My son likes to pitch from the first base side of the rubber on the very edge. His heel still comes in contact with the front of the rubber. Once a year he runs into an ump that won't let him do it.

Is there anything in the rules that states you need to pitch from the center?

Trying to visualize what the ump is concerned about - is he right handed or left handed? - e.g. with his heel on the corner of the rubber are his toes hanging out towards first (LH) or pointing towards third (RH)?

He's right handed. His heel is a little past the edge toward first.

I used to have a copy of the MLB rules and in the old version, it used to say (if I remember correctly), that the foot must entirely touch the pitcher's plate. Now it just says be in contact with. The ump could be seeing your son break contact with his pitching motion which is unacceptable by the rules, but as long as he's not, there shouldn't be an issue with it, unless I'm overlooking the "complete" contact line in the rules.

The impression my son got was that the ump did'nt like the location. Not that he was disconnecting.

As of 2004 (the last MLB rulebook I have here at work), the

"whole width of the foot in contact with the rubber must be on the rubber. A pitcher cannot pitch from off the end of the rubber with just the side of his foot touching the rubber" 8.01b

The rule may have been updated since then - and it may be different in high school - but that is probably what the ump is calling.

08

Ok thanks that makes sense.

8.01b) The Set Position. Set Position shall be indicated by the pitcher when he stands facing the batter with his pivot foot in contact with, and his other foot in front of, the pitcher’s plate, holding the ball in both hands in front of his body and coming to a complete stop.

I thought it used to say whole foot, now it doesn't.

Just curious - which rulebook?