Coach in the Coach's box?

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Can anyone share the rule about coaches being in the coach's box? When do they HAVE to be in the box? If the ball is dead, or in the circle, is the coach allowed to walk up the line? Would you as the opposing team ever complain about the coach "being out of the box?"

Thanks!!

 

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I don't know the exact rule of when the coach is allowed to be "out" of the box. I would be interested to know the official ruling as well. However, the only time I would complain about it is if they somehow interfered with a play while being outside the box. For instance, if the third base coach was outside of the box talking to somebody on the bench and the batter hit a foul pop up and the coach got in the way of the third baseman making the play, then I would have an issue there.

 

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The base coaches are restricted to the area of the coaches box up until the release of the pitch (and, by extension, between pitches beginning when the pitcher is in position and preparing to pitch).

After a pitch is released, the base coaches are free to roam around a bit, which they might do to direct runners, avoid a fielder, avoid the ball, etc. But wherever they move, they still are obligated to not interfere with a play!

SoftballDad, if the umpire in your game is on the ball, you shouldn't have an issue with a base coach interfering and preventing a catch. Because if he did, then the batter would be out anyway!

In the case of a fair or foul fly ball, if the coach interferes and prevents a catch, the batter is out. If the coach interferes with any other type of play, then the ball is dead and the runner closest to home is out.

On any batted ball where the fielder has an opportunity to make a play (ie: record an out) the base coach must vacate any space or area required by the fielder to make the play. And the box itself is not a sanctuary against an interference call. Even if the ball is coming down right in the middle of the box, the coach MUST vacate that area. In essence, when making a play the fielder has 100% right of way and the coach has 100% obligation to not interfere (either on purpose or by accident).

The above applies when the coach interferes with a fielder (the actual defensive player). When a coach contacts a batted or thrown ball, the rule is a little bit different. This is only interference if the coach intentionally contacts the ball. If a coach is accidently hit by a batted or thrown ball, there is no rule infraction and play continues.

 

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If I had to guess what is prompting this it has nothing to do with a coach interfering with a fielder making a play on a ball. (Again I am only guessing here) This is about a coach abusing the fact that a box isn't drawn and being in his batter's ear on every pitch so closely that he isn't being charged for offensive conferences because "hey draw me a coach's box and I'll stand in it" and an umpire who following this oaf's logic - does nothing.

 

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If there's no foul line chalked out on the field...does that mean there are no foul balls in this game? ;&

It's the same with any defined area on the field, such as a batter's box or the pitching circle. Just because they aren't marked out with pretty white chalk lines, it doesn't mean that the rules pertaining them do not apply.

And I wouldn't have any problem expressing that to any coach who argued otherwise!

 

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If there's no foul line chalked out on the field...does that mean there are no foul balls in this game? ;&

It's the same with any defined area on the field, such as a batter's box or the pitching circle. Just because they aren't marked out with pretty white chalk lines, it doesn't mean that the rules pertaining them do not apply.

And I wouldn't have any problem expressing that to any coach who argued otherwise!

I do wish more umpires took this approach. I have seen umpires take a bat from the batter's hand and draw a batter's box. Seen other instances where an umpire who refused to take this initiative standing up against the backstop because the hitter was about 8 feet behind home plate and our 10u pitcher was throwing from 43'!

 

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Tony your pitcher throws harder then 43'... We had an Ump move a girl back in the box weds. She wasn't even in front of the plate....

 

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We had an Ump move a girl back in the box weds. She wasn't even in front of the plate....

Note to umpires: If you're going to enforce the batter's box rules, at least have some realistic concept of what size the box should be and where it's located in relation to the plate!

And, never, never draw lines in the dirt...You're not part of the grounds crew.

 

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Bret, you ever get that orange glove laces?

 

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Note to umpires: If you're going to enforce the batter's box rules, at least have some realistic concept of what size the box should be and where it's located in relation to the plate!

And, never, never draw lines in the dirt...You're not part of the grounds crew.

Exactly!!! Sunday we had a girl from the opposing team step in the left box. The ump took her bat, layed it by the plate as if measuring with it or something, then drew a line in the dirt that gave her a 2 foot long batters box...barely enough room to stand in let alone slap from. It only extended about 2 inches in front of the plate. We tried to tell him the box is 4 feet and should extend more in the front but he wouldn't even consider listening to us....and it wasn't our player, we weren't trying anything sneaky.

 

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Can anyone share the rule about coaches being in the coach's box? When do they HAVE to be in the box? If the ball is dead, or in the circle, is the coach allowed to walk up the line? Would you as the opposing team ever complain about the coach "being out of the box?"

Thanks!!

Why worry about it ? If that is all a team has to worry about they have other issues.

Then again maybe I feel that way because I know someone very guilty of breaking this rule.

 

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I admit it......I am a coaches box rule breaker. I am slightly hyperactive and I have a VERY hard time standing still, I pace the box constantly. I don't conference with my players or interfere with any play but I definately like to keep moving. I've only been warned once and I have no problem complying, but I don't see many coaches who purposely violate this rule and interfere with play. Like Warren said....as a coach you should have more important issues to worry about than whether the other coach is staying in the box.