Crow Hopping Not Called

Question
I was wondering if you knew anything about fastpitch softball with young girls.  My daughter made allstars for the 9-10 years old group.  We played a team that their pitcher crow-hop constantly.  They never said anything to her about it.  Is it okay for her to do this or should we have protested the game?  I know they are young but we have taught our pitchers not to do this due to the fact that it is considered illegal in high school.  What are your thoughts?

Answer
Hello Joni

Good questions, here are my thoughts.

It抯 not okay for a pitcher to crow hop however the game can抰 generally be protested because it looks like a pitcher crow hops. A crow hop is the illegal act of a pitcher who steps or hops off the front of the pitcher抯 plate, replants the pivot foot, establishing a second starting point, pushes off from the newly established starting point, and completes the delivery. Crow hopping by the pitcher is a judgment call by the umpire and judgment calls can not be protested.

What I would do as a coach during the game if the pitcher was crow hopping is to politely ask the base umpire between innings if the pitcher looks like she is crow hopping. If the umpire knows the rule and sees the pitcher crow hop he will likely call it the next inning.

If the umpire doesn抰 call it, says he/she doesn抰 see a crow hop or doesn抰 see an advantage I would contact the umpire in chief or tournament director after the game to plead my case. I抦 a pitching coach so I know what crow hopping is. It won抰 change the outcome of the game but perhaps it will be a learning opportunity for the coaches and umpires.   

I have seen pitchers crow hopping at all levels and I believe it should be called and actually caught at the younger ages to keep it from becoming a habit when they reach the next level. It easier to correct a pitchers mechanics at a young age than it is for an umpire to call crow hopping on an established high school star pitcher.