Check Swing-rule book definition

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Is there a rule anywhere in the rule book that gives you the definition of a check swing? And if not....what do most umpires look for to call it a swing or not. Saw alot of checks in a game this weekend and the umpires called the girls on almost everyone.

 

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Come on Bretman lets here what umpires are taught.

 

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Who has that Gotham "Bretman" sign? I really loved that.

 

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Sometimes I think that the definition is "I'm hungry and I want to get this game over and go home and eat and have some beers".

 

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From the NFHS Rulebook (High School):

SECTION 11 CHECKED SWING
A checked swing is the restraining action taken by a batter to stop an attempted hit/slap/bunt. As an aid in determining a checked swing, the umpire shall note whether the swing carried the barrel portion of the bat in front of the batter?s body and in the direction of the infield. However, the final decision is based on whether the bat actually struck at the ball.

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The determination on a checked swing requires the umpire to ask himself one simple question: Did the batter attempt to hit the pitch?

If she did, it's a strike. If she didn't, it's not.

There's no playing rule that says "if the bat went so far" or "if the batter rolled her wrists" or "if the bat broke the plane of the plate" that it automatically equals a strike. The "offer" is strictly at the discretion of the umpire's judgment.

There are general guidelines offered to umpires, in manuals and training, to aid them in making the determination of if the batter swung or not and things like the batter "breaking her wrists" might be one of those guidelines. But they are just that- guidelines- not actual playing rules. The determination of a swing is still left up to the judgment of the individual umpire observing it.

Here is what the ASA Rules Supplement has to say on the subject:

CHECK SWING / BUNT STRIKE.
Normally, there are four areas which constitute whether or not a batter
swung at the pitched ball or checked their swing.
A. Did the batter roll their wrists?
B. Did the batter swing through the ball and bring back the bat, unless
the batter draws the bat back before the pitch arrives?
C. Was the bat out in front of the body?
D. Did the batter make an attempt to hit the pitch?
On a bunt attempt where the batter puts the bat across the plate and
the pitched ball is out of the strike zone, a ball should be called unless the
batter moves the bat toward the ball.​

In each of the above situations, the umpire should think in terms of priorities.

First, was the pitch in the strike zone? If so, it is simply a strike. Second,​

did the batter swing at the pitched ball, or, in the case of a bunt attempt,
did the batter move the bat toward the pitched ball? In either case, it is the
plate umpire's call. If in doubt, or if blocked out, the umpire should call the
pitch a ball. If the umpire calls the pitch a ball and the catcher requests the
umpire to go for help, the plate umpire should ONLY ask for help if there
is doubt in their mind as to whether or not the batter swung at the pitched
ball. On a missed bunt attempt with two strikes, the dropped third strike rule applies.

 

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Holding the bat in the strike zone is considered an attempt, the bat must be withdrawn-pulled back from the ball. sec 8 art. 2.

 

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We had this mostly called on one of our slappers.....she had her bat out but was not attempting at the pitch. Of course she is also moving through the batters box as you would expect, when she was attempting you could tell because she of course she had her bat extended out towards the ball. Other incident the batter did bring hands and bat forward but barrel never started an extension towards the plate. Just was trying to get a feel for what umpires are looking at in these situations so we could explain alittle better to the girls. Thanks for all the information.

 

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Holding the bat in the strike zone is considered an attempt, the bat must be withdrawn-pulled back from the ball. sec 8 art. 2.

True, in a high school or NCAA game.

Not true in ASA, NSA, USSSA or most others.

 

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NSA changed their rule, this year maybe? Under definitions....

Sec. 14 BUNT ATTEMPT: Any non-swinging movement of the bat intended to tap the ball into play. The mere holding of the bat in the strike zone is considered a bunt attempt no matter the placement of the pitch. To take a pitch the batter must withdraw the bat away from the ball.

 

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Thanks for the clarification.

It's been two years since I worked an NSA game and my 2008 rule book has the "old" definition that says "merely holding the bat in the strike zone is NOT a bunt attempt. They must have changed it last year or this year.

This is one of those rule differences/rule changes that can sneak up and bite you if you work multiple sanctions.