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Last weekend, we were in a 24 team tourney, and although we opted out of having an if game, we still didn't conclude playing until 11:00 PM Sunday and we had a 1 hour drive ahead of us. Blue also had a drive ahead of him and a work day coming up in just a few short hours.
If reasonable people acted reasonably, we could start time with first pitch. But, coaching teenagers is like herding cats. The Blue needs a hammer to keep the tournament moving as fast as he can.
Even in non tourney league type play, I would start the clock at the conclusion of the plate conference. That beginning coach who insists every one of his kids has to field one more ground ball before heading to the dugout is delaying bed time/study time for all.
Talking to the TD won't do any good. Last summer I raised the issue of how the tourney advertisement says 70 minutes but the blues are only allowing 65.
TD talked to the UIC, but the UIC wouldn't budge. So now, 65 is a local custom for these open tourneys. What I intend to do next weekend is let the other coach pay the ump who conducts the plate conference and I will pay the other ump when he finally shows. Anything over 2 minutes late and he will have a pro-rated fee waiting for him.
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