Warm up area

[DaveASA/FED]

Originally Posted by teebob21

This is a good example of a bad test question. The question is asking about the legality/illegality of an area. The confines of the field are defined, but there is no legal/illegal interpretation available.

The test writers probably wanted to ask if it was legal for players to use such a warm-up area. I was not able to find a rule requiring all players and team personnel to remain within the confines of the field for the entire game. If such a rule exists (and I wouldn't mind a citation if it does), is running to the bathroom illegal too?

I would go with 3-6-6, it does not state confines of the field, since that includes the field of play and anyone that is not a batter, runner(s), on-deck batter, coach bat/ball shagger or playing defense is allowed on the field of play.
ART. 6 . . . Only the batter, runner(s), on-deck batter, coaches in the coach's box, bat/ball shaggers or one of the nine players on defense (S.P. 10) are permitted to be outside the designated dugout/bench or designated warm-up areas. (3-5-7)

NOTE: Bench personnel are permitted to engage in throwing and running activities during the one minute designated for the pitcher to throw her five warm-up pitches at the beginning of each half inning.

Casebook even has a couple plays on it:

3.6.6 SITUATION A:

Team A has one of its players or team personnel in the bleachers behind home plate or in the bleachers along the third-base line.

RULING: All members, attendants and bench personnel shall remain in the dugout (bench) or designated warm-up area if not a batter, runner, on-deck batter, in a coach's box, or a player on defense. The umpire shall issue a team warning to the coach involved and the next offender on that team shall be restricted to the dugout/bench area. Failure to comply shall result in the game being forfeited.



3.6.6 SITUATION B:

During a game, the visiting team's bench personnel are (a) sitting on the front edge of the dugout with their feet in live-ball territory or (b) standing or sitting outside the dugout or marked bench area.

RULING: In (a) and (b), the umpire shall issue a warning to the coach with any subsequent offender being restricted to the bench/dugout for the remainder of the game.