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This thread may land like a lead balloon and get no responses, but I hope not.
I'd like to have a serious discussion about JO FP IP. ASA rules, including influence by upper levels actual practice, where "upper levels" includes Gold, NCAA, and Team USA.
This is about the only board that has an atmosphere similar to the umpire's room / tent at a tournament. That is, we can have pretty much umpire-to-umpire discussions. Sure, a few coaches / fans do drop by here from time-to-time, but I'd really like to avoid having this becoming a coaching rant as seen recently on eteamz or the NFHS board.
Pitchers push the envelope to see what will and will not be called. That will never change.
With runners on base, the IP call is a fairly high penalty call, so it is proper for the umpire to be sure of the call. Therefore, borderline IP violations should not (IMO) be called.
A fairly common practice that I don't call is the "foot roll" off the front of the plate. When on the bases, it is fairly easy to see.
The pitcher positions her heel only on the plate (or just touching the front edge), so that when she steps, the ball of her pivot foot is clearly in the dirt a shoe size in front of the plate when she pushes off. Do any of you call this? If not, why not? As I said, I usually don't call this, especially if there is a hole in front of the plate, unless she becomes blatant about it (i.e. more than just tipping the foot). Do you disagree?
Second, how about the influence of upper levels on leaping / hopping? Do the "loosy goosy" IP calls in Div 1 and Team USA cause you any hesitation at JO levels? It does give me pause, but I still call them. Now, I don't bother with trying to detect a small leap, but if it is clearly visible, I'll call it. Do you call this any differently in NFHS (where, persumably coaches have greater influence over assignments) than you do in "travel" ball (ASA, etc)? (i.e. are you more reluctant to call IP in NFHS?)
If you don't want to "go public" with how you handle this, I understand, but I am hoping for some open discussion.
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Tom
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