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Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA
But probably not in the "My Game/My Field Officials Assn."  |
I believe that will be changing in PONY for 2013. PONY - Protect Our Nation's Youth. We, as umpires, aren't doing that if we leave a three feet piece of metal in the players' way when we can reasonable do away with the obstacle.
There have been some articles written in Referee and Officiating.Com regarding bat removal. They often have two attorneys write for them as well. The attorneys screen issues dealing with safety. I cannot speak for them, but I highly doubt these articles would get past the editors if the attorneys disagreed with the teachings contained therein.
Again, most associations don't have 50 page manifestos on safety. ASA does. So why have they neglected this issue? If it is important enough to bring up in the 50+ clinics all the clones have been to, why is it not important enough for ASA to put in writing. Even if ASA says NOT to remove the bats, wouldn't ASA want to put that in writing so that they can at least say, "We tell umpires not to remove the bat. I don't know what that umpire was doing." I, of course, would disagree with that ruling but would likely go along with it since that's what ASA wants.
NCAA deals solely with older players. Though there may be a 17 year old thrown in there every so often, most of their players are legally adults and take on greater responsibility for themselves. Only without intelligence can one state that a 21 year old college athlete and a 10u player have equal ability to deal with obstacles on the field. With that said, even in NCAA I am moving the bat. They haven't told me not to and only a fool would leave it sitting there if they could reasonably remove it.
Stop thinking like an official and start thinking like an adult with common sense. "Gee, I can leave the bat in the way or I can remove it. I guess I'll leave it."
No one ever told me to remove my neighbor's garbage can from the middle of the street when the wind blew it over there. But I still moved it so that no one would crash into it. Anyone who told me that I was wrong to move it would be an idiot. There's no other way to put it. I could have left it - that wouldn't have been right but it would have been within my right to leave it.
I would love to cross examine the umpire who left the bat there and hear the only reason why he left it there was "Because a clinician at the ASA camp told me to." Good luck. I hope you have extra insurance. And even better luck getting the person from ASA who told you that to appear in court.