NCAA 7-1 A Batter

A Batter

SECTION 1.     a. Each player of the side at bat shall become a batter and must take a position within the batter’s box in the order that the name appears in the team’s batting order.

Note: Umpires shall encourage the on-deck hitter to take a position in the batter’s box quickly after the previous batter reaches base or is put out.

b. A batter shall not leave his position in the batter’s box after the pitcher comes to the set position or starts the windup unless permission is granted by the umpire.

Note: Umpires may grant a batter’s request for “Time” once the hitter is in the batter’s box, but the umpire should only do so for safety reasons or if the pitcher holds (freezes) the batter too long in his batting position (See Appendix F-5). Coaches shall not be allowed to argue when an umpire refuses to grant time to a batter per Rule 7-1-b. The penalty is a warning, then an ejection.

PENALTY for b —If the pitcher pitches, the umpire shall call “ball” or “strike,” as the case may be. The batter leaves the batter’s box at the risk of having a strike delivered, unless “Time” is requested and granted from the umpire. If the pitch is made, the ball is live.

c. If the batter refuses to take his position in the batter’s box during the time at bat, the umpire shall call a strike. The ball shall remain live. The batter is declared out after the third strike.

d. Batter’s-Box Rule. This rule is designed to speed up play by controlling the actions of the batter between pitches.

1) The batter must keep at least one foot in the batter’s box throughout the time at bat.

Exceptions—A batter may leave the batter’s box but not the dirt area surrounding home plate when:

a) The batter swings at a pitch.

b) The batter is forced off balance or out of the box by the pitch.

c) A member of either team requests and is granted time.

d) A defensive player attempts a play on a runner at any base.

e) A batter feints a bunt.

f) A wild pitch or passed ball occurs.

g) The pitcher leaves the dirt area of the pitching mound after receiving the ball.

h) The catcher leaves the position to give defensive signals.

PENALTY for (1)—If the batter intentionally leaves the batter’s box and delays play, and none of these exceptions applies, the plate umpire shall award a strike. The pitcher shall not pitch but the ball is live (e.g., a pick-off attempt).

2) The batter may leave the batter’s box and the dirt area when time is granted for the purpose of:

a) Making a substitution.

b) A charged offensive conference.

c) A defensive timeout for a pitching change.

d) An injury or potential injury.

e. If the batter’s-box penalty is applied, and the batter then refuses to re-enter the batter’s box, the umpire shall award an additional strike. The pitcher shall not pitch but the ball is live.

f. A batter’s legal position in the box shall be defined as having both feet completely within the box (lines are part of the box).

Note: Umpires are to enforce this rule as written. If the line of the batter’s box has been erased, the umpire shall require that upon the batter’s initial stance, both feet are no closer than 6 inches from the inside edge of home plate.

PENALTY—Require the batter to move to a proper position.