Catchers Box Rule

I have a question about a rule. I know the catcher has to be in the box until the pitch is released. My question is on what is "in the box". I know in hitting if any part of the foot is on any part of the line the batter is not out of the box. Is this the same ruling on the catchers box. Saw this called and it appeared that part of the catchers foot was on the chalk. No doubt part of the foot was out of the box, but if half the foot is out and half is on the chalk should this be called out of the box or would the catcher be legal.

 

Honestly I think it is dependent on what UMP you get... None of these travel ball umps seem to know rules, etc. I had a girl the other week that front foot was a good 6 inches out of the box and he said as long as her back foot was at the behind the plate she was fine.... then we have some that call it out of the box, so I don't think they would be able to give you a definite answer... Its crazy

 

The catcher must have both her feet entirely inside the catcher's box before the pitch is released. The lines are part of the box the same as the batter's box. If any part of the catcher's foot extends at all beyond the line of the box she is out of the box. This is a booger that is almost never picked by any umpires unless the catcher is grossly violating the spirit of the rule.

BTW - the batter is required to have both their feet entirley in the batter's box also. If the batter's feet are outside the box the umpire should direct the batter to legally stand in the box. When the batter contacts a pitched ball with the bat she may not have either foot on the ground entirley outside the batter's box or she is out for an illegally batted ball whether the ball is foul or fair.

Also the human factor comes in play here. Umpire judgement and rules knowledge is paramount.

Hope this helps!

 

Maybe the batter's boxes were not drawn correctly. A correct box is 7'x3'.

If the batter's back foot was at the center or the back of home plate she would have to take an awkwardly long stance to be 6" outside the front of the box, even if the batter was 6'+ tall.

I am not saying this is what the umpire meant, but its the best reason I can think of for the back foot placement explanation.

 

A MATTER of millimeters/inches. I totally understand. Now using this theory. If a batter hits/bunts a ball and its lands on the chalk and rolls to a stop on the foul side of the chalk line inside 1st or 3rd. The ball can't be touching "any" part of the chalk to be deemed a foul ball. If touching any part of the chalk its a fair ball. How does the ump rule on this, by getting down on his hands and knees and eyeball sighting up the line to rule a ball a fair or foul ball???? All-a-long the runner(s) advance around the bases for a run(s) scored or simply a foul ball. We have seen instant replay determine a 3 point shot by a matter of a fraction of inches. A 12" softball has a diameter of 3.8 inches on average about 1/2 to 5/8 inch of the ball would touch the dirt of the field.

Where does the chalk start and stop and the foot or ball start or stop. Need a NASCAR track camera on the foul lines?


Strange things happen and in sports they usually do. my $.02....