The 43 feet of Fastpitch Softball

It was recently reported that  beginning in the 2010 - 11 fastpitch softball season that the high school pitching rubber will be moved back to the college softball  distance of 43 feet. Florida and Oregon have already implemented this rule.  The premise for this move is to allow more offense into the high school game of fastpitch softball.

Personally I agree with this move, but not for the reason of creating offense. I for one feel that this move will develop better college fastpitch softball pitchers. To follow my train of thought let's compare boys high school baseball. Once a baseball player enters high school they begin playing on a regulation size baseball diamond, at least in regards to the dimensions of the infield. The bases are 90 feet and the pitching rubber is 60 feet 6 inches not 57 feet 6 inches. This builds a stronger player and I believe this will do the same for the female softball pitcher.



I truly feel that the offense in the women's game of fastpitch softball is rapidly catching up to the pitching, and this in my opinion couldn't be more evident then by looking at the recent scores in the college softball world series. Where two to one, three to two and one zero use to be the norm we're now seeing scores of, six to five, eight to seven, with an occasional one nothing or three two score thrown into the mix.  Do you think these scores have ballooned because the softball pitchers have gotten weaker? Of course not, one could make the argument that in fact women  fastpitch softball pitchers are improving. Every team in this years college softball world series for example, had a pitcher that could touch 65 on the radar gun, this use to be enough to stop most hitters, but not today. Clearly college softball Hitters are getting better and so is the equipment.

Moving the fastpitch softball pitching rubber back 3 feet may be an advantage initially to the high school softball offense, but I believe in short order the better high school softball pitchers will adapt and by doing so create better movement on each pitch. This move could also help the average pitcher who may never pitch past high school by giving her 3 more additional feet to react to the ball hit right back at her. From my stand point this has become one of the greater issues in todays game of fastpitch softball, hitters are getting better and the lighter aluminums and composites used in making lighter stronger bats is creating a real scare, not only for parents and coaches of pitchers but for infielders in general. Almost every weekend you see a hitter with one of these hot bats drive a shot right back up the middle to the collective gasp of everyone watching the game.

So I for one am glad to see this come about and am hopeful that ASA, and other governing bodies of summer and fall ball travel teams will do the same for at least the 16U programs and maybe as early as the 14U group.

I look forward to seeing the Freshmen class of 2014 college softball pitchers,  they just may be the best crop ever..

We 'd love to hear your thoughts, chime in on this topic at The Softball Clinic Forum.

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