[PeteBooth]

On the various message Boards one gets into heated debates or discussions on rules. Their wording, meaning and authoritative opinion on the subject matter.

IMO, in order to enforce rules we need to know some history behind them and what THEIR TRUE meaning is.

Let's take Obstruction. What would happen if there was no such animal. A fielder would literally Tackle a runner so he /she could not reach the next base and then tag them for an easy out.

Same is true on interference. An offensive player would simply push the defensive player out of the way so they couldn't make a play.

Now I know the aforementioned are extreme cases, but IMO serve as a stepping stone in enforcing the rule as it exists today.

It seems that on every little bump, tangle of players etc. some person be it the coach, player or fan watching wants something called, when in fact it's nothing.

Also, IMO KNOWING the teams helps us officiate. Example when you watch an NBA or College game and the officials are calling it close for the most part they have to because of the teams involved ala the old Miami Heat and New York Knick series.

Also, even MLB issues edicts when they FEEL something could happen as when Roger Clemens pitched at Shea last year.

Therefore IMO, in order to become GOOD officials we can't just look at the wording of a particular rule but what is it's TRUE purpose and also have a feel for the game meaning the participants so that the game doesn't get away from us.

A perfect example of what I'm talking about is FED's speed up rule concerning the batter. The purpose of the rule was not to have constant delays in the game not to hose the offense.

In it's first year of adoption too many FED officals were calling strikes on the batter for merely being out of the box, which prompted the change to allow the official to use discretion, meaning if there is no delay don't call it which is the way it should have been enforced all along.

In Summary, I believe in order to become GOOD officials we need to not only do the basics and read the rule book but UNDERSTAND it and KNOW how to apply it so we do not become overly officious. We also need to know the Teams involved so that the game doesn't get away from us.

Pete Booth