ASA Softball Batter's Box Rules

The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) is one of the nation's largest organizations running the guidelines of a team sport. There is a series of rules that each player and umpire must know when the batter steps into the 3-feet wide, 7-feet long batter's box to wave the bat over the 17-inch wide plate, according to the official ASA umpire's rule book.

  1. Foot Position

    • The hitter's feet must be completely located within the box. The hitter's feet may touch the sides of the box but cannot be out. In addition, the feet must stay inside when the hitter makes contact with the ball.

    10-Second Rule

    • A player must step into the box within 10 seconds of the umpire telling her to enter. If not, the umpire issues a strike.

    Batter Obligations

    • A time-out called means the player can move outside of the batter's box.

      The player must keep at least one foot in the box between pitches, unless there is a foul tip, a time-out called, the pitcher or catcher is moving, there is an attempted play (such as the catcher trying to throw out a runner) or the ball is put into play.

    Watch That Step

    • The hitter must never step in front of the catcher while the catcher is trying to give a signal, or the umpire may call the hitter out. In addition, the hitter cannot move in front of the catcher when a ball is about to be thrown.