[scottk_61]

This past week I worked a tournament (ASA-FP) that was long and hot and humid.
The highlights were the new rules and mechanics I learned not from coaches but from my fellow blues..........

Hang on to your hat everybody because you are going to be so glad to learn them.

1. The ball is dead whenever it gets back to the circle after a play. Not after every pitch, just after it has been hit or thrown on an attempt to pick off a runner.

2. The infield fly signal to your partner is left hand to right chest, and a "pumped out" with the right hand.
I sure wish the dumb scorekeeper working the board would learn that one because they kept putting outs up there and my partner had to keep explaining it to them.

3. You "HAVE TO" make a safe signal whenever there is a dropped 3K, when you are behind the plate. However there is no need to make any indication that there has been a strike called.

4. Teams are not allowed to huddle around the pitcher when she is warming up even if it takes less than a minute.

5. Teams are not allowed to cheer too loudly.

6. Teams are not allowed to stand up in the bench area during play even though they are behind fencing.....I don't know what you do if it is an open dugout.

7. All first calls on plays are the base umpires responsibilty, caught fly, force out, tag out etc.

8. All second calls are teh plater umpire's, even if you have a double play that completely happens in front of you.

9. A single runner is taken only to second base by the BU and the plate takes 3rd and home.......

10. On a coach assisting a runner, the runner is out the palyer is ejected as is the coach. Doesn't NSA do something this stupid?

11. When a player is discovered using an illegal bat, they are not out, not ejected or anything. It is a mulligan, a do over. (Tournament director did this one after a protest)

12. Read #11 first, that after invoking rule mentioned above, all subsequent games will have the player and coach ejected for an illegal bat.

I am so glad that after 25 years, numerous National Schools and Clinics, the ISF school and other training sessions.......
THAT SOMEONE FINALLY DECIDED TO TEACH ME!!!!!

Jeez, I needed a good stiff drink after working with some of thses people.

Remind me to never work for this tournament director agian, will you?