| SOFTBALL TIPS |
|
|
|
| SITE STUFF |
|
|
|
|
ARCHIVES
|
| • |
June 26, 2005 |
| • |
July 03, 2005 |
| • |
July 10, 2005 |
| • |
July 17, 2005 |
| • |
July 24, 2005 |
| • |
July 31, 2005 |
| • |
August 07, 2005 |
| • |
August 14, 2005 |
| • |
August 21, 2005 |
| • |
August 28, 2005 |
| • |
September 11, 2005 |
| • |
October 02, 2005 |
| • |
October 09, 2005 |
| • |
October 23, 2005 |
| • |
October 30, 2005 |
| • |
November 06, 2005 |
| • |
November 13, 2005 |
| • |
December 04, 2005 |
| • |
December 18, 2005 |
| • |
December 25, 2005 |
| • |
January 08, 2006 |
| • |
January 15, 2006 |
| • |
January 29, 2006 |
| • |
February 05, 2006 |
| • |
February 12, 2006 |
| • |
February 19, 2006 |
| • |
February 26, 2006 |
| • |
March 05, 2006 |
| • |
March 12, 2006 |
| • |
March 19, 2006 |
| • |
March 26, 2006 |
| • |
April 02, 2006 |
| • |
April 09, 2006 |
| • |
April 16, 2006 |
| • |
April 23, 2006 |
| • |
April 30, 2006 |
| • |
May 07, 2006 |
| • |
May 14, 2006 |
| • |
May 21, 2006 |
| • |
May 28, 2006 |
| • |
June 04, 2006 |
| • |
June 11, 2006 |
| • |
June 18, 2006 |
| • |
June 25, 2006 |
| • |
July 09, 2006 |
| • |
July 16, 2006 |
| • |
July 23, 2006 |
| • |
July 30, 2006 |
| • |
August 13, 2006 |
| • |
August 20, 2006 |
| • |
September 03, 2006 |
| • |
September 10, 2006 |
| • |
September 17, 2006 |
| • |
September 24, 2006 |
| • |
October 01, 2006 |
| • |
October 08, 2006 |
| • |
October 15, 2006 |
| • |
October 22, 2006 |
| • |
November 12, 2006 |
| • |
November 26, 2006 |
| • |
December 31, 2006 |
| • |
January 14, 2007 |
| • |
January 21, 2007 |
| • |
January 28, 2007 |
| • |
February 04, 2007 |
| • |
February 11, 2007 |
| • |
February 18, 2007 |
| • |
February 25, 2007 |
| • |
March 04, 2007 |
| • |
March 11, 2007 |
| • |
March 18, 2007 |
| • |
April 01, 2007 |
| • |
April 08, 2007 |
| • |
April 15, 2007 |
| • |
April 22, 2007 |
| • |
April 29, 2007 |
| • |
May 06, 2007 |
| • |
May 13, 2007 |
| • |
May 20, 2007 |
| • |
May 27, 2007 |
| • |
June 03, 2007 |
| • |
June 10, 2007 |
| • |
June 17, 2007 |
| • |
June 24, 2007 |
| • |
July 01, 2007 |
| • |
July 22, 2007 |
| • |
July 29, 2007 |
| • |
August 12, 2007 |
| • |
August 19, 2007 |
| • |
September 02, 2007 |
| • |
September 16, 2007 |
| • |
September 30, 2007 |
| • |
October 07, 2007 |
| • |
October 14, 2007 |
| • |
October 21, 2007 |
| • |
November 04, 2007 |
| • |
November 18, 2007 |
| • |
November 25, 2007 |
| • |
December 02, 2007 |
| • |
December 09, 2007 |
| • |
December 16, 2007 |
| • |
January 13, 2008 |
| • |
February 17, 2008 |
| • |
February 24, 2008 |
| • |
March 02, 2008 |
| • |
March 09, 2008 |
| • |
March 30, 2008 |
| • |
April 06, 2008 |
| • |
April 13, 2008 |
| • |
April 20, 2008 |
| • |
April 27, 2008 |
| • |
May 04, 2008 |
| • |
May 11, 2008 |
| • |
May 18, 2008 |
| • |
May 25, 2008 |
| • |
June 01, 2008 |
| • |
June 15, 2008 |
| • |
June 22, 2008 |
| • |
June 29, 2008 |
| • |
July 06, 2008 |
| • |
July 13, 2008 |
| • |
July 20, 2008 |
| • |
August 03, 2008 |
| • |
August 10, 2008 |
| • |
August 17, 2008 |
| • |
August 24, 2008 |
| • |
August 31, 2008 |
| • |
September 07, 2008 |
| • |
September 14, 2008 |
| • |
September 21, 2008 |
| • |
September 28, 2008 |
| • |
October 05, 2008 |
| • |
October 12, 2008 |
| • |
October 19, 2008 |
| • |
October 26, 2008 |
| • |
November 02, 2008 |
| • |
November 09, 2008 |
| • |
November 16, 2008 |
| • |
November 30, 2008 |
| • |
December 07, 2008 |
| • |
December 21, 2008 |
| • |
December 28, 2008 |
| • |
February 15, 2009 |
| • |
February 22, 2009 |
| • |
April 12, 2009 |
| • |
April 19, 2009 |
| • |
April 26, 2009 |
| • |
May 03, 2009 |
| • |
May 10, 2009 |
| • |
May 17, 2009 |
| • |
May 24, 2009 |
| • |
May 31, 2009 |
| • |
June 07, 2009 |
| • |
June 14, 2009 |
| • |
June 21, 2009 |
| • |
July 05, 2009 |
|
|
| SOFTBALL LINKS |
|
|
|
At Long Last ... 43
by Dave
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
At long last, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has voted to implement a 43 feet pitching distance for high school varsity games. This rule is effective for the 2010-11 school year but states can switch the distance this upcoming year, if they choose to. Here is the press release.
