7th/8th grade girls softball (middle school)

Question
Thanks for responding to my question. I've been coaching softball for too many years then I'd admit. I love it, but the debate rages on as to the distance at the middle school level for pitching. For my school league in Tucson, AZ, schools follow the AIA rule book that states pitching distance is at the HS level which is 40'...is this correct or are you aware of another rule for middle school? Some say it is changed to 38' and the other day, it was 32'

Thanks for the clarification.

Answer
This topic is quite new to me. In my area, every softball player I have known pitched from 40' when they played in middle school and I don't think there is much debate about it currently. However, after doing some research it seems that whichever organization/ conference is controlling the middle school league, has final say over the pitching distance. For example, while all the middle schools in my area were in conferences that had us pitching from 40', my town's in house softball league had rules for the 11-14 age level to pitch from 35', and the ASA has the U12 and U14 division pitch from 40'. Thus it seems that depending on the area and the league, different rules apply. In my opinion having the pitchers throw from 40' is the best way to run a league because that is what they will do in HS and ASA. It seems that this is the most common pitching distance, but there are conferences throughout the states that have altered this pitching rule.