To the best of my knowledge, ASA did not make this a point of emphasis in any of their pre-season materials or training.
I wasn't at this tourney and don't know who was told to enforce what, or what might have been emphasized. Generally, calling a penalty strike for the batter leaving the box should be a RARE call. The umpire has some discretion in applying this rule and should even issue a warning before applying the penalty.
The rules covering this...
- After being directed to do so by the umpire, the batter has 10 seconds to get set in the box. If she does not, a penalty strike for delaying the game may be called.
- Between each pitch, the batter's have the same 10 seconds to get set. ASA does require the batter to keep one foot in the batter's box between pitches- with exceptions. And it is a long list of exceptions! The batter may fully leave the box:
- After swinging, bunting or slapping.
- When the ball is batted, either fair or foul.
- When forced to by the pitch almost hitting her.
- On any wild pitch or passed ball.
- When any play is attempted (steal, pick-off, etc.).
- When the pitcher leaves the pitching circle or the catcher leaves the catcher's box.
- If she accidently thinks it's ball four.
With that long list of exceptions, about the only time a batter absolutely has to keep one foot in the box is on a non-swinging pitch!
Umpire instruction I have received has been to NOT be overzealous about making this call. Issue warnings before issuing penalty strikes. Be even less zealous about this if the batter's are NOT delaying the game.
This rule is aimed at speeding up the game, preventing batter's from going half way up the third base line for signals between every pitch. The rule isn't supposed to be used as a "got ya!" kind of thing, where the umpire is focused on calling penalty strikes for the minor placement of the batter's foot.
If batters are staying close to the box and getting set within their alotted ten seconds, there really isn't anything for the umpire to address. If they are delaying the game, then issue warnings before resorting to penalty strikes.