Jr softball

[Guest Alec]

batter steps one foot out of box after every pitch, looks for signal from coach, checks wristband for translation of signals, then returns to batters box. Taking unusually long time. Cal I call Delay of Game and charge STRIKES after warning?

[Catch18]

Can you define “unusually long time?” Other softball umpires should chime in here with proper rules references.

[SH0102]

9 hours ago, Guest Alec said:

batter steps one foot out of box after every pitch, looks for signal from coach, checks wristband for translation of signals, then returns to batters box. Taking unusually long time. Cal I call Delay of Game and charge STRIKES after warning?

I don’t do softball but none of the ACTIONS you mentioned are unusual or illegal, especially since they kept a foot in the box.

So my follow up question is, WHO (not what) is making this process take so long ?  Is the coach giving signals for ten mins or are the signals given quickly and the player is taking ten mins to translate them and get back in the box?

Guess I ask bc what you do could be based on who you judge is causing the delay.  If the coach, a word in between innings about a professional heads up should speed it up.  If it’s the single batter (most others don’t hold up game), then I think one verbal “let’s go” followed by a formal warning and then strikes thereafter would be appropriate 

[Senor Azul]

To our guest, Alec, in order to give you a precise answer we would need to know which rule set your game was played under—Jr softball doesn’t really tell us much since there are several softball rule sets. So with that in mind I will go with high school rules and as far as I can tell that level of softball does not have what baseball rules call a “batter’s box rule.” If your game is Little League, USSSA, or USA (or some other softball entity) then just let us know.

High school has a 10-second time limit for the batter to be ready to receive the pitch—

2020 NFHS Softball rule 7 SECTION 3 BATTING INFRACTIONS

ART. 1 . . . A batter shall not delay the game by failing to promptly take her position with both feet completely inside the batter's box within 10 seconds after the ball is returned to the pitcher to prepare for the next pitch, or by stepping out of the box when the pitcher is on the pitcher's plate.

PENALTY: (Art. 1) If a pitcher has brought the hands together, the batter leaves the box at the risk of having a strike called while being out of position. For failure of the batter to be ready within 10 seconds after the ball has been returned to the pitcher, the umpire shall call a strike. If it is the third strike, the umpire shall call time and declare the batter out.

EFFECTS: 1. After entering the batter's box, the batter leaves it at the risk of being charged with delay. The batter may request time-out if she desires to step out for a valid reason and, if granted, the 10-second count will begin anew. The umpire is authorized to refuse to grant time-out if the batter repeatedly causes delay or if her leaving the batter's box appears to be an attempt to distract the pitcher or to gain some other advantage.