Illegal Pitches

Illegal Pitch Options

Illegal Pitch Options for Coaches

There is no longer an automatic base award for illegal pitches. If you would like to check some of the possible situations please click on the situations you would like to learn more about to ensure you are giving coaches the correct options.

Crow Hopping Interpretation

USA Softball's interpretation (based on the removal of leaping from the USA rulebook) of crow hopping is that if the pitcher lands in what appears to be a replant the pitch will be legal as long as the hands are separated and the arm stays in motion.

This is not to be confused with "creeping" off the front of the pitching plate and making the initial push-off from a distance closer to home plate. If the pitcher slides her foot off the front of the pitching plate and the back of her foot is in front of the pitching plate then that would be called as an illegal pitch. This act WOULD BE considered crow hopping.

Interpretation Sent Out By USA Softball

February USA Interpretations.pdf