On-Deck Batter Watching New Pitcher

[Nafxos]

How much leeway should I give the on-deck batter in terms of where he stands while a new pitcher is warming up?  I don't want to come off like a redass, especially in pre-shaving age games, but I hate seeing kids standing just outside the dirt circle trying to "time" the new pitcher.  Or when the first batter of the inning crosses over to the opposite side of the plate from his dugout to get a better look.

Should I nip this in the bud right away and tell players to stay near their own on-deck circle?  And does your answer vary depending on the ages of the players?

[scrounge]

Yes, nip it. Does it matter the age? No, not really. Get them out of there, keep the on-deck batter near...well, the on-deck circle or their dugout. If it's customary to flip circles when dealing with short backstops, as it is in our area for non-school games, then fine...but still get them away from the plate area. Nothing good can come from this.

Edited May 3, 2015 by scrounge

[maineump]

I agree - keep them in THEIR on-deck circle.

The pitcher gets the right to warm up, and stuff may be going on around the plate, like line-up changes and such. It is in the rule books, and you could push a safety issue on a small field.

[noumpere]

Stay on your own side. Stay out of the "safety triangle"

[Blueump]

Simply point to their circle and tell them that's where they need to be. 

[HuskerUmp22]

Do any of you guys see the whole team come out to time the new pitcher? That drives me nuts! 

Is that an automatic only batter and on deck outside the dugout, even in the younger ages? 

[BillKen]

I tell them..."get off the dirt or you might wear one and I ain't dealing with that tonight!" You have to be preventative here.

[MadMax]

Do any of you guys see the whole team come out to time the new pitcher? That drives me nuts! 

Is that an automatic only batter and on deck outside the dugout, even in the younger ages? 

Yup, especially the more "travel ball -ish", "Academy -ish" the team – most notably the coach – is. These teams are aggressive, typically on-edge, have elaborate signals and signs, and are meticulous planners. If the head-coach is a cooler, calmer, more seasoned veteran, then look for a young, aggressive assistant coach standing not far off, looking like he's downed a box of Red Bulls, acting as the "hitting specialist". 

Don't make a fuss, don't make a scene, but be direct and firm about it. Only two out of the dugout, no more than that, and if they have a bat in their hands, there better be a helmet on their heads (this usually thwarts them anyway, out of inconvenience). If they don't comply, ask who the bench coach is. Say that the bench coach isn't doing his job, and if there aren't players on the bench (promptly), then that coach is no longer needed (as in, "so long"). 

[UmpJeff]

Yes.  Nip it in the bud.  Tell the on-deck batter to go back to the on-deck circle or in front of his dugout.

[Minnz]

Yup, especially the more "travel ball -ish", "Academy -ish" the team – most notably the coach – is. These teams are aggressive, typically on-edge, have elaborate signals and signs, and are meticulous planners. If the head-coach is a cooler, calmer, more seasoned veteran, then look for a young, aggressive assistant coach standing not far off, looking like he's downed a box of Red Bulls, acting as the "hitting specialist". 

Don't make a fuss, don't make a scene, but be direct and firm about it. Only two out of the dugout, no more than that, and if they have a bat in their hands, there better be a helmet on their heads (this usually thwarts them anyway, out of inconvenience). If they don't comply, ask who the bench coach is. Say that the bench coach isn't doing his job, and if there aren't players on the bench (promptly), then that coach is no longer needed (as in, "so long"). 

​So what rule are you using during change overs like that, where only 2 players can be out of the dugout swinging?

[Umpirechick1]

I agree with @Mad Max about only 2 out and I don't care if they have face masks or not.  The last coach who insisted he could have as many players out as he wanted regrets his stubbornness about me saying it was a safety issue.  When I turned my back during a pitching change,  he let 6 kids come out to swing the bat, and suddenly 1 kid is screaming and blood is pouring from his mouth and he's got 3 permanent teeth lying on the ground.

Any on deck batter on my field is going to be in the on deck circle, because I've seen some crazy warm up pitches!

[scrounge]

​So what rule are you using during change overs like that, where only 2 players can be out of the dugout swinging?

​For a HS game or any other game using FED as the rule set? The explicit, clear language of 3-3-1-i:

ART. 1 . . . A coach, player, substitute, attendant or other bench personnel shall not:

i. be outside the designated dugout (bench) or bullpen area if not a batter, runner, on-deck batter, in the coach's box or one of the nine players on defense;

[Dbellyflop]

FED Rule 3,Section 3, 

ART. 3 . . . Players loosening up to bat shall remain in the area of their team's on-deck circle while the pitcher is warming up (1-2-3). 

PENALTY: The umpire shall issue a team warning to the coach of the team involved. The next offender on that team shall be ejected.

This is from a 2012 rule book don't know if it has changed...