Chanting at the batter

Question
Is there a rule against chanting in NFHS,ASA,PONY(baseball/softball,  as the opposing team is batting. The chanting changes as the batter starts to swing, the opposing team yells to swing). Is this a judgement call on the umpire. Can the umpire rule no pitch or call some type of obstruction.

Answer
Hi RC from Texas,

Thank you for your question.  I don't have any expertise with the 9" ball, but I did scour Pony's, ASA's, and NFHS's softball Rules Books for passages pertaining to the chanting you describe.  By rule, what the girls are doing from their "defensive" dugout while the other team bats isn't prohibited in any way, shape, or form--not even close!  

Here's my opinion: NOT just because it's NOT prohibited by rule, as an umpire I would allow this sort of chanting all game long, as chanting in softball has a long and colorful history, and it brings energy and flavor to the game.  Being able to ignore "swing!" chants is just a matter of batter focus.  However, another umpire might take a less lenient stance than I took and consider the chanting unsportsmanlike conduct or an unsporting act.  Look, for examples, at Pony's and NFHS's passages:

Pony Softball Rule 11-9-a: "Players, coaches, managers or other members will not make disparaging or insulting remarks to or about opposing players, officials or spectators, or commit other acts that could be considered unsportsmanlike conduct."

NFHS Rule 3-6-13-b: "Unsporting acts shall not be committed, including, but not limited to: use of profanity, intimidation, and/or deceitful tactics, or baiting or taunting;"

In these cases the umpire could take punitive action against the defense, ranging between as little as a warning or as much as an ejection.  The rules do not permit the umpire to rule no pitch or call some type of obstruction.

Scott Kelly