NCAA 5-4 Positions of the Defensive Team
Positions of the Defensive Team
SECTION 4. At the start of or during a game, all players of the defensive team except the catcher must be in fair territory when the ball is put in play. Being in fair territory means that a defensive player must have at least one foot placed in fair territory.
a. The catcher must stand with both feet within the lines of the catcher’s box until the pitcher releases the ball.
PENALTY for a.—It is an illegal pitch if no one is on base and a balk if a runner(s) is on base.
b. The pitcher must be in a legal position while delivering the ball to the batter (see 9-1-a and 9-1-b).
c. Other than the pitcher and catcher, all other fielders may position themselves anywhere in fair territory.
PENALTY for c.—If a fielder (other than the catcher) is in foul territory, the umpire should not put the ball in play. If the umpire inadvertently does so, there is no penalty (this is not a balk), nor does the defense lose its chance to appeal on the same runner once the ball is properly put back into play. Any play, if it benefits the defense, shall be nullified. If it is an appeal play, all fielders (other than the catcher) must be in fair territory to start an appeal after “Time” has been called. A fielder may go into foul territory to back up an appeal after the ball has been put into play.
d. All personnel except the nine defensive players on the field must remain in the dugout or bullpen (see 5-2-c PENALTY).