NCAA 9-1 Pitching Positions
Pitching Positions
SECTION 1. There are two legal pitching positions, the windup and the set. Either position may be used at any time.
a. The Windup. The windup position is indicated when the pitcher stands with his chest and shoulders generally facing the batter, with the pivot foot on or in front of and touching the pitcher’s plate with the other foot free, and with the free foot touching or behind (breaking) the plane of the front edge of the pitcher’s plate.
From this position, any natural movement associated with the delivery of the ball to the batter commits the pitcher to pitch without interruption or alteration. The pitcher shall not raise either foot from the ground, except that in the actual delivery of the ball to the batter, the pitcher may take one step backward or sideward and one step forward with the free foot.
PENALTY—With the bases unoccupied, an illegal pitch shall be called. With the bases occupied, a balk shall be called.
1) A pitcher may assume the windup position with:
a) Hands together in front of the body;
b) Hands apart (both arms or the throwing arm at the pitcher’s side) and then go directly into the delivery to the plate;
c) Hands apart and then bring the hands together and come to a stop to adjust the grip on the ball before beginning the delivery to the plate.
From these positions the pitcher may:
a) Deliver the ball to the batter;
b) Step and throw to a base in an attempt to pick off a runner; or
c) Disengage from the pitching rubber by stepping back off the rubber and placing the pivot foot on the ground behind the rubber before separating the hands or stepping back with the free foot.
2) With a runner on base, the pitcher shall pitch to the batter immediately after making any motion with any part of the body such as the pitcher habitually uses during the delivery.
3) With a runner on base, the pitcher may disengage from the rubber as long as no natural pitching motion with the body, legs or free foot has been started.
4) With a runner on base, the pitcher may throw to that base without first disengaging the pivot foot from the rubber as long as no natural pitching motion has been started.
5) The pitcher cannot move from the windup position to the set position without disengaging the pivot foot from the rubber.
6) The pitcher must step directly and gain ground toward a base in an attempt to pick off a runner. “Directly” is interpreted to mean within a 45-degree angle measuring from the pivot foot toward the base the pitcher is throwing to or feinting a throw.
7) A pitcher, when stepping off the rubber, shall not drop the heel of the free foot before disengaging the pivot foot from the rubber.
PENALTY for (1)-(7)—With the bases occupied, a balk shall be called. With the bases unoccupied, the umpire shall rule no pitch.
8) The pitcher shall not take a forward step with the pivot foot in using the windup delivery. This is commonly known as “running into the pitch” and is an illegal pitch.
PENALTY for (8)—With the bases unoccupied, an illegal pitch shall be called. With the bases occupied, a balk shall be called.
Note 1: When a pitcher is on the rubber with his hands together, before any natural movement that commits the pitcher to pitch, he may move his hand within his glove to adjust the ball. Should the pitcher separate his hands after taking a legal pitching position, a balk shall be called.
Note 2: A pitcher may pause during his delivery from the windup position without penalty.
b. The Set. The set position shall be indicated when the pitcher stands with his chest and shoulders generally facing the respective foul line, with his pivot foot on or in front of and touching and parallel to the pitcher’s plate and his free foot entirely in front of the pitcher’s plate, holding the ball in both hands in front of his body and coming to a complete and discernible stop. Prior to coming to the set position, the pitcher may take the sign by turning his shoulders and facing the batter, but the pitching arm shall be at the side, on the hip, or behind the body of the pitcher with the ball in the glove or the pitching hand. The pitcher may elect to make any natural preliminary motion such as that known as the “stretch”, but must come to the set position using a continuous hand motion before pitching to the batter. After assuming the set position, any natural motion associated with the pitch commits the pitcher to pitch without alteration or interruption.
PENALTY—With the bases unoccupied, an illegal pitch shall be called. With the bases occupied, a balk shall be called.
Note 1: When taking his sign from the catcher, the pitcher may bend deeply at the waist and have his pitching arm hanging straight down in front of him. The pitcher is not attempting to conceal the ball from the base runner(s).
Note 2: With the bases unoccupied, the pitcher does not need to come to a complete and discernible stop.
1) When the pitcher starts the delivery from the set position and the entire free foot or any part of the stride leg breaks the plane of the back edge of the pitcher’s rubber, the pitcher is committed to throw or feint a motion toward second base or pitch to home plate.
PENALTY—For violations of 1, a “balk” shall be called.
c. At any time during the pitcher’s preliminary movements and until the natural pitching motion begins, the pitcher may throw to any base to retire a runner provided a step that gains ground and is directed toward such base is taken before making the throw (see 9-1-a-6).
d. If the pitcher makes an illegal pitch with the bases unoccupied, it is a ball unless the batter reaches first base on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batter or otherwise.
e. The pitcher, upon breaking contact with the pitcher’s rubber by stepping backward and placing the pivot foot on the ground behind the rubber, becomes an infielder. If the pitcher then makes a wild throw, it is the same as a wild throw by any other infielder.
Note: To “step off” the pitcher’s rubber, the pitcher must 1) step backward and place the pivot foot on the ground behind the rubber and 2) disengage the pivot foot before moving the free foot.
f. When taking signs, the pitcher must have the pivot foot touching the pitcher’s rubber. If the sign is taken in the windup position, the pitcher must use the windup to deliver the ball. If the sign is taken in the set position, the pitcher must use the set position to deliver the ball. If the pitcher steps back off the pitcher’s rubber with the pivot foot, this breaks the continuity. When the pitcher again touches the pitcher’s rubber, the delivery appropriate to the stance now assumed on the mound must be used. If the pitcher takes a sign from other than a legal position, the pitch shall be called a ball.