In softball, much of the game's action occurs in the batter's box and surrounding area. The umpire, batter and catcher all inhabit that space, and every pitch during the game comes sailing through. Just as with other aspects of the game, the batter's box is defined and governed by the rules and regulations outlined by the Amateur Softball Association of America.
What It Is
The batter's box refers to the area where the batter stands when she is up to bat and waiting for the pitch to come in. There are two batter's boxes; one on either side of the plate to accommodate right- and left-handed hitters. The batter's box is rectangular and usually marked off with white lines, which are set down by the groundskeeper before the game.
Dimensions
The dimensions of a softball batter's box are supposed to be uniform in every game, and are not open to interpretation. Each box must measure 3 feet across and 7 feet deep. The inside line of the box must be 6 inches from home plate, and the front line of the box is 4 feet in front of the center of home plate.
Batter's Box Rules
Certain rules apply when a hitter steps into the batter's box to take his at-bat. No part of the batter's foot may be outside the lines of the box prior to the pitch, and he must get set in his batting stance inside the box within 10 seconds of the umpire's instruction. Violating either of these rules results in an automatic strike call. In some levels of softball, the batter must also keep at least one foot inside the box during his entire at-bat, including when getting signals from the third base coach between pitches.
Exceptions
Under special circumstances, the batter's box rule may be disregarded without the risk of an automatic strike call. These include after the ball has been hit fair or foul, if the momentum of the hitter's swing takes her out of the box, on a wild pitch or passed ball, if the pitcher or catcher leave their areas, or if the umpire calls time for any reason.
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