Does anyone have any suggestions for changes to the NFHS Umpire's Manual? They're getting ready to go to print (as they do every two years) and this would be a good time to offer suggestions. Thanks!

If they're getting ready to go to print, it's too late for suggestions.

They are ORGANIZING the information before going to press, and I've been asked for suggestions. I'm forwarding the question to this board hoping for some good answers. Now, Garth (and everyone else), do you have any suggestions for the NFHS Umpire's Manual?

Yes -

They can take the level 1 and 2 IHSA umpires mechanics from our certfied clinics and print those. You already have them, so this should take a few minutes.

Want to save a lot of time? Post it online as a PDF and then we can download it instead of having another book to get lost in out trunks. The IHSA system is still the best one around. Yes, it has flaws, but it is still better than a lot of things I've seen for high school ball.

You Bet
 

Adopt the CCA mechanics, (the official NCAA mechanics) completely. I believe Oregon used them exclusively this year.

Imagine, we could have identical and consistent mechanics from high school through college.

Yep,
 

As a pilot program most of Oregon this year worked CCA mechanics. As of next year the entire state will be required to use that mechanic set.

The National Federation of High Schools is actively involved with us in seeing if these mechanics can be used Nationwide.

Now I have never seen the mechanics referenced by Windy, I would venture to guess they are better than the normal Fed mechannics, so I will stick with the concept that coordinating college and Fed mechanics would be a big help.

Recognize a key issue here:

As long as Kyle McNeely is involved in the Federation rules and mechanics group the changes that are made will be fully tested and be what is best for all the different levels of ability carried by FED umpires.

The biggest challenge in working the CCA manual is that the umpires for which the book is written are expected to be:

1) In shape and,

2) Understand many of the subtlties of the game and always being ahead of the play.

These are challenges for some of the people that work FEDlandia.

Tee

Yes!

The NFHS umpire has always advocated that the <b>PU</b> take the batter-runner into 3rd base, not the BU.

I don't know an umpire in the world that does that, yet, it's in the book.

Somehow I doubt they are taking any suggestions.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

The biggest challenge in working the CCA manual is that the umpires for which the book is written are expected to be:

1) In shape and,

2) Understand many of the subtlties of the game and always being ahead of the play.


What are some major differences from the CCA mechanics as opposed to what the FED recommends? Thanks

We give our PU's the option, and many of our PU's will take the BR to third. Especially if the BU gets handcuffed with a trouble ball or a ball hit down the RF line.

Just makes it easier for the BU and PU is already there.

So, it might not be standard, but it can work.

Thanks
David

Assuming no trouble ball you mean to tell me that you can't take BR all the way around for a play at third? If you read the play there should be no porblem for FU to be in the proper postion to make a call. If I'm the FU (again assuming no trouble ball) I want PU to stay home I can handle this play with no problem.

Not quite sure
 

I didn't say that BU <b>cannot</b> take the play to third. Of course I can/he can.

But we give them the option because we want our PU's active, gives them something to do. (g)

No really one of the reasons is that there might be a rundown situation and it helps BU if there is a play at 2B. (and this doesn't happen often), but it gets the PU moving to 3rd so its the same play as if there is a R1.

Cannot stand when PU is standing around picking up bats. (g)

Thanks
David

I agree. In this situation when I'm PU I get out from behind the plate observe the play kind of stay close to 3b line in case I'm needed. But I also make sure I'm close to the plate in the event of an overthrow etc.

it would be nice if OBR and FED interpretations were the same. For example, balk in FED--dead ball immediately, OBR we maintain live. Doing HS and legion games in summer, I have to be deligent to interpret based on these and other differences.

I understand why FED allows, for example, reentry for there starters. You will never see this in OBR. The point is that there will always be differences.

One thing I would like to see changed in OBR, at least at the major league level, would be the collisions at the plate. Catchers do not deserve this. The other day in the Cards game when Molina was leveled, there was no need for this. Young kids see this and want to try and do it doing HS or legion, only to be dumped from the game.

JJ was asking for input on the Umpire's Manual -- (generally) the mechanics.

