Quote:
Originally posted by WindyCityBlue
Jumpmaster,
I can assure you that you do not call what the coaches want at the major college conference level (D1). We do not pick which rules we will enforce, since many of us are evaluated at most every game. My crew chief has worked two Super Regionals and drives home the need to enforce everything by the book.
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Windy City Blue is exactly correct for NCAA D1 baseball. In the last 5 years or so, the NCAA has taken its cue from MLB and seized control of umpiring. Just like MLB is grading umpires on the strike zone and other things, NCAA is grading the umpires on compliance with the rules. Coaches and ADs no longer have much input.
At the lower levels, the coaches and ADs rule the roost, or at least have a lot more influence. At the D1 level, a conference office hires the entire conference umpire staff. At lower levels (DII down to high school), individual schools and school districts hire the umpires. Therefore, at the lower levels, the coaches and ADs have a lot more say. He who writes the checks, writes the rules.
This effect increases as one gets into summer leagues. The League Administrators are often connected to the teams in some way. It does not pay to pi$$ off the coaches when the issue has nothing to do with safety or decorum. The lower the level, the more likely it is that the coach is connected to the League President. That is why LL may be the toughest level to politically navigate.
Peter