Hello Fastpitch Fans, Coaches and Umpires
The 2014 NFHS (WIAA) Softball Rules Exam features 100 questions/situations. As usual one must be careful not to read too quickly and answer right off the top of their heads. Mistakes occur that way when in reality the test taker knew the rule but answered too quickly.
With that in mind, I'm going to give everyone a bit of help. This will be a lot like Cliff Notes. I will not give you the actual answers. What I will give you is the location in the Rules Book or Case Book which will simply save you some time. You will have to read the question carefully and follow that up with some careful reading of the Rules that you find listed herein.
Be forewarned that there are three questions on the exam that are poorly written. They are #75, #86 and #94. Read them closely, follow that up by checking the Rules book, and then try to figure out whether the statement is True or False.
After you have finished the test and saved hours of work searching the Rules Book for the correct answers in order to score a perfect score, go back and spend a bit of the time that I just saved you and actually read the Rules Book from front to back. Follow that reading up by going back each day and re-reading just one Rule in it's entierty. That will help you familiarize yourself with the Rules of the Game. It will, ultimately keep you from looking or sounding as if you are not very knowledgeable of the Rules.
In future Bulletins I will be posting situations for you to consider. Some will be right from the rules and case books while others will be crazy plays that take place throughout the season (we all know that crazy plays and questionable umpire interpretations will occur).
Here is a question not on the NFHS exam?
What's the difference between a leap and a crow hop? Answer will be covered later in this Bulletin.
As the season gets started and moves along, send in those crazy plays and questionable interpretation situations. I will post them and not reveal where they happened, who they happened to or who made the rulings. The bottom line is: it ought to be correct and if publishing the things that takes place eliminates the same thing elsewhere in the state, we've improved the game.
Check out the Awards tab on this website. I offer a plethora of awards that coaches can take advantge of at no cost to them.
Now for the answer to the question above concerning a leap and a crow hop. I'll use two sources to answer the question as well as some common sense.
Leap vs Crow Hop
From Merriam Websters Desk Dictionary Copyright 1995 - page 311 leap vb 1) leapt or leaped; leapingto spring free from a surface or over an object : JUMP
leap 2) n : JUMP
hop vb hopped; hopping 1) to move by quick springy leaps 2 : to make a quick trip 3: to ride on esp. surreptitiously and without authorization
hop 2: n 1: a short brisk leap esp. on one leg 2 : DANCE 3 : a short trip by air
From the 2014 NFHS Rules Book -
Crow Hop - Rule 2, Section 16 -Page 22 - A crow hop is the replant of the pivot foot prior to delivering the pitch. The crow hop is an illegal pitch.
Leap - Rule 2, Section A 33 page 23- A leap is when both feet are airborne by the pitcher prior to delivering the pitch. A leap is an illegal pitch.
So what's the difference?
In terms of the end result of such actions, the end result should be the same - an illegal pitch being called, a ball awarded to the batter and all baserunners awarded the next pitch without liability to be put out.
Technically speaking there is a difference. I recenty watched a video that showed what was called a leap when in reality it was a crow hop. If we use the noun definition of hop from Merriam Webster's it would mean that a crow hop occurs when a pitcher goes airborne off the pitcher's plate with his/her pivot foot and before the front foot strikes the ground, that pivot foot lands (thus replanting). A leap, any physical education teacher would tell you, occurs when a body leaves the ground with one foot and lands on the other foot first. So, when a pitcher drives off the pitcher's plate and goes airborne with both feet, to be a leap, the front foot would have to touch down before the pivot foot does.
This may sound trivial but when one considers the turmoil and commotion that takes place prior to the season, during the regular season and once the tournament trail begins (and especially on the final three days of the tournament series) it seems that a better understanding of just what things really are would be helpful. If we want coaches and umpires to be able to recognize and call those two types of illegal pitches they also ought to know the real, technical differences between them.
In my long career in men's fastpitch softball I can't remember ever seeing a male pitcher leap. I do recall a myriad of male pitcher's crow hop prior to it being legal in the men's game. Now-a-days most male pitchers crow hop. Male pitchers in international play do not.
On the other hand, I seldom saw female pitchers crow hop back in the days when I'd attend the Women's ASA Major National Tournament. I did however, see world class female pitchers leaping.
In my years within this game, both men's and women's, I've seen lots of deliveries legal and illegal. I've seen and faced a couple of male, side-arm pitchers. In all those years I can only recall a couple of female pitchers who were throwing side-arm. It's easy to spot and should be easily enforced. It may not be easily corrected however.
That's about it for this Bulletin. I need to get back into the rules book and figure out the a couple of mathematical things therein. I've already highlighted something that will cause plenty of disagreements in the upcoming season.
In closing, once the season begins and games begin it's important for coaches and umpires to stay abreast of things that change within the game. Last season was a great example. After the season had started a specific bat was ruled illegal. It was not on the original banned bat list but an announcement from the ASA was given. Many in Wisconsin failed to read about that and were using the bat. Umpires were also allowing the bat to be used. Everyone should constantly check their e-mails as the WIAA staff regularly comments on issues that take place or rules that need addressing after the season begins.
Keep it Rising!
Have a great day!
Bob
Tag(s): Bulletins
