ASA pitching rules

Question
I have two pitching rule questions. First, I was told the other night while one of our girls was pitching in a 14U fastpitch softball game that it was illegal for her left foot (she's right handed) to be outside the 24" width of the rubber while stepping to deliver her pitch.  I was also told that it's illegal to hop off the rubber before the delivery of the pitch.  Both of these rules, if they are rules are hard to believe after watching the college world series the last few days as practically all the pitchers do these things every pitch. Actually, the best pitcher in college softball jumps a foot in front of the rubber on every pitch while her arm is heading upwards in her windmill. Please explain.  Thanks Rob  

Answer
HI Robyn,

In ASA the step must be forward, toward the batter and w/in the 24" of the pitching plate.

I don't know what you mean by "hop"  a crow hop or leap is illegal (men can leap).  You can't replant the pivot foot and push off or lift it and step before starting the pitch.  A leap is self explanatory.

I watched quite a bit of the CWWS as a friend and colleague of mine had the plate in the 1st 2 championship games and 1st in the 3rd game.  They play by NCAA rules and I"m not an NCAA official but I believe these 2 rules for pitchers are the same for both orgs.  I never saw a pitcher step outside the 24" and what you saw as a jump (hop or leap) was just a very powerful step and pushoff.

Mark