Leap in pivot foot

Question
My daughter has been pitching in the gym during the winter months and has been taught to push off hard from the board with her pivot foot and explode forward with the stride foot.  Now that we are on the field, I have noticed that her pivot foot is not dragging right away as it leaves the board.  It is moving forward in the air for a split second before it comes back in contact with the ground and then drags forward.  I have been told that this is a crow hop - illegal pitch. I have also been told that this is a leap.
Could you please explain to me what a leap is?  Is a leap  illegal?  Is how she is pitching considered a leap? crow-hop?  So far, she has not been called on this.  I have noticed a few other pitchers doing the same thing, again not called.  Is her delivery OK? Your advice would be appreciated.

Answer
Hi Grant,

Let's start with the defs of crow hop and a leap.............this is from our rules supplement

Much attention and discussion has been given to recognizing
the differences between the crow hop and the leap on the pitching delivery:
1. A CROW HOP is defined as a replant of the pivot foot prior to
delivering the pitch. This can be done by (1) sliding the foot in
front, but not in contact with, the pitcher抯 plate; (2) lifting the pivot
foot and stepping forward; or (3) jumping forward from the pitcher抯
plate with the pivot foot prior to starting the pitch. Umpires should
look at the location of the pivot foot when the hands separate, the
start of the pitch. If the pivot foot is off and in front of the pitcher抯
plate before the hands separate, this would be a crow hop and
an illegal pitch should be called.

2. A LEAP occurs when both of the pitcher抯 feet become airborne
on the initial move as the pitcher pushes from the pitcher抯 plate.
In the WOMEN扴 and YOUTH Fast Pitch divisions the pivot foot
must stay in contact with the ground following the push off from the
pitcher抯 plate.

So based on your OP she is leaping and it is an Illegal Pitch.  It is a common flaw in many pitcher's technique. Now w/out seeing it I obviously can't tell how severe it is.  As you say so far, no call and that may be the case for the majority of her pitches.  You say a "split second" and it may be the umpire can't see it.  Then again you may get an umpire that calls it every pitch.

You and your DD have to decide how much she wants to alter her technique w/out it being called and if she can adapt to an umpire calling it w/out ruining her rhythm.

An IP in the FP game can have a significant penalty.

Mark