This past weekend I didn't have one umpire say anything about being on the rubber and taking the sign, but I did have a catcher take a bat to the elbow. Similar to the rule mentioned about the batter being out of the box or keeping one foot in. The catcher threw the ball to 3rd base to make an attempt on the runner and the batter was standing there taking practices swings and hit her left elbow. Needless to say my player was done for the weekend (maybe season).
After that at all games, the umpires told the players to not take practice swings anywhere near the batters box.
FYI - the girl just had more xrays done and we're waiting on the outcome.
I hope your player doesn't have a serious injury and she can return before the season is over! As a batter, I sometimes feel like I'm about to hit the catcher when I'm taking my practice swings. I understand that the rule about keeping one foot in the box is to keep from batters taking too long, but I am thinking that the safety of catcher is more important.
This also made me think of what a batter is supposed to do on a passed ball when there is a girl coming home. I've had umpires and coaches tell me to stay in the box so that I know I'm not in the way of the catcher retrieving the ball, but I've had other umpires tell me to get out of the way so that I'm not interfering with the play. Is there a rule for this?
But on this topic, there were multiple umpires who said something to our pitcher about taking signs at our ASA tournament this weekend. The father of the pitcher brought up that she was allowed to take a sign from off the pitching plate as long as she stimulated taking a sign when she stepped on the rubber. I know that our pitcher always waits until the batter is ready and normally takes a couple seconds when she steps on the mound, so it was frustrating that the umpires said something. Thankfully, they just said something to our pitcher and catcher between innings and they adjusted, so no illegal pitches were called.
