FED coach ejected (only coach)
 

Per rule, an ejected coach is required to leave the vicinity and have no contact with his players.

What if he was the only coach?

Can high school players be permitted to continue the game coachless?

Can a parent come forward and coach the team from the dugout? Can a school administrator who happened to be at the field coach the team from the dugout? (I say "from the dugout" because it is highly unlikely they will be in uniform.)

Some (much) of this would depend on the state.

A parent is unlikely to meet the requirements.

A school administrator might.

That seems reasonable. However, if no adult (of any kind) steps forward - would the game be a forfeit or simply suspended? Is there any rule that specifically prohibits the players from continuing without a coach? (Which would probably go smoother)

Again - it's probably a state-by-state issue.

Thanks!

It's very likely that an adult "coach" of some kind is needed. I would suspend and let the league / state deal with the rest of the consequences.

Umpires do not forfeit games. Umpires suspend games. Leagues / TD's forfeit games.

I'm not sure I agree with that. I imagine there can be some unclear situation that is would cause the umpire to "suspend" the game and allow higher authorities to make a final determination as to whether the game is a forfeit or a suspension.

However, I think there are several, very clear provisions in the rule book by which the umpire can categorically declare a forfeit.

(FED) How about: "A game shall be forfeited to the offended team by the umpire when a team is unable to provide at least nine players to start the game or cannot provide eight players to finish the game"?

or "A game shall be forfeited to the offended team by the umpire when a team willfully and persistently violates any of the rules after being warned by the umpire"?

Still suspend. Let the league confirm the forfeit.

How do you confirm that a team didn't have 9 players to start or couldn't finish with 8? How do you confirm that a team willfully violated the rules? You ask the umpire! ... who was the one that made the observation in the first place.

In our area, the umpires have the authority to declare a forfeit - especially if it's a black and white rule like I've already mentioned. There's nothing to deliberate about.

The only time we hesitate is if a team is having a transportation issue and can't get the required players there on time at game time. We have a local policy that we give them up to 30 minutes from scheduled game time before declaring a forfeit unless the home team coach decides to wave that restriction and give them up to an hour. I've had coaches want to give the visitors more time, preferring to play the game than win on a forfeit.

Try forfeiting a game, and then see what happens.

If you suspend it, then the worst thing that happens is that your judgment is upheld. If you forfeit, and you get overruled (and I saw this happen in a fairly well-known league last year on the second example you show,) then you have ****ed yourself.

Well, I have done it - on several occasions. In each case, it was because the visiting team didn't show up or didn't have sufficient players. I tell the home team coach that it is a forfeit and it should be officially entered as a 7-0 win.

No incident report. No forms to fill-out. No paperwork, whatsoever. I received no phone call from my assignor. The forfeiting school made no objection. There was no inquiry by the administrators of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, the governing body for all high school sports in my state.

That's what happened.

What I have done, however - more along the lines that you are suggesting - is allow the state association to decide a matter under dispute regarding a player's eligibility to play.

On two different occasions in my high school umpiring career, I've had one manager object to the participation of an opposing player. In one case, the coach claimed that the player was illegally enrolled in the school because he was out of the school's district. In another case, the coach claimed that the player had been ejected in a previous game and should be serving a suspension.

I noted the objection and made that known to the other coach. I then ordered the game to be played and that the matter would be forwarded to the state association for resolution. I also said that, for the purposes of the game, I would consider all players in the line-up to be eligible and that the coach assumes the responsibility for each player's eligibility. It was not my job to know the details of school zoning, what is on a player's birth certificate, or what may have transpired in previous games that may affect subsequent games.

The objection was duly noted and the game proceeded. I forwarded the information via our state's standard "Incident Report" form. I have no idea what happened in both cases. I was never given any feedback on the matter.

I assume a team forfeits if they use a player who is not eligible to be on the team. But, at the time, I figured that was not my call.

This is a far cry from the simple determination that a team does not have 9 players to begin the game.

If the rulebook specifically says the umpire has the authority to forfeit the game under certain circumstances, then by all means, do your job and forfeit the game as the rulebook says.

Those situations in the prior post deal more with eligibility of players rather than rules of the game. I tell coaches I'm not touching those, and to contact the governing body to determine if their opponent used an ineligible player.

Forfeiting is not an umpire's job. It's like calling a catcher's balk.

Actually...
 

According to David's post #6, assuming he's quoting from the book, in that situation, it IS the umpire's job.

This is something that may be different in other States so you need to check with the State Association.

In CT, there must be a approved, adult coach present or the game is over. No parents are allowed. So in CT, if you eject the only coach, from the field, the players may as well follow to the bus.

I suppose this may vary greatly across this vast country of ours.

In Houston, even in cases where the rulebook says we forfeit the game... all we really do is suspend the game and notate the circumstances and reason. Districts or leagues then make the final decision.

I don't think we've ever received any guidance on this situation in our area. There does not seem to be any rulebook justification for a forfeit. So, I guess the way I'd handle it is to do like you do in Connecticut. I'd end the game and report the incident to the state organization and let them deal with it.

Consider that HS baseball is still a YOUTH sport. That being said there must be an adult available at all times to supervise the team. Same reasoning why an ejected player is allowed to remain in the dugout and not go wandering around due to liability unless there is another adult available to supervise them.

If I am working a game with only one coach and he is starting to run the line I might work into the conversation that if he goes the game is over due to no adult coach on site.

One of my buddies ejected a JV coach and the Varsity coach was watching. He came into the field and took over as the JV coach went away. This was perfectly acceptable since he was qualified, cleared and a employee of the field. If this was a parent I would not have allowed it as a parent would not meet the requirements.

Here's what Minnesota has to say (emphasis mine):

It's not explicitly spelled out... but, if no assistant coach or school representative is available, I'm suspending the game, filing my report with the state office, and letting them handle it from there.

Same here in PA. The state made it a POE to NEVER forfeit a game.

... and I'm doing my "online rules meeting" right now, and the rules meeting says that if the head coach is ejected "there must be a certified assistant coach available to coach the team or the game is forfeited."

Not sure if the rules meeting content is meant to take the place of the officials handbook content (which I posted earlier today)... I may have to email the state and ask.