At a recent Northern California Senior Softball Association Board meeting, the SSUSA “back foot” out rule was discussed for adoption in our Association, there seems to be an irregularity regarding the 2025 Rules summary and Rule 7.3 of the 2023-2024 Official Rulebook.
The 2025 Summary indicates, “the batter’s front foot may step out the front of the box but rear foot cannot be fully in front of line”. However, in the Official Rulebook Rule 7.3 A. “A batter who steps out of the batter’s box at any time during the pitch and then hits the ball, fair or foul, shall be called out.
We would like some clarification from SSUSA regarding this. Hopefully a Definitive Accurate Verbally Exceptional person would enjoy providing this information.
Don Angle
NCSSA
References:
SSUSA 2025 Rules Summary
• On the swing, the batter’s front foot may step out the front of the box but rear foot cannot be fully in front of line defining front edge of plate when contact is made (fair or foul). This is a dead ball out
2023-2024 Official Senior Softball-USA Rulebook
7.3 • BATTING POSITION
A. The batter must have at least some portion of both feet on or inside the lines of the batter's box at the start of the pitch. A batter who steps out of the batter’s box at any time during the pitch and then hits the ball, fair or foul, shall be called out. Steps out means touching the ground completely outside of the lines of the batter’s box. (See §1.5)
Aloha Don,
This is what was revised at our meeting on the foot rule:
§1.29 • BATTERS BOX AND §7.3 • BATTING POSITION – The language from the changes made at the 2023
National Rules Committee sessions is modified to eliminate a technical inconsistency that was present
between the two provisions. Section 1.29 is modified as noted below in strike-out type:
“The batter must take an initial position with his back foot no further forward than a line
defining the front edge of home plate. (This is the strike-out text that is referred to)
The batter will be called out if he hits the ball when the back foot is completely further forward than the line defining the front edge of home plate. NOTE: All other illegally batted ball infractions regarding the side and rear lines of the batter’s box, along with stepping on home plate, remain in effect.”
See https://seniorsoftball.com/wc/wc2024/SSUSA-Rules-Minutes-2024.pdf for the actual wording.
Jeffrey
Don5..
(We would like some clarification from SSUSA regarding this. Hopefully a Definitive Accurate Verbally Exceptional person would enjoy providing this information.)
WOW.. Well I know who shouldn't try to answer this..(Definitive Accurate Verbally Exceptional) so I hope someone other than DD will answer this
Jeffrey, the clarification we need is not the placement of the rear foot, but the front foot.
Example: batter is 7'10" and swings the bat and his rear foot does not cross the line defining front edge of home plate, yet his front foot lands 24" beyond the batter's box line.
Is he out? per rule 7.3
If yes, then change the verbiage of the 2025 Rules summary.
We as humans understand concepts and rules in different ways
Some people can read an instruction and obtain an understanding.
Others need some kind of instructional video.
Then there are those(like me) that need to read it, watch the instructional video, then let me do it physically.
My question Don5 is, If a 7'10" guy has a softball bat in his hands, and is preparing to hit a softball, why was he never indoctrinated to what "basketball" is. By the way, I have never in my life seen a 7'10" softball player. Your example is invalid.
I like to keep it simple. You can land your front foot anywhere in front of the batters box front line, The rear foot is however limited to no further forward than the defining front edge of the plate.
Kim, thank you for identifying my stupidity on sports. However, can you explain 7.3 versus the 2025 Rules summary?
SSUSA 2025 Rules Summary
• On the swing, the batter’s front foot may step out the front of the box
7.3
A batter who steps out of the batter’s box at any time during the pitch and then hits the ball, fair or foul, shall be called out.
Sure Don, the 2025 rule as you stated covers stepping out of the front of the box. This is allowed. 7.3 covers stepping out of all the other contiguous lines surrounding the plate. Front line of the box is not part of the lines referenced in 7.3
Thanks Kim for the explanation, my copy of the 2023-2024 Rulebook doesn't have the wording "stepping out of all the other contiguous lines surrounding the plate."
My book simply states in 7.3, "A batter who steps out of the batter’s box at any time during the pitch and then hits the ball, fair or foul, shall be called out.
Maybe I should get another Rulebook?
