Legal position in the batter's box

Quake Softball · Oct 11, 2015

Quick question for you umpires out there.

Is there a legal requirement for where the batter must be before the pitch can be thrown in USSSA? More specifically do both feet have to be COMPLETELY in the box in order for the batter to be legally in the box before the pitch is thrown?

quincy · Oct 11, 2015

ASA: no part of the foot may be outside the line.

Comp · Oct 11, 2015

USSSA rule is same as ASA.

Sec 4. BATTING POSITION.
A. Prior to the pitch, the batter must have both feet completely in the batter’s
box. The batter may touch the lines, but no part of the foot may be outside
the lines prior to the pitch.

MTR · Oct 11, 2015

It should be noted the the "line" is still there even if not visible.

JJS · Oct 11, 2015

Comp said:
USSSA rule is same as ASA.

Sec 4. BATTING POSITION.
A. Prior to the pitch, the batter must have both feet completely in the batter’s
box. The batter may touch the lines, but no part of the foot may be outside
the lines prior to the pitch.

Question is "or what"? What happens?

quincy · Oct 11, 2015

MTR said:
It should be noted the the "line" is still there even if not visible.

Nothing to do with anything but I work my butt off putting those lines in, gone after an inning or 2.

Comp · Oct 11, 2015

JJS said:
Question is "or what"? What happens?

The umpire is not suppose to allow the pitcher to deliver the pitch until the batter is within the batters box. If the batter refuses after being instructed to get completely within the batters box then the umpire can issue a penalty strike.

Quake Softball · Oct 11, 2015

Thanks guys. I thought that was the rule. The umpire told me it didn't matter unless the girl hit the ball. The girl had at least 3/4 of her foot out of the back of the box. I told him I was concerned about my catcher's safety, but he didn't deem to care too much.

MTR · Oct 12, 2015

Quake Softball said:
Thanks guys. I thought that was the rule. The umpire told me it didn't matter unless the girl hit the ball. The girl had at least 3/4 of her foot out of the back of the box. I told him I was concerned about my catcher's safety, but he didn't deem to care too much.

That is a different rule that applies to the batter contacting the ball when a foot is touching the ground entirely out of the box. The rule to which you are referring is a prerequisite for the batter prior to the pitch.

If safety is your concern, tell your catcher to back up, she's got all the room in the world back there.

djcarter1966 · Oct 12, 2015

So I guess the ump asking girls three or four times to get in the box then when the girl does not pointing to the pitcher to pitch then calling a strike on anything thrown, is not exactly the correct way to handle this situation.

Might be me misremembering things but seems like Ive seen this once or twice from a frustrated ump.

Legal position in the batter's box

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

Quake Softball

quincy

Comp

MTR

JJS

quincy

Comp

Quake Softball

MTR

djcarter1966

Similar threads

Latest posts

Members online

Forum statistics

Share this page

Online statistics

Forum statistics