National Federation rule chances for 2007

[bluezebra]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

No, not a misprint. They want all defensive players wearing helmets with face masks.

Now, I've been hollering about FED rules for a long time now, but now it has gotten out of hand. I want to tell the FED folks the same thing the fans like to yell at the umpires: Let the kids play baseball!

Wait until a defensive player gets seriously injured when his view of a hard-hit ball is obscured by a mask.

Bob

[Carbide Keyman]

What is the POE concerning umpires professionalism all about ?




Doug

[bossman72]

Originally Posted by Carbide Keyman

What is the POE concerning umpires professionalism all about ?

It's probably the one that's in there every year about not picking and choosing rules to enforce.



I personally would never like to see it be mandatory for defensive players to wear face protection- hopefully it won't carry over to umpires since, if you think about it, we're the closest person to the batter other than the pitcher when we're in B or C, the older guys are not as quick and agile as an 18 yr old boy, and we don't have a glove to defend ourselves.

I've generally been a supporter of FED rules, except for 1 or 2 off the top of my head. This new rule, if it comes to fruition, will also be added to my exceptions list.

[briancurtin]

"A new signal was adopted that uses the point motion for the start of the game. This will align NFHS officials with other rules codes to begin a contest and put a ball back in play."

this might be a dumb question, but since i have not worked FED previously, what were you previously supposed to do to start a game and put a ball back into play? ive been pointing the ball in since i was 14 and never noticed anyone do it differently.

[bossman72]

use the beckoning motion- palm out towards pitcher, then turn palm towards face and pull inward - i never did it either

[LakeErieUmp]

Isn't that the signal for "hey, how 'bout some Gatorade!"

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by bossman72

use the beckoning motion- palm out towards pitcher, then turn palm towards face and pull inward - i never did it either

Not once in 20 years of FED ball did I ever use this signal. It's about time they matched the published signal with what umpires really use.

[SAump]

"In another change, Rule 6-2-1 now states that a ball will be called each time a pitcher brings his pitching hand in contact with his mouth, either without distinctly wiping off the pitching hand before it touches the ball or while in contact with the pitcher's plate."

A ball or a balk, any word about runners staying in place or awarded one base?