Slappers being called out of the box

[jayflyer98]

A little frustration here.. First, thank you to all the umpires out there for allowing our girls to play the game of softball. I do appreciate you all. But please do not make a judgement call on a slapper if there is not box for the girls to see. I get it if they step on the plate or right in front of it... But when my slappers are called out 4 times in one weekend at a showcase, yes college showcase, that is just not right. Literally coaches behind the backstop watching the games wanting to see these girls play and an umpire decides to call a slapper out of the box. It is not fair to the player, the coaches that want to see them, and the parents that spend $200 a night for a Holiday Inn in Marion OH... Several games had been played and there was zero evidence of a box.
Please, just don't do it. Let them play. I will debate anyone on the ability to see where the foot is when contact is made while trying to call balls and strikes. almost impossible to do. I am a firm believer that it is a small % of umps that are making this call and they are repeat offenders. They have it in their head prior.
That is it, carry on with your Monday!

 

[CARDS]

Blame the tournament organizers for not setting up the field properly. Don't be mad at the umpire, Its a judgement call for them and its their job to make it regardless if there are lines or not.

Many tournaments lack "proper lining" if you run into this issue in the future take a 34" bat and lay it approx. 2" in front of home plate and scribe a line in the dirt for your players to see. Its not the best and a little less than a box but it is better than nothing. (Most umpires will do this if asked).

 

[Passion4theGame]

This should never be called UNLESS it's super obvious.
Ask the umpire which foot was out of the box? If they say the front foot they are wrong! front foot is normally up off the ground and the back foot that crosses over is the foot they hit off of.
I love asking the umpire which foot was out of the box. They get flustered.
We have not had this issue yet this year.

 

[Pokitren]

This should never be called UNLESS it's super obvious.
Ask the umpire which foot was out of the box? If they say the front foot they are wrong! front foot is normally up off the ground and the back foot that crosses over is the foot they hit off of.
I love asking the umpire which foot was out of the box. They get flustered.
We have not had this issue yet this year.

If the umpire is flustered, it doesn't seem like a very clean game. But that's just my opinion. Maybe a little trickery from the umpire or shouldn't I think about it?