Rule No. 1 - The batter’s box
A batter must stand on the line or within the lines of the batter’s box, during a pitch.
It is OK to have any part of your foot move past the outside perimeter of the line
provided some part of your foot is still touching the line.
If a batter’s foot moves completely outside the perimeter of the line while in the stepping
/ swinging motion of the bat, and contact is made with the ball, the batter is out. BUT,
the Umpire must make the call.
The batter’s foot cannot touch home plate at any time.
When a batter steps into the batters box, that tells the pitcher it is time to pitch the ball.
The batter must be ready to hit the ball.
If a batter hits the ball, and it hits the batter while she is still in the batter’s box and before
it hits anything else, it is a foul ball.
If a batter hits a ball and it bounces off the ground and hits the batter, provided the batter
is still in the batter’s box, it is a foul ball.
If a batter hits the ball, and it lands in fair territory and the batter kicks the ball, the batter
is out. (A batter cannot touch the ball once it is hit)
A batter at any time can ask for a “time out” and it is up to the umpire to give it to her.
The proper method to ask for a “time out” is to raise your hand in the air and ask the
umpire for a “time out”. The ball is “live” until the umpire puts both hand up into the air
and yells “Time Out”
If the batter needs a little extra time before a pitch, they can back out of the batter’s box
prior to the pitcher getting set to pitch. For the older girls & travel teams, it is advised to
step out of the batters box after every pitch to look for the “signs” from their third base
coach. As long as you are standing in the batters box the pitcher can pitch the ball.
Hope this helps.
Casey – “Mudville Nine”
Rule No. 2 - Is it Fair or Foul ?
A ball is considered “Fair” if it is hit using a bat into the “field of play” - the area
between the first base line & the third base line, from the back of home plate to the foul
poles in right & left field. A ball is considered “Foul” if it is hit outside the field of play,
also call the “foul territory” or “foul ball”.
For a ball to be fair:
1. If the ball stops rolling on the first or third base line it is considered fair.
2. If a ball is hit on the ground rolling in foul territory, and then rolls into fair
territory and stops, it is a fair ball.
3. Ground balls that hit either first or third bases are considered fair, even if it rolls
into foul territory.
4. Balls must in the field of play before it passes first or third base.
5. If a ball is hit into the field of play and bounces over first or third base, it must be
in fair territory as it crosses over the base to be a fair ball. If the ball is hit in the
field of play, bounces over first or third base in fair territory, and lands if foul
territory, it is still a fair ball provided it was in fair territory when it crossed over
first or third base.
For a ball to be foul:
1. It must rolls down the first or third base line, roll out of play or stop before it hits
first or third base
2. If a fly ball is hit and it lands in foul territory.
(The location of the ball determines the call, not the player fielding it.)
If an infielder catches a ball before it passes first or third base, and ball is in foul territory,
it is a foul ball.
The only one that can call a fair or foul balls are the umpires. Since there can be a
problem understanding whether an umpire calls a FOUL or FAIR ball, the umpires
will ONLY call the foul balls by yelling out “FOUL BALL”. An umpire calling a fair
ball will point to the ground into the field of play ONLY.
Hope this helps.
Casey – “Mudville Nine”