ON DECK BATTER

Question
CAN AN ON DECK BATTER USE EITHER ON DECK CIRCLES. WE HAD HAD THE START OF A NEW INNING AND BATTER FROM THE VISITORS TEAM WALKED OVER AND WAS IN THE HOME TEAM ON DECK CIRCLE.

Answer
Hi Sky,

Thank you for your question.  NO, an on-deck batter CANNOT use either on-deck circle, in ASA at least.  It's their 2011 Rule 7-1-A: "The on-deck batter shall take a position within the lines of the on-deck circle nearest the offensive team area."

I've probably had a dozen or so coaches complain to me about the "stupidity" of this rule after I moved their on-deck batter across the diamond back to their own on-deck circle.  I know where the coaches are "coming from," because I do believe that the on-deck batter is in more danger of being hit by her teammate's batted ball while she is occupying her own on-deck circle, depending on whether the batter is right- or left-handed and whether they're a pull or push hitter.  Well, softball is a dangerous sport--it's not shuffleboard--and that's why the on-deck batter better have on a helmet with a mask and chin strap, and her head better be on a swivel while she's on deck.  Anyway, I don't know of a single umpire who would mind if, for safety's sake, the on-deck batter took a position out of the on-deck circle farther down the fence line toward 1B or 3B.

Here are a few other reasons I came up with why the on-deck batter needs to occupy her own circle, beside the simple fact that IT'S A RULE:
1) At the beginning of a half inning, it disconcerts the pitcher when the on-deck batter is running over to the wrong circle, and she could get hit then by an errant warmup pitch or the catcher's throw back to the pitcher.
2) The defensive bench players and participants aren't expecting her to be over there, so they're more likely to walk head-first into one of her practice swings.
3) In a less-than-friendly game, you don't want the on-deck batter warming up by the other team's dugout, where barbs (or worse) can be exchanged.
4) You don't want the on-deck batter overhearing the defensive dugout's (maybe private or personal) conversations.
5) If the on-deck batter forgets something, say a batting glove, then she has to run back to her own dugout to get it and then back to the wrong circle, disrupting the game.
6) The between-inning position of the plate umpire affords them a perfect view of the offensive team's area.  It's more difficult for the PU to keep an eye on the on-deck batter if they're occupying the wrong circle.

Scott Kelly