The batter’s box template is a rectangular shaped frame that is designed to help make a batter’s box outline. Most ground crews will chalk around the inside of the template that is made for the batter’s box, and then remove the template once they are done. The batter’s box is always located at the home plate on a softball or baseball field; it is chalked out on both the left and right hand side of the home plate for the left and right-handed batter. The purpose of a batter’s box is to keep the ball game fair for both teams.
Little league, big league and softball each require a different sized batter’s box template design. The basic little league batter’s box template design is three feet wide by six feet long. The softball batter’s box template is supposed to be three feet wide by seven feet long. The big league batter’s box design is four feet wide by six feet long. Make sure you know which design is needed before attempting to make your own template.
If there were a welder on the team or grounds crew, it would be a good idea to have them weld a batter’s box template for the field. You would need four pieces of aluminum rod that is only about one-half to one inch thick. Two pieces of the aluminum should be cut at the appropriate length for the width of the template and the other two pieces should be cut for the length of the template. It is important that the welder follow all the basic instructions of welding safety, and know how to weld aluminum since it tends to weld differently then other metals.
If no welder is available and the team is on a tight budget consider making your own template from items that are cheap or readily available to you. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipe can be used when making your own template and is very easy to do. At the local hardware store buy PVC pipe that is no more then one inch in diameter and have them cut it into four poles of the appropriate length for the template that you are making. You will also need to buy four elbow joints and some superglue. Place the superglue around the outside diameter at the end of the PVC pipe then slide the elbow joint over the end of the pipe and let it dry. Repeat this procedure until all four corners of the template are attached and dry. When making the template, do so on a flat surface and use a level to keep the sides flat.
If the template needs to be made out of items that are more readily available, then try a couple of these ideas. You will need to have a roll or two of duct tape and a tape measure on hand for this project. Look for any old yardsticks, rulers, broom handles and mop handles that might be kept around the house. Line the items that you have found end to end until they measure the length that you need, then duct tape them together. Once you have the four sides of your template duct tape them together at the corners or leave them separate for easy transportation. Another quick and easy idea is to use four pieces of two by four lumber of the appropriate length to outline your batter’s box with; they can be nailed together or left separate for easy transportation. Of course the easiest way to make your own batter’s box template is to just chalk it out along side a tape measure and a level.
