Two Pitchers

[jtat32]

We've got a coach in our 8U rec who is playing his SS in the pitching circle, so there are essentially two pitchers, one on either side of the coach who is pitching to his team. I couldn't find anything in the rule book prohibiting this, but I have a hard time believing it's legal.

Anyone know of a specific rule that addresses this?

[Bretman]

I don't think that any of the "standard" rule sets (ASA, NSA, USSA, etc.) have rules governing coach pitch games, which is probably why you "couldn't find anything in the rule book prohibiting this". Different leagues will sometimes come up with their own special rules for coach pitch and those rules might address positioning of fielders. You would really have to check with the folks that run your league to see if that's the case.

From the standpoint of "standard" rules (where an actual pitcher is pitching), just because you have another infielder standing near the pitcher, that certainly doesn't mean that you have "two pitchers". You have one pitcher- the pitcher of record who is delivering the pitches- and an infielder legally positioned within fair territory.

The pitching circle isn't a forbidden zone, off-limits to all the fielders. In fact, for all intents and purposes, the pitching circle doesn't even exist except for the single application of the Look Back Rule. Unless the circle is being used as defined in the LBR, it is nothing more than a patch of dirt, no different than any other patch of dirt on the infield. Aside from the LBR, there are no rules about who can position themselves there or who can enter it.

[MTR]

We've got a coach in our 8U rec who is playing his SS in the pitching circle, so there are essentially two pitchers, one on either side of the coach who is pitching to his team. I couldn't find anything in the rule book prohibiting this, but I have a hard time believing it's legal.

Anyone know of a specific rule that addresses this?

No. Only the catcher and pitcher are required (by rule) to be in a particular spot on the field. The other defenders can play anywhere they please (exception for co-ed SP).

[Bretman]

The other defenders can play anywhere they please (exception for co-ed SP).

As long as it pleases them to be in fair territory and not directly in the batter's line of vision!

[jtat32]

Thanks for the info! I'm actually one of the folks running the league, and I wanted to be sure I was clear on the rule before responding to coach's complaints about this. I actually like the notion of bringing another player in close at this age level, as long as it's within a safe distance. From what I remember from when my kids were in 8U, the constant dribblers were the trigger for the girls losing interest in the game. That said, I would prefer the coach used a more conventional tactic, like playing F5 up. It would probably be more effective, too.

[GIMNEPIWO]

We've got a coach in our 8U rec who is playing his SS in the pitching circle, so there are essentially two pitchers, one on either side of the coach who is pitching to his team. I couldn't find anything in the rule book prohibiting this, but I have a hard time believing it's legal.

Anyone know of a specific rule that addresses this?

No. Only the catcher and pitcher are required (by rule) to be in a particular spot on the field. The other defenders can play anywhere they please (exception for co-ed SP).

... But in local league rules there may be something about how many infielders there can be ... so if the SS was in the circle and F7 moved up to SS... you may have something there ...

[Coach11]

Thanks for the info! I'm actually one of the folks running the league, and I wanted to be sure I was clear on the rule before responding to coach's complaints about this. I actually like the notion of bringing another player in close at this age level, as long as it's within a safe distance. From what I remember from when my kids were in 8U, the constant dribblers were the trigger for the girls losing interest in the game. That said, I would prefer the coach used a more conventional tactic, like playing F5 up. It would probably be more effective, too.

jtat....to help hold interest for the girls at that age, last season we instituted the use of a batting "T" rather than coaches pitching, for the first few weeks of the season.

Got the ball around the infield (even out of, on a few occassions) and allowed the coaches to work on their early season stances/swing/form.

Of course we had the handful of Dads who whined about how detrimental using a "T" would be....and how their daughters were beyond that, yada,yada,yada.

But if your town is anything like mine.....those Dads won't be around much longer anyway.

[wadeintothem]

This is a common set up and I've seen it at many levels. A very common tactic is to start both corners in the circle by the pitcher, then they run/shift to their position on/at the pitch.

Nothing new.

I've always been kind of impressed at the high speed defensive schemes like that. Every one always working and shifting. Some do it very well.

[MTR]

The other defenders can play anywhere they please (exception for co-ed SP).

As long as it pleases them to be in fair territory

Yes, that is a given, but why would anyone think about standing in foul territory

and not directly in the batter's line of vision!

I wish someone would tell me exactly there that "line" is.