[CecilOne]

Originally posted by mcrowder
AUS - I see your points. I don't point either. To me, pointing toward first base is unnecessary, and looks like some baseball umpires' strike signals.

Also - I normally just say Ball. Not ball four. Just "Ball."

I only say more when nothing else is happening and the batter's just standing there (this is usually either with younger girls, or with 14U's at the very bottom of the batting order on badly coached teams), I might add "Take your Base". It's always an afterthought, and it's meant to get things moving when the batter is clueless. I can't remember the last time I had to tell a BR to take first on a walk in highschool.

But at younger levels (like 10U or 8U), it doesn't bother me when I see the umpires that work for me point at first base. Most of these girls don't even know the count at any point in their at bat, and sometimes need "prodding" (which may be "coaching").

I agree, except I can "remember the last time I had to tell a BR to take first on a walk in high school", but it was JV.