[BayStateRef]

I work a little baseball and a lot of basketball. I study the rules religiously. So do my interpreters. But they have issued "interpretations" that I do not agree with or which other officials do not agree with.

The NFHS has made a big push in basketball to have officials take their personal biases towards rules out of the game. If a player plants his butt in the lane for more than three seconds, we are told to call the violation...not make an independent judgment that "it was no big deal." But I have had interpreters "instruct" that if there is no lounge chair and sunscreen, do not call the violation.

The umpires at your game were following the rules as instructed by the person responsible for providing that instruction to them. You (and others here) did not like them "hiding" behind the interpreter, but the theory is that all umpires from that association will be consistent in that call. Perhaps they will take your concern back to their interpreter and get a clarification. I have done that with my interpreter...and sometimes he has changed his ruling. Other times, I have had officials from other regions and other states tell me the interpreter is wrong. He may be...but it is the way we are trained.

One more "real life" example. It is from basketball...but the point is about interpreters and officials who apply the rule. In Massachusetts, we use a 30-second clock for high school games. Question: what happens if the clock stops working during a game? The rule says there shall be an "alternative time piece." Our interpreter said the rule is firm. If there is no clock and no stop watch as an alternative, suspend the game. I have had other officials, athletic directors and coaches say that is wrong and not fair. They may be right. Or not. But given the clear instruction from my interpreter, I handle it that way. Your umpires told you clearly how they were told to call the HBP. You need to accept that and tell your defense to "turn two."