re: Pitcher gaining speed

Question
QUESTION: In a previous response you mention that crow hopping would increase her speed; isn't crow hopping illegal?

ANSWER: Dave,
It is if her foot is off of the rubber before the ball leaves her hand.If the ball leaves her hand and her foot is off, she will be warned, and she can adjust. Try to push the limit as much as you can. Runners leave early all the time but they don't always get caught.
This is much like a golfer getting more distance by breaking his wrist's at the last second. This is all simply a matter of timing and practice.
Hope this clears it up for you.
Thanks,
Coach Suthe.

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

QUESTION: So are we to teach it by the book or what we feel we can get away with? (I'm talking young people here, not an adult league) And along that same line of thought how do you feel when your opposition does this but the umpires refuse to "call it?" When questioned you'll get the answer of "they're not gaining an advantage." Since when is shortening the distance from the pitcher's release to home plate not indeed an advantage!!!  It's a double edge sword Coach Suthe and I have to live with myself and what I've taught to my players long after the game is over.

Answer
Dave,
I agree and I did wonder if my previous advise sounded some what shady and I'm sorry for the confusion, a lot of felling and intent gets lost in e-mails. However, there is and will always be those controvercial calls in any sport, sometimes we want a runner to leave early to gain an advantage( i.e big games), as competitive coaches we try to push the limits without infringing on any players saftey.
We do want to teach by the book and teach our kids to do what is right but it is still just a game, we simply get penalized for rule infractions only after a warning, we dont get shot or jailed.Thats why we do have ump's. Does it bother me when my opposition does these things? Yes, to some degree, by I understand.

As I wrote a pitcher must keep her foot in contact with the rubber until the ball is released. She can gain speed by simply pushing off the rubber harder, short of a blatent "Crow Hop".
Thanks for the question Dave.
Coach Suthe.