[PeteBooth]

We just had a lengthy discussion concerning FED and a runner going into right field. Some will call it by the book and some will say - That ain't baseball and either stop it and give the coach a warning or even call the runner out.

The aforementioned leaves me to the point of my thread.

Which rules do you enforce and which ones do you ignore or do you simply call everything by the book?

Example, FED rule 3-2-1

While occupying a coach's box, he / she shall be in uniform of his / her team.

I do not know about you, but at the modified, Freshman and even some JV Teams, there are many coaches who don't have uniforms. We all come from different parts of the country so my statement could be true or false depending upon location, but I am speaking of my area.

Do you refuse to allow a coach to be in the box? or ignore?

The point I'm getting at is that there are rules in the book known as Nit-pick'n The 2 most common are:

1. Uniform Rules
2. 20 second rule for F1

In addition, I know of some veteran FED umpires that simply refuse to call the shoulder Turn (while on the rubber) balk in a FED game.

Therefore, what criteria do you use for determining which rules you will enforce from those that you don't? Does it depend upon the knowledge base of the coach involved? or do you have a general criteria? or Do you simply call everything "by the book"?

Pete Booth