Softball Rules for Batters Stepping on the Plate

Home plate on a softball field is in fair play, so any ball that strikes the plate is in fair play unless it kicks backwards or outside the foul line. A base runner's ultimate goal is to work her way around to step on home plate, but it is usually not a good idea for the batter to do so. The rules of softball, put out by USA Softball as well as the two main national organizations that oversee the sport, the United States Specialty Sports Association and the Amateur Softball Association, have rules on the books to deal with what happens if a batter steps on home plate.

  1. Interference

    • The catcher in softball is entitled to the opportunity to throw out base runners during the course of a game. The catcher may be throwing behind a runner who has strayed too far from the base or throwing to catch a runner trying to steal a base. In either case, the batter is not allowed to block the catcher's path. A batter who steps on home plate and into the catcher's way will be called out for interference even if she is not swinging the bat.

    Swinging Away

    • The hitter must have both feet inside the batter's box while batting. This rule applies even when a batter is attempting to hit the baseball. A batter who makes contact with a pitch while her feet are outside the batter's box is called out. This rules applies specifically to batters who step on home plate. The batter who steps on the plate when making contact with the ball is out even if the result of the swing is a foul ball.

    Bunting

    • Softball is game that incorporates the skill of bunting on a regular basis. It also involves hitters taking a position in the left-hand batters box and slapping at the ball as they run towards the pitcher's mound. A player who is bunting or slapping is also not allowed to step on home plate or be anywhere outside the box when making contact with the ball or she is ruled out for interference.

    No Contact

    • A batter who swings away but does not make contact with the pitch is not ruled out if she steps on the plate. If there is no contact between bat and ball, the act of stepping on home plate is ruled to be incidental. A batter who steps on home plate while a pitch is on the way, while not in the act of swinging, is not awarded first base if she is hit by the pitch. Since the ball would have to be over the plate to hit her while standing there, the pitch is ruled a called strike and the turn at bat continues.