Pitching questions

[rzanew]

I have a couple of questions on pitchers and their moves to first.  My partner and I had differing views on these things during a recent 12U game (USSSA).

1) R1.  RHP.   Pitcher is set and moves his left (free) foot directly toward first and then throws.  His pivot foot remained in contact with the rubber.  He didn't really lift his knee, as much as opening his hips and stepped directly to first.  Can a RHP move only his left leg in a step and throw to first?  Or, must he move his right foot first (jump turn, jab step, step off)?

2) R1, LHP.  Pitcher is set, and moves his left (pivot) foot a little toward third (like a small jab step) and then steps and throws to first.  The pivot foot remained in front of the rubber.  It seems he moved his left foot a little to get it behind him and "push off" toward first.   Does a LHP have to move only his right (free) foot when stepping and throwing to first?

[pnewton]

Simple... There are no rules differences for righties and lefties, if one is allowed to do something so is the other.

1) Can a lefty step toward first and throw without moving the pivot foot? So can a righty.

2) Can a righty jabstep w pivot foot and step and throw? So can a lefty.

[maven]

The direct step to 1B by a RHP is old-fashioned: AFAIK no pro pitcher now does it, so folks don't see it on TV. But it's legal by rule.

As pnewton says: the rules do not differentiate between RHP and LHP. If a move is legal for one, it's legal for all.

But just as RHP don't use a direct step much, neither to LHP use a jump turn or jab step much. Both are awkward moves.