber.

[Richvee]

4 hours ago, maven said:

*Sigh*. No, they don't.

I've been reviewing this with my association, too. You quoted the proper restriction for the set: "...in contact with or directly in front of and parallel to the pitcher's plate."

That is: in the set, the pivot must be

1. Completely within the length of the rubber, AND either

2. (a) in contact with, OR (b) directly in front of and parallel to the pitcher's plate.

We are generally flexible about (1) on fields with a big hole in front of the rubber. Otherwise, if I can see half F1's foot outside the length of the rubber, I have him fix it. I usually can't see toes or 10% of a heel or whatever extending out.

Some folks wonder about the "parallel" restriction applying to (2a), but if his entire foot is on the rubber, it will have to be parallel (so adding the restriction there would be redundant).

To the OP: the restrictions on the pivot in the windup are different and do not require the feet to be within the length of the rubber.

Perhaps I wasn't clear. he asked two questions. I answered both. 

13 hours ago, Guest Mason said:

Are there any restrictions in FED that require the pitchers feet to be within the edge of the pitching rubber? For instance, when in the set position, can the pivot foot be overhanging the edge of the rubber towards the first base side or does his entire foot have to be within the the edge of the rubber?

 

12 hours ago, Richvee said:

FED rules specify the entire pivot to be in front of the rubber......

"......Before starting his delivery, he shall stand with his entire non-pivot foot in front of a line extending through the front edge of the pitcher's plate and with his entire pivot foot in contact with or directly in front of and parallel to the pitcher's plate."

This rule is very loosely enforced by most umpires in most areas. The condition of the mound,and the holein front of the rubber need to be taken into consideration, IMO.

For me, on a well maintained  mound, I'm not saying anything about a toe, or heal off the end of the rubber. If we're looking at  1/2 his foot off the edge, I'll try to quietly  and discretely tell F1 to get more of his foot in front of the rubber or I'm going to have to call it. 

 

13 hours ago, Guest Mason said:

Also, what about the windup? can the pitcher have one foot within the edge of the rubber and the other foot overhanging the edge of it towards first or third base?

12 hours ago, Richvee said:

Ironicly, FED has no such stipulation for the windup. For the windup, the pivot foot needs to be in contact with the rubber, and the free foot needs to be behind a line drawn through the front edge of the rubber. The free foot can be past the outer edges of the rubber.

".........The pitcher's non-pivot foot shall be in any position on or behind a line extending through the front edge of the pitcher's plate."

 

[rcjhyman]

How about in the windup position, only the heel of the pivot foot in contact with the rubber (foot in the hole in front of rubber)?  Legal position?  Rules seem to stipulate only "pivot foot contact."

[maven]

21 minutes ago, rcjhyman said:

How about in the windup position, only the heel of the pivot foot in contact with the rubber (foot in the hole in front of rubber)?  Legal position?  Rules seem to stipulate only "pivot foot contact."

1. As described, legal (though you don't mention the free foot, which is also restricted).
2. With a hole there, I'm giving him leeway for what is "in contact." He gets no advantage from being an inch of the rubber to avoid a hole when his position is otherwise legal.