crowding the plate......

[scottk_61]

Originally posted by SC Ump

My ASA friends tell me that is not exactly correct. When taking their position in the box, the batter can be standing on the line as long as no part of the foot is touching the ground outside of the line. (It sounds like all the baseball and softball rules are in sync on this one.)

While I know we are morphing this thread into something other than the original, I hold at my point.
In ASA, a batter may not start out standing on the lines, he must be completely inside to start legally. Now realistically, it is rarely ever called except when there has been a problem with players running out of the box to hit the ball...which is a somewhat common tactic in the sport. Tell your friends to bone up on the rules and to read a case book.
The only penalty is to direct them into the box and not allow a pitch unitl they do enter the box legally. If you had an arguement you could eventually toss that player but I really don't think I hvae ever heard of that happening in 20 + years.