Coach's box is a recommended location, a courtesy. There is no penalty for being out of the coaches box - as long as they stay in foul territory.
There is a penalty for interference with the defense (like F5 trying to catch a fly ball and runs into the coach - batter is out)and there is a penalty for assisting a runner (runner is out). There is no penalty for poorly thrown balls that go through or past the defense and hit the coach (in or out of the box makes no difference).
It is truly strange that a coach would think the rules are different when he is on the road (traveling) than they are when home (not traveling)
Wouldn't both of these locations be played under the same league rules? Anyway, if a coach is going to try to tell me the rules, I'm going to be very leary.
Had a funny one yesterday. F5 muffed an easy grounder as he tried to field it and tag runner R2 - missed the ball and left it on the ground as he moved about 8 feet towards the runner and ran into him. Partner properly showed delayed deadball for the obstruction. Coach wants to know why he held his arm out for interference.
It was tough for me to choke back a chuckle. "That call was made for the benefit of the runner. He would not be called out if tagged after the contact because he was obstructed. If the runner had interfered with F5 fielding the ball it would have been immediately dead and the runner called out. The delayed deadball signal was for the runner." Coach said "Okay." No further question.
Where do they get their rules knowledge?
