New rule: Foot on Batter Box line.

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Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
My slapper is DEF going to get called out more this year. Her left foot is always on the chalk as she makes contact with the ball. Rarely is her foot across the chalk but it happens sometimes and she gets called occasionally. I have to agree, they should have just enforced the old rule. I knew about the rule change but after seeing the effects this weekend, I am not looking forward to seeing it applied in TB.

EDIT: I know it is NCAA only right now, but anticipate it trickling down to TB. And since the goal is to play NCAA ball, we need to adjust how she hits now so she doesn't need to be retaught later on.

I seriously doubt you will see the rule trickle down. The stupid hit by pitch rule was instantly adopted by virtually everyone but USA and has been a bag of worms ever since. NCAA baseball tried it and after just a couple of years went back to the original rule. NCAA softball realized they had created a problem also, yet rather than do what baseball did and go back to the original rule they just decided to "better educate" the officials on how the rule was suppose to be enforced. NCAA rules are so far removed from every other softball rule set anymore it barely resembles softball at this point.
 
Apr 5, 2013
2,130
83
Back on the dirt...
I seriously doubt you will see the rule trickle down. The stupid hit by pitch rule was instantly adopted by virtually everyone but USA and has been a bag of worms ever since. NCAA baseball tried it and after just a couple of years went back to the original rule. NCAA softball realized they had created a problem also, yet rather than do what baseball did and go back to the original rule they just decided to "better educate" the officials on how the rule was suppose to be enforced. NCAA rules are so far removed from every other softball rule set anymore it barely resembles softball at this point.

That’s because its the coaches making the rules....
 
Apr 24, 2017
203
28
Georgia
I seriously doubt you will see the rule trickle down. The stupid hit by pitch rule was instantly adopted by virtually everyone but USA and has been a bag of worms ever since. NCAA baseball tried it and after just a couple of years went back to the original rule. NCAA softball realized they had created a problem also, yet rather than do what baseball did and go back to the original rule they just decided to "better educate" the officials on how the rule was suppose to be enforced. NCAA rules are so far removed from every other softball rule set anymore it barely resembles softball at this point.

Agreed. Fingers crossed it doesn't. We have had some bad calls over the years (because they are human, I get that) and even when her foot was partially in or on the chalk, she gets called out sometimes. So I would hate to see it get even stricter. I am all for rules that are for safety, but come on. Let the girls play ball.
 

martianr

Softball DAD
Jan 26, 2014
177
18
Whiting, Iowa
I don't know if this is a good rule or not. It probably will affect a small population. If it is easier for the Umps, GREAT. But, If that is what the NCAA rules committee is going to pat themselves on the back for making this "major" rule change for 2018, They all need to be replaced. Are they all blind and def to what Mike White said about Illegal pitching. That should have been the number one point of emphasis this off season. Now the season is under way and nothing can be done. Unless the umpires take a stand. But, the illegal pitchers will get the wins, the awards and some the trophies and young girls will want to be like them. When will it stop. They know it goes on.

Not trying to be over dramatic just fed up with illegal pitching and we haven't got on a Barnhill Thread yet.
 
Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
Want to know why the rule was changed? Because umpires were not calling batters who were obviously completely outside the box at contact. Same with the change in the illegal pitch rule in NCAA, umpires wouldn't call them because it advance runners, so they changed to rule to try and actually get the umpires to enforce the rule. Will have to see if it actually works in the upcoming season.

I'm not sure if I'm misunderstanding what you're saying, or if I'm understanding but the logic they used is just dumb.

If umpires weren't calling batters out if they were obviously completely outside the box, why would they now call a batter out if her toe is just maybe barely outside? Seems like they added a lot of gray area to make the job of the umpire harder.

Or are you saying that they ultimately won't call them out for being 95% on the line and 5% over the line, but that looks better than not calling a girl out for being three feet out of the box? Maybe now they'll actually call the obvious ones?
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
I'm not sure if I'm misunderstanding what you're saying, or if I'm understanding but the logic they used is just dumb.

If umpires weren't calling batters out if they were obviously completely outside the box, why would they now call a batter out if her toe is just maybe barely outside? Seems like they added a lot of gray area to make the job of the umpire harder.

Or are you saying that they ultimately won't call them out for being 95% on the line and 5% over the line, but that looks better than not calling a girl out for being three feet out of the box? Maybe now they'll actually call the obvious ones?

Remember, as someone stated it is the NCAA coaches that vote the rules in. Umpires were not calling batters that were blatantly out of the box at contact so I guess they figured if they made a rule if any portion of the foot was beyond the batters box line they wouldn't have an excuse to not call it anymore.

Just talked to several guys who do college ball, not only do they not see this rule trickling down to club ball they said they see it being extremely short lived in NCAA. Coaches are in a tizzy over it being called, yet they are the ones that voted the rule in.
 
Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
Remember, as someone stated it is the NCAA coaches that vote the rules in. Umpires were not calling batters that were blatantly out of the box at contact so I guess they figured if they made a rule if any portion of the foot was beyond the batters box line they wouldn't have an excuse to not call it anymore.

Just talked to several guys who do college ball, not only do they not see this rule trickling down to club ball they said they see it being extremely short lived in NCAA. Coaches are in a tizzy over it being called, yet they are the ones that voted the rule in.

Ok, I did understand you the first time. The coaches' logic is just dumb (I think we agree on this).

If umpires aren't calling it when a batter is clearly completely out, how are they supposed to notice a small part of the foot out of the box, especially once the lines get messed up?
 
Im getting sick of this rule pu calling slappers for being out of the box. Instant replay shows both feet clearly in box after contact, and anouncers agreeing with pu saying its a great rule. I'm assuming once a slapper starts her swing pu forgets about calling a pitch a strike or not and focuses his sight on ground where foot placement is. However if batter doesnt swing he then has to guess was the pitch a ball or strike. No pu can watch the ball position and the foot position at the same time and be accurate. This Is why pu is calling some batters out for being across the line when they were not. Saw 2 in same game last week probably cost the game.
 

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