Crow Hop Illegal Meaning in Softball

An illegal crow hop occurs when a pitcher jumps off the rubber during a delivery. The pitcher pushes forward and lands with the pivot foot in a new spot. This action creates a second push point closer to the batter at home plate. Pitchers must keep the pivot foot in contact with the ground while moving forward. Referees call an illegal pitch if the foot loses contact with the playing surface. A batter receives a ball count when the umpire spots this specific illegal move. One runner on third base moves to home plate after this penalty occurs. Coaches teach players to drag the toe to avoid this common pitching violation. This rule prevents the pitcher from gaining an unfair distance advantage against the batter.