Batters box question
 

Calling Dixie League 9-12 boys, using modified OBR

Have a batter that refuses to stay in the box once the pitch is thrown, be it inside where backing up is warranted or head high outside or right over the plate. Kid actually jumps back on one pitch that is over the plate and falls down. Ends up walking. Defensive coach asks me after the inning why I didn't call a strike every time the kid backed out of the box. Just to humor him, I looked it up today and I can find nothing that says once the pitch has been thrown that the batter cannot leave the box without penalty if he doesn't swing at the ball. I do realize that what the kid is doing is bad baseball and his coach needs to work on this problem.

So my question, is there any penalty for the batter stepping out of the box ONCE the pitch has been thrown, not during the set or windup per 6.02 (b) OBR? Again, he did not attempt to strike at the pitch.

No, only if he hits the pitch while one foot is completely out of the box touching the ground.

Pitcher should have made better pitches.

No.

Thank y'all much, wanted to make sure I wasn't a total idiot and blind, per what I was told last night. :D

Nothing illegal about stepping out once the pitch is released (as long as he doesn't hit it) but my strike zone might be expanded a little bit (or a lot depending) if the batter is not interested in playing baseball.

The book prescribes no penalty. But in practice, I lose my points of reference, and everything but a pitch in the dirt looks like a strike.

+1

Advise the kid's coach to use a 55-gal drum behind him in practice.

The kid is probably terrified of seeing the ball coming toward him. Let his coach handle this, just call the pitch for what it was and then some. This kid shouldn't be walking all the time, either (unless the pitcher is causing this).

Similar to those batters who like to squat down when they take a pitch that is borderline up. Take away my only reference to the top of the zone and guess who gets the benefit of the doubt?