Over the years, I have come out in favor of this change on a couple of different levels. For one thing, if the college girls pitch at this distance, so should girls at 14U and above, including high school. The boys game has always been that way. Why should girls, who mature earlier relative to their older counterparts, as compared to boys, be any different?
Another reason I have been in favor of the change is high school softball games within and between the best 10-25% of teams is almost always a very low scoring affair. To the extent the pitching distance change results in more balance between offense and defense, I think it has to be good for the game. The reaction of coaches in the two states which tested 43 feet suggests the desired results have been achieved.
Along these lines, if you compare reaction time for batters between baseball and softball, the reality is girls must react far more quickly than boys. A very fast 12U or 14U pitcher gives batters no more time to see and react to a pitch than a relatively fast high school varsity baseball pitcher. I'd do the math for you but it bores me to do that again. The announcers at the WCWS did, I'm sure, understate the case quite a bit. They suggested that pitchers throwing at 67 during the WCWS were comparable to 90+ mph baseball fastballs. If you account for the distance from which the ball is released in both games and accurately calculate the time from hand to plate, I think you come out with a more drastic result. As I said, I won't calculate it for you, but I suggest the actual time is more like a 100 mph baseball fastball.
One of the reasons stated for making the change over the years is to give pitchers more time in which to react to balls hit back at them. The amount of time provided is pretty much negligible, hundreths of a second. It is also countered by the fact that batters will hit the ball more solidly given their longer time in which to react. I think this reason for moving to 43 feet is perhaps the weakest one.
In terms of the impact on girls themselves, there are any number of girls, beginning at sophomore year of high school, who are stuck in this cycle of having to perfect their pitches at 43 feet for fall showcases and higher level winter competitive ball, then move back to 40 feet to prepare for the spring high school season, then move back to 43 feet in time for summer ball. Very often pitchers have a matter of two weeks, sometimes even less, to make the transition. This is, I believe, too much to ask of the best competitors in our game. And the girls who are already pitching at 43 feet in high school have the advantage.
Perhaps the largest percentage of folks who have written reactions to my opinions on the subject have been against the change. Their reasons are varied. But I think mostly they have expressed concern for their pitcher-daughters.
They complain that if the purpose is to protect the pitcher, this change will not accomplish that. I agree. The difference in reaction time is minimal. But without scientific studies, I also suppose that none of us really knows if the change will matter or not.
They also worry about slower pitchers who will give batters way too much time to see and hit the ball. That's probably true too but it is almost as true at 40 as it is at 43. Speed is a relative concept. Speed gets adjusted to. If you took someone who hits well against 50 mph speed, and put them up against 50, they would struggle. Keep them in the 60 for an extended period of time and I suspect they'll learn to do well. High school pitching is a fairly broad spectrum but at the better levels, I think it tends to be around 55-60 with some faster than 60 and most at or above 55. Girls seem to do reasonably well against 60 mph pitching if they face it routinely. But play them against a very slow pitcher one day, a fast one the next, then a slow one the next, and they will struggle against each - not just against the fast pitcher.
To go a bit further, it seems like most softball hitters have greater difficulty adjusting to slower stuff than they do faster. That's not always true but many times I have seen teams use a very slow pitcher for 3 or more innings to slow down a strong offensive team. The best teams almost never seem to struggle against a fast pitcher unless she also has great command and movement too.
I realize this can get rather circular. It also offers the opportunity to contradict oneself. Do I think hitters will do better against pitching from 43 feet? Yes. Do I think pitchers will be protected? Probably not, but maybe I'm wrong. Ultimately, I think I have to make my decision to be in favor or against a change to 43 feet based upon whether I think it is better for the game or not. I think it will produce more offense in a game which needs more offense. I think it will give the pitchers a hair more time in which to react and at the same time diminish the benefit of that as hitters get better looks. I think pitchers should practice at one distance rather than shift back and forth. I think it is time the almost fully developed girls at all ages pitch at the same distance the same way the boys have done for decades on end.
Do you have an opinion? If so, send it to me and I may decide to include it in this piece.Labels: high school, rules
 
|
|
|
