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Sometimes we (coaches, parents, umpires) have a tendancy to try to make things "fair." However, we are not doing young players any favors if we shelter them so that they do not develop.
The ASA 10U rules are intended to help catchers (especially) develop, not to make the game "fair".
Same here. If this was an 18U team, no one would think anything of this defensive positioning, except that perhaps they were in desparation mode to keep a runner from scoring (pulling the infield in, that sort of thing), knowing they are giving up the outfield fly ball, but also knowing if the batter gets a long fly they are done anyway.
The proper resonse to this kind of shenanigans is for the batter to hit one over everyone's head. That'll stop it quick. If the offense does not have batters capable of an outfield fly ball (very possible at 10U), then this is just effective defensive play.
Short of something more obviously unsportsmanlike, this is a time for the offense to toughen up.
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Tom
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