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I don't see a problem with those instructions. I've often worked tournament games on fields with temporary fences that stop right at the foul line. At least two or three times a day in my games, a batted ball will go past those fences. Sometimes it's pretty obvious that the ball went through when I see it hit the permanent fence beyond or can tell the fielder is well past the temporary fence. But on those occasions where the ball just trickles beyond the fence is where it becomes problematic. If the fielder plays it, we obviously cannot subsequently rule it dead based upon what she or a coach says. It's best for the fielder to raise her hands and leave the ball alone, and a base umpire will go out there and verify the ball's status.
The problem becomes when an umpire sees the raised hands, and then he/she kills play. Never, ever do that unless you're 100% certain that the ball is indeed in DBT. Just leave it live, and once the umpire verifies the ball did go out of play, place runners back where they belong.
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"Let's face it. Umpiring is not an easy or happy way to make a living. In the abuse they suffer, and the pay they get for it, you see an imbalance that can only be explained by their need to stay close to a game they can't resist." -- Bob Uecker
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