Quote:
Originally Posted by SamG
There's no specific play here, and I'm just a fan who's interested in the answer.
There's been a couple posts recently about "backing up your partner". It SEEMS like the thought process is to not say anything if you see a wrong call made, sometimes even if questioned by a coach. Now, maybe that's the way the rules are set up.
But I don't understand why the rules are set up that way. Let's be honest... EVERYONE makes mistakes at times. Why not be able to correct that mistake? It happens in football... one official sees a catch, but another official (with a different angle) saw the receivers foot out of bounds. They get together and make the right call (most of the time).
What's strange is there's at least one instance a PU will ask a BU what he saw... a check swing. So why not do the same on some "bang bang" plays?
I'm trying to just start a discussion, not an argument, I swear.  |
There are a lot of factors that an umpire uses to decide if he/she will go for help.
1. Each umpire has a particular set of responsibilities. Some are shared, but others are the sole perogative of the umpire who made the call. These responsiblities are listed in the umpires manual.
2. No umpire can override another umpire in making decisions that require a judgment call. This too is by instruction per the manual. Now, if an umpire is misapplying a rule, we can and should get together to make sure the rule is applied correctly. However, that is not overruling another umpire. An example would be allowing a batter to continue batting when they bunted a ball foul with 2 strikes. This would be setting aside a rule and should not be allowed.
3. Umpires should never respond to questions by coaches, players or fans that question another umpires call. If asked directly, the umpire should simply direct the coach/player to the umpire who made the call. That umpire can then decide if they need to go for help.
4. The umpire who made the call will usually not go for help on a judgment call. The reason being is that who is to say the other umpires judgment is better. Especially if the other umpire is much further away and has a different angle, which is often the case. Remember, the other umpire has other responsibilities and those responsibilities may put them in a position with a worse angle and distance to the play.
5. If the coach who is asking for help suggests to the umpire that he may have had a bad angle or there was a pulled foot or bobbled ball, then most umpires will go for help on that type of situation. Anytime a coach suggests that the other umpire may have additional information, most umpires will go for help on that.
6. If the coach/player has been complaining about every call and asking for help on every call, then at some point an umpire is probably going to stop going for help. Coaches need to pick their spots.
In your football example, I bet it is allowed because each official has a different set of responsibilities and they get together to get it right because that is part of the mechanics. I doubt you will see the Referee at the 50 yard line call a pass at the 10 yard incomplete when the covering official is right there making the call.
Why is the judgment of the plate umpire who may be 60 feet away better than the umpire who is 15 feet away?