Catchers box?

[parrothead]

Playing in USSSA fastpitch tournament this weekend, last inning tying run on 3rd winning run on 2nd. Team wants to intentionally walk batter - told need to throw the pitches (I think maybe HS is only place where you can just declare intent to walk)

Then the Catcher sets up basically straight on from the left handed batters box, and this is where my baseball background has some confusion. In baseball play that calls balks if Catcher at time of pitch is outside the catchers box, its a balk. Must start in box at time of pitch then move out.

Is there a similar size catchers box? Is there a similar rule?

[3afan]

In fastpitch the catcher's box include the areas behind the batters boxes.

https://www.nfhs.org/media/881555/so...ld-diagram.pdf

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by 3afan

In fastpitch the catcher's box include the areas behind the batters boxes.

https://www.nfhs.org/media/881555/so...ld-diagram.pdf

In all softball.

[Crabby_Bob]

Originally Posted by parrothead

Is there a similar rule?

Illegal pitch if the catcher is outside of the catcher's box at the time of the pitch when the pitch is released. Others have noted the size of the box. [HT: Bretman]

[BretMan]

The catcher being out of the box prior to the pitch is an illegal pitch that should probably never happen. The umpire should hold up the pitcher, tell the catcher to get in the box, then not allow a pitch until she does.

The baseball and softball rules are similar, but not identical. Baseball confines the catcher to the box (which is much smaller in baseball) until the pitcher starts any motion associated with his pitch delivery. Softball says that the catcher has to be in the box until the pitch is released.

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by BretMan

The catcher being out of the box prior to the pitch is an illegal pitch that should probably never happen. The umpire should hold up the pitcher, tell the catcher to get in the box, then not allow a pitch until she does.

The baseball and softball rules are similar, but not identical. Baseball confines the catcher to the box (which is much smaller in baseball) until the pitcher starts any motion associated with his pitch delivery. Softball says that the catcher has to be in the box until the pitch is released.

The baseball codes vary in allowing the catcher to position out of the box. It’s not worth describing the differences as no one should looking to call the violation anyway.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by BretMan

Baseball confines the catcher to the box (which is much smaller in baseball) until the pitcher starts any motion associated with his pitch delivery.

In OBR that applied only on an IBB. And now that the IBB is simply granted there is no place it applies under OBR.