Can you refuse to take first on a HBP?

[andyh64000]

My daughter does it every time in 10u rec (she obviously doesn't do this on her select team)...when she gets hit and ump tells her to take first she will ask him to just rule it a ball. Is this actually legal?

 

[amanda_cake]

I don't know if this is actually is legal or not, but I certainly see it done a lot with the more advanced players at the lower level.

 

[SoftSocDad]

If local regulations allow it, I don't see the problem.

 

[Coach-n-Dad]

I don't see the problem either. No different than catcher asking to get help from base Ump on a strike swinging call.

Batter "It didn't hit me blue"
Blue "Oh, BALL"
Crowd *goes wild*

 

[2 DD Coach]

Twice this season we had big hitters come up with runners on and get hit by pitches. One bounced just before it hit the girl in the foot, which I saw from 1st base box, but the ump did not, and the second the girl didn't even move, just took the hit in the shoulder. Both of these are legit reasons to not take a base, but Ol' blue was having none of it from me or the girls, so he made them take a base.
I don't think you have the option, I guess it just depends on the ump.

 

[Amy in AZ.]

I have never seen a rules set where you had the option. I wouldn't let my girls refuse to take a base.

 

[SoCalDad]

Our local rec league playing rules allow 8U and 10U coaches to choose to bat or take the base. 12U and 14U is left to umpires call. When I was coaching 8/10 I would judge it by the girls reactions. My rule was: Tears on her face, take a base. Smile as big as her mitt, let her hit.

 

[sluggers]

The ASA Rule (8-1-F) says, "A batter becomes a batter-runner when a pitched ball not swung at nor called a strike touches any part of the batter's person or clothing."

A batter-runner is defined as a "player who has finished a turn at bat but has not yet been put out or touched first base".

So, the rule says that when a batter is hit, he becomes a batter-runner. A batter-runner is defined as someone who has finished a turn at bat. So, there isn't an option to turn down a base.

 

[mad hornet]

I used to umpire in a local rec league where they used modified High School rules NFHS. That rule states that the umpire has discretion not to award first base if the batter makes no attempt to get out of the way. There were a couple times I invoked it and never got a complaint from coaches.

 

[StacieM]

Some local rules do allow the option and the batter gets to choose whether to take the base or stay in the box and hit.

In addition, as others have stated, some rules state that if there is no attempt to get out of the way, the batter does not get 1st. Here's an example...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuPLzKjLhv8