Softball Pitching Rule – Part 2

posted on December 08, 2009 03:00

A previous blog, “Softball Steps Back” (Sept. 1, 2009), reported that the national softball playing rules will move the pitching rubber from 40 to 43 feet from home plate for varsity competition after Jan. 1, 2011.

The MHSAA Softball Committee will consider in January if the greater distance should also apply to the subvarsity and junior high/middle school competition.

The 2009 MHSAA Update Meeting Opinion Poll reveals that nearly 60% of 689 respondents would make the change for the high school level only (both varsity and subvarsity), while 31.7% would extend the change to the junior high/middle school level also. The portion who would limit the rule change to high school varsity competition was 8.5%.

The MHSAA Baseball/Softball Committee’s recommendation from its Jan. 19 meeting, and perhaps that also of the MHSAA Junior High/Middle School Committee which meets Jan. 5, will be considered by the MHSAA Representative Council in early May. Whatever change is made for Michigan will first occur in the 2011 season.

Posted in: Softball

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Comments

# Dave Baldus

Wednesday, December 9, 2009 11:27 AM

I think the 43 feet is a good addition to girls softball. It should also be put in at the JV level as a transition time for pitchers and hitters. The middle school level should stay at 40 ft. The girls are not physically ready for the longer distance and the hard hitting is not at this level.
Just my food for thaought.
Dave

# Nicole

Friday, January 8, 2010 4:05 AM

I feel that some schools will greatly benefit from the move, unfortunately there are schools that have a hard time getting the ball across the plate at 40 feet and this move will make for a long season for them. I am sure that colleges will love this new rule when they start recuiting a pitcher.

What I wish would happen is they would look at the hardness of the ball and the inside of the bats, then we wouldn't be so worried about the line drives.
Just a thought.
Nicole

# Anonymous

Saturday, May 19, 2012 6:40 AM

http://softballog.info/softball-rules-mhsaa-softball-rules/

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