Changing batters box question???

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Looking for some help please! Although the correct answer seems as if it varies among umpires.

Situation: Batter is in the left handed batters box, and switches over to the right hand side.

Is there a proper procedure to do this? And does the count matter?

Does she call time and cross over?
Does she call time and walk around the umpire?
Does she need permission granted from the umpire prior to?
What if she crosses over and touches home plate in the process?

Just looking for the general rule. I have seen players do all of the above, and in some instances I have seen players called out for various reasons as well!

Thanks in advance!

 

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It is another of those long-held baseball/softball rule myths- right up there with "the hands are part of the bat" and "you can't steal on a foul tip"- that a batter is out for changing batter's boxes.

She can switch to the other box, with restrictions. The ASA rule works like this:

The batter cannot step directly across home plate and in front of the catcher once the pitcher is set on the pitcher's plate and preparing to pitch. If she does that, the ball is dead and the batter is out.

Anytime before that point, the batter is free to switch boxes as she wishes.

Even if the pitcher was set, the batter would not be out if she walked behind the catcher and umpire to switch boxes. She might be at risk of having a penalty strike called for leaving the box, or of having the pitcher pitch and a strike called while she isn't ready to hit, but she would not be automatically out.

Other commonly held myths are that once a batter takes a certain number of pitches from one side of the plate she has to stay in that box, or that with two strike the batter can't switch.

She can switch anytime as long as she doesn't step across the plate and in front of the catcher while the pitcher is preparing to pitch.

I would recommend requesting time before switching, just to minimize any confusion about the pitcher being ready and to eliminate the possibility of the batter being hit with a thrown ball.

If you don't call time, make sure you switch over well before the pitcher gets set on the pitcher's plate.

Then, after you make your switch, keep your fingers crossed and hope that the umpire for your game understands the rule!