crow hop

Question
QUESTION: Ok let me ask you this. In a video we see a girl who #1 leaps a little. We all know that is illegal. The question on a blog board is this. In the ASA rules it talks about crow hoping in relation to the separation of the hands. I maintain if a kid drags her foot but still replants, it is illegal. Another guy says according to the rule a crow hop or replant can only happen if it happens before the separation of the hands. What do you think.

ANSWER: ASA definition...CROW HOP.(Fast Pitch)A crow hop is defined as the act of a pitcher who steps, hops, or drags off the front of the pitcher's plate, replants the pivot foot, establishing a second impetus (or starting point), pushes off from the newly established starting point and completes the delivery.

More simply...ASA RS40 A CROW HOP is defined as a replant of the pivot foot prior to delivering the pitch.

For a crow hop, the pitcher must replant and push off with the pivot foot after their initial contact with the pp. IMO most of CHs are called occur prior to separating the hands when the pivot foot is just picked up and replanted.
However the rule does not say anything about what the hands are doing.  Can you have a CH after the hands separate, IMO yes you can...however...

During the pitch if the pivot foot leaves the ground we usually have a leap (except for ground condition problems, etc.), if a leap that is followed by a replant and push (does the pivot knee flex and then straighten?) it is still a leap.

No matter the call(or even what you want to call it) it is still an IP and that's what matters.

Mark

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Mark here is the rule in question. Notice after part #3 it talks about the separation of the hands.

"""R/S #40: 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's plate; (2) lifting the pivot
foot and stepping forward; or (3) jumping forward from the pitcher`s
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's
plate before the hands separate, this would be a crow hop and
an illegal pitch should be called.

The "discussion" is whether a drag and replant is still an illegal crow hop. My point is, it is.

Answer
Hi Tom,

Obviously you want me to get into some discussion going on that I know nothing about, please remember that I am only a very experienced senior umpire that worked extremely hard over many years to become a District UIC, a State Tournie UIC and a National Championship umpire and to be on the path to an Elite Umpire before a heart attack changed all that.  I do not speak in any way for ASA, I simply give my opinion on the rule.  The large majority of time I'm correct and if there's a problem or a clarification needed my good umpire colleagues (Brett, et al) will step in to help out.

1st of all Rule Supplements (for your friends) give us only guidance on how to apply the rules, IMO they are not intended and do not define every aspect or situation of every rule. If that was the case there would be no need for me or any other umpire to order every update of the case book plays or attend rule and or play clinics.  Or for that matter the need for "chap 10" the "god" rule.

ok...if it is physically possible to step, push, drag, replant and push the drag and then deliver the ball (and it might be), yes IP, "yes coach she CHing."



Mark