Placement of foot in front of the rubber

[Ken B]

Legal:

 

[Ken B]

Illegal (gym step?)

 

[clarity]

As long as the foot does not slide forward/away from the front edge prior to the push, the foot may rock forward onto the toe, breaking contact with the rubber. Otherwise, almost every pitch would be illegal as the heel rolls up.

Not if the ball of the foot is on the rubber.

 

[Shawn]

Ken,

You know Abbot took a illegal gym step her entire career right?

 

[The Man In Blue]

As long as the foot does not slide forward/away from the front edge prior to the push, the foot may rock forward onto the toe, breaking contact with the rubber. Otherwise, almost every pitch would be illegal as the heel rolls up.

Incorrect. The foot is allowed to push away from the plate and lose contact. It is not allowed to lose contact and then push away.

 

[Ken B]

To the best of my recollection, in NCAA, International, Triple Crown, USA Preps, USA, etc., the pivot foot may start with the pivot foot heel in contact with the front edge of the plate. I believe that NFHS, Little League, USSSA, etc., require at least some part of the pivot foot (including the heel) to be on the top of the plate prior to the forward step/push. In both, the heel will disengage as the foot rolls onto the ball/toe of the foot as long as the initial push started in contact with the plate. No pitcher pushes flat footed.

 

[ArmWhip]

To the best of my recollection, in NCAA, International, Triple Crown, USA Preps, USA, etc., the pivot foot may start with the pivot foot heel in contact with the front edge of the plate. I believe that NFHS, Little League, USSSA, etc., require at least some part of the pivot foot (including the heel) to be on the top of the plate prior to the forward step/push. In both, the heel will disengage as the foot rolls onto the ball/toe of the foot as long as the initial push started in contact with the plate. No pitcher pushes flat footed.

I payed attention to this while I watched the college games that I had recorded over the weekend. I saw a number of pitchers start with their heel touching the front of the rubber which means that when they push off they lose contact with it.

 

[Ken B]

The key is that they must maintain contact prior to the push.