Rules For Crowding The Plate In Softball

The batter's box in softball is the area a hitter must stay in for the at-bat to be valid. Once the player is in this position with her feet, how she leans forward and holds the bat can determine if she is crowding the plate. This term means a batter who is leaned too far over the plate. This improves the batter's chance of getting a hit and requires a smaller range of motion when at the plate. However, crowding the plate also puts the player at increased risk for being hit by a high and inside pitch.

Batter's Box Regulations

A batter's box line should be drawn from the center of a 17-inch homeplate to a point on the right and left sides of homeplate that is 4 feet away from the center. This represents the outside line of the batter's box. From there, the size of the batter's box is dependent upon the size softball you are playing with. For those playing 16-inch softball, the batters box should be 4 feet by 8 feet in size. Those playing with 11- or 12-inch softballs should use a batter's box that is 3 feet by 7 feet. This will take about a foot away from the line typically drawn from the center of the plate. This is because softball players playing with small softballs tend to be shorter and need less room in the batter's box. When completed, a drawn batter's box for softball should look like the homeplate with a rectangular box on either side.

Proper Positioning

When a batter is called to for an at-bat, he has 10 seconds from the on-deck circle to take his position in the batter's box. Before the pitcher can throw, a batter must have both feet inside or on the edge of the box. However, if the feet are outside of the lines before the pitch is thrown or if one foot goes completely outside the batter's box while the pitch is thrown, the at-bat is ruled illegal and the batter can be given a strike.

Significance

While rules may vary from league to league, the major softball associations do not make rules about crowding the plate, only staying inside the batter's box. This is because a softball player's stance is different from person to person. Defining the exact stance a player must be in to be crowding the plate would be difficult to create and enforce. However, there are competing interests for and against crowding the plate. For the batter, crowding the plate lessens the strike zone a pitcher can throw in, making crowding the plate advantageous for the batter. However, softball pitchers may become frustrated by crowding the plate and throw a high and inside pitch to get the batter to back off the plate. These types of pitches are not illegal, but they can be dangerous for a player who is crowding the batter's box and cannot react in sufficient time to get out of the way. This often results in arm or elbow injuries as the player turns to avoid the pitch's impact.

Solution

While softball associations may not have an explicit rule regarding crowding the plate, it's important to work with your coaches to establish a stance that is strategic, yet reduces your injury risk. If an umpire feels you are crowding the plate too much and are at a heightened chance for being hit, she may ask you to step back slightly. Players who find they frequently get hit by a pitch may need to adjust their stances to stay healthy and prevent injury.