|
Excuse me if this insults you a little however, I am assuming that at a minimum you have officiated HS ball for 2 years. This year and the year before you took off for 2 yrs. Were you ever given a rule book and any formal training whatsoever? This may not be your fault by I have to question how your association operates in order to do HS baseball.
For as long as I have been officiating baseball, (17-18yrs) a basepath is established ONLY when a play is being made on the runner.
Base runners can lead off a base as far as their heart desires. (5-7 or 57 feet)
Read Rule 8-4-2a
Abandonment of the base or basepath is totally different. It happens when a player that obtains the right to be on a given base, forfiets that right by leaving the field of play,(live ball territory) as defined (Fed & NCAA Rules)or determined by the umpire(OBR).
I guess I am a little taking back here because you stated that you umpire HS baseball. In my mind, this is one of the begining basic understandings necessary for officiating HS baseball. I hope this has helped and encourage you to read more of the Rules and other sources readily available. I would be glad to offer advice on many other sources also.
|