|
First, I live in Alabama. It is very humid, the players and officials get very sweaty and there is usually dew on the ground by game time. We do not use the NF official's manual, we have written our own.
With those things in mind, we generally allow the teams to exchange balls after every play if they wish. We allow the ball boy to bring the ball directly to the umpire. We instruct them prior to the game, the importance of promptness. If he delayes the ready, we do not allow the exchange.
A vast majority of these kids work their tails off and I feel it actual speeds up the process of putting the ball in play. Especially on sweeps and incomplete passes. The ball boy usually has the new ball to the umpire before we get the pile sorted out when the ball is in the side zone.
We have had all those discussions about allowing the ball boy on the field. Bottom line, with a good ball boy it works very well and does not delay the process.
|