Dropped 3rd strike

[LDS]

USSSA rules ages 9 - 14.

When the catcher misses or drops 3rd strike, when is the batter/runner declared out if he doesn't run to 1st base right away?

I see this a lot and it's more of an issue when the batters team is in the 3rd base dugout.  I've asked many other umpires and they

all seem to have a different opinion.  In MLB I've read the batter pretty much has the entire circle around home plate as that boundry.

I've had some umpires tell me if they take one step towards the 3rd base dugout they are giving their self up.  That doesn't seem fair because if their

dugout is on 1st base side it would be harder to tell if they were giving their self up.  I don't know if it should

be as much lead way as MLB but what is the general rule.  I like to give them 4 to 5 steps towards the dugout before declaring them out.

 

[Velho]

USSSA is OBR based I believe. In OBR it's the dirt circle (see below).

The younger you go (9-10 shouldn't be doing U3K in the first place imo) the "circle" would get bigger for me. There is not even a circle on a skinned infield or most turf anyway. 

 

Rule 5.05(a)(2) Comment: A batter who does not realize his situation on a third strike not caught, and who is not in the process of running to first base, shall be declared out once he leaves the dirt circle surrounding home plate.

[beerguy55]

16 hours ago, LDS said:

I've had some umpires tell me if they take one step towards the 3rd base dugout they are giving their self up.  That doesn't seem fair because if their

It's the dirt or drawn circle, if they exist...if not, you're going to have to judge...no different than you judge what the batter's box is after the second inning of any standard game.

 

Either these umpires are morons or you are misunderstanding the context.

Why would they step to the third base dugout if all their teammates and equipment are in the first base dugout?  And "one step" is Draconian.

I can think of no good reason to arbitrarily select the third base dugout as the north star.  Sure, the first base dugout is on the same side of the field, but it's not really "on the way" to first base.  Except for the oddest of field designs, anyone with two brain cells to rub together can determine if a batter is walking towards the first base dugout, rather than first base.   The "walking" is typically a giveaway.  (although, I suppose a trick would be to run towards the dugout and veer to first base - after all, in order to run to first base you must leave the dirt circle around home plate).

After a few steps of that demeanor, it's pretty clear the batter has given themselves up.

16 hours ago, LDS said:

USSSA rules ages 9 - 14

Are they really doing U3K at 9 years old...IMO, to draw a line in the sand, U3K and IFF shouldn't be introduced until at least 12.

 

 

[maven]

16 hours ago, Velho said:

The younger you go (9-10 shouldn't be doing U3K in the first place imo) the "circle" would get bigger for me. There is not even a circle on a skinned infield or most turf anyway. 

I go the other direction. The yoots can be a lot anyway, and anything I can do to minimize that I will do. Out of the baseline? Yes! Abandonment? Yes! D3K? A few steps toward the dugout and you're out.

It's instructional baseball, and screwing around with all that nonsense is not teaching anyone anything. Pitching, hitting, fielding. Keep the rest to a minimum. JMHO