You provided input on suggested rules changes. There's already a process in place for suggesting rules / interp changes -- contact your state association.

Good luck.

you are right Bob. However, even rule interpretations will not change unless the NFHS sees the need. What good will speaking to my state association do? Missouri is not going to change a rule unless directed by the NFHS.

Again, thank you for the suggestion

Starting with the state is how the process begins. Reuqests for rule changes are sent there and the state body then forwards them to NHFS rules committee.

We've followed their process in Washington and have been successful in getting some changes.

Just clean up the wording on the new balk rule. It basically contridicts itself.

Mechanics consistency across the various codes
 

I recently worked the American Legion state tournament. I recognised that the majority of our work would be three and four man. This was something I rarely see, so I studied the mechanics manual that I had - NFHS.

The UIC shows up with some photo-copied pages from some other source. I think it may have been one of those Referee magazine publications - it had that full page format look to it.

Of course what he brought was different than what I had been studying. Then there were two or three snafus during the tournament where neither set of instructions were followed...

Consistentcy across the various ruling bodies would be good. I don't know which set of instructions is best but I do know that ONE SET is the best solution. And that three and four man mechanics should also be incuded in that effort.

JJ,
Are you one of the Baseball Clinicians for the IHSA?

WindyCity - yep, I am. That's why I stop by here - I try to get as much "real world" info as I can and try to stay up on what folks are thinking. Thanks.

One of the clinicians gave me his IHSA Level 1 & 2 CD and I printed it out. I work a lot of college ball and know the CCA manual, as well. A lot of the CCA stuff is geared to having competent partners and superior playing talent. (i.e. you can assume more double plays or better relays for put outs on plays from teh outfield). The high school umpire usually doesn't encounter these variables. The guidelines have flaws, but put the average official in a good position to make the right calls. The single biggest improvement we can make, in my opinion, is helping the single umpire work his game more effectively. Too many guys never move more than twenty feet from the dish when working solo. The give up on trying to get a better angle and the game suffers. We spend so much time making the two or three man systems better, that we forget the core. This is where most umpires get their start. We need to make it easier and more enjoyable.

If I read you right, I kind of disagree.

The flaw you seem to point out is not in mechanics, but in sub par and even lazy performance of some umpires. We will never totally eliminate that. That is part training and part initiative and part experience (although at one point, ABUA was talking to fed about uniform training across the country)

The lack of some to perform or having the will to perform correctly should not stop FED from updating mechanics and the CCA is the best way to update. True it is designed for better level of game, but that does not make it unsuitable for lower levels. There is nothing wrong with an umpire getting in a better position.

FED has a reputation for aiming at the lowest common denominator. Improving the prescribed mechanics and raising the bar might not improve the worst among us, but why should the rest be held back?

Not much more they should do.
 

Garth,

They have to aim that low. If they start adding more requirements to the equation, most of those will never get fulfilled. So they lay out very basic things to think about. The CCA Mechanics books realize they are dealing with another level of official and have no problem adding situations and plays to cover. Many times you have to attend clinics or talk to state interpreters or clinicians to get clarification of accepted practices.

This is another reason I think a pregame is vital. The more you go over the easier it is to adapt to different situations.

Peace

Jeff:

My point is that there are a number of umpires who will not or cannot perform mechanics properly, no matter the "system" and I believe that number will reamin consistent whether we improve the system or even make it "easier". (Which usually also degrades it)

I believe we cannot continue to allow the level of umpiring mechanics to be dictated by those who will not use them correctly in any case.

GB

They should be more complex.
 

Now I agree with that.

I still think that you could add all the situations and still have conflict over what they are. Baseball mechanics are not rocket science. They are really easy and usually are based on what happens with the ball. Ball goes here, the umpire goes here and his partner's follow. Compared to other sports baseball does not have a lot of variations to them.

Peace

Garth,

I have seen the CCA materials - they are very good.
Have you ever seen the IHSA materials and how they are composed? I'm not disagreeing with you about the level of commitment to high school athletics or the base quality. However, some of the CCA mechanics rely on officials that have an intimate relationship with the game and work with fairly regular partners. At least in our area, that is a luxury and not common.