When do we "jump in"
 

This is more of a philosophical thread than a rules-oriented one.

I had a game last night where I called two violations on a pitcher, a few innings apart, same chucker.

I also had to warn coaches from both teams about leaving the dugout, a LL rule I insist upon. FYI, they were jumping out from behind dugout fence to talk to/position players.

I'm not going to delve into the myriad arcana of LL softball rules, but all these calls elicited quite a stir.

I'm 100% confident of all these calls, but a well-respected state LL sachem remarked post-game: "Ace, controversy seems to follow you around."

I said, "That's because I enforce the rules."

As I said, I have no boubt about these calls/instances. But, the age-old dilemma erupts: When do we "leave things be" -- and when do we insert ourselves into the game, especially when a pard is a newer ump or seems lax on rules.

I don't wanna be Torquemada, nor do I want to wait until the opposition complains before I enforce a rule.

Your thoughts, august group?

Ace in CT

I have two thoughts.

1. How many people do you think will know who Torquemada is?

2. Since you referred to the group as august, maybe people are waiting for July to end before responding.

Chris Wright

I don't feel that we can pick and choose which rules we enforce, and those we don't. I only go "Tomas de Torquemada" when coaches repeatedly ignore
any legitimate requests I make of them. I agree about not waiting until the
opposition complains to enforce a rule.

Ace,

I have heard the comments about "He is strict on the rules" by several officials around the parks I call at. I do create some static with a few coaches that think they are above the rules, but I enforce them with all. I usually mention to them inpassing at first, and then I warn if they do not catch the hint. Most coaches step it up once they realize I will enforce the rules. One such example is the wearing of a catcher's mask and helmet when warming up a pitcher. Dixie youth says that anyone warming up a pitcher must wear one. That includes coaches. I catch a little flack for it until I ask them if they would like to spend 6 weeks sipping through a straw after the pitch shorthops up into their jaw.

I think it comes with experience. Aside from safety, I try to roll in like a local, as opposed to the local Gestapo. If you wish to dial things up, do so slowly, gently and low keyed. If it's a new location, I'll try to get the lay of the land, and see how lax the enforcement is.

Tomorrow, I'm working a state championship game, and we're all going to be new to each other. So our crew gets to set the tempo, and we're going to set the bar pretty high. There's a time and a place for cracking the whip, and we'll get our chance tomorrow. This game is pretty far down the line though, and I'm sure these guys have seen some pretty good crews. So ours won't be any shock to anyone.

It's just like Mel Brooks said, "ya can't Torquemada nothing!":)

People SKills..........
 

Gauging your reaction is always a measure of people skills. The more games you do, the better you get at it. Most of my posts hint at gauging my reaction and I've been at this awhile.

Don't be a Smitty. Treat people how you would want to be treated given the circumstance.

Calling a game provides a clear avenue to demonstrate your people skills. I'd be willing to wager a coffee at starbucks that if you're normally friendly, get along with most types of peeps, and are intuitive, most people will like you.

Focus on your people skills as well as your rules knowledge.

Wow, Smitty sure does get around. He's been getting a lot of press lately on the forums.:)

Sure we can. And we do.

Do you enforce the coach's box literally and 100% of the time? Do you stop play and get F3's foot in bounds every time you see it in foul territory prior to a pitch?

We all pick and choose to a degree. The issue is: "to what degree?"

can't one foot be in foul territory? I don't think I've seen a 1st baseman set up with both feet in foul ground

just curious if I've missed something,

Joe

You have to be strict on the rules. Ace told me at a park before a game once to "not let them argue balls and strikes". His tone was that it had been happening, and then they started doing it in Ace's games.

We need to enforce rules, if not for the sancity and safety of your game, then for the pleasantness and peacefullness for the next umpire's game who has that team.

The pro interpretation is that the fielder must be entirely in fair territory. It is not strictly enforced unless an offensive manager complains, and then it is strictly enforced both for both teams.

FED (high school) allows one foot in and one foot out.

All of them? Strict, how? By the letter of the rule book?

Careful, grasshopper, you will one day learn the intent of the rules and perhaps come to know some of the many, many errors in the rule book and those sections that disagree with others. What happens to your generalization then?

Tuss--this isn't what my original thread was about. To talk to your point, I simply felt that some of my plate pards had been letting coaches get a little too verbal on balls/strikes--this led to coaches ro thinking they could bazoo at anyone.

I am talking about 100% rules violations. Garth brings up some good talking points, as usual.

Ace,

JMHO, but it might not be the message, but the way in which it was delivered ?

Might it be that you are more "officius" than the majority of your brethren ?

Might it be that you are extremely accomplished at your craft, and you enjoy letting everyone know just how accomplished you are ?

Might it be you just enjoy a good scuffle ?

Or, might it be that I'm full of sh!t and don't know what the fu(k I'm talking about.

BTW, my wife votes for the last one.:D




Doug

Doug,

:D Make that 2 votes.:D

Upon further consideration, Garth, I must agree with your assessment. "To
what degree", indeed.

You ARE Torguemada if you enforce every rule, all the time. Controversy follows you because you are an OOO. Lighten up.

A coach steps out of the dugout to holler instructions to his players. Yawn...

These are all valid criticisms, and I'm sure I've been guilty of all of them.

I do believe that I exited my "offcius" in the mid 80s.

I am like the senior guy around here in LL; I get tons of respect from umps, players and coaches. I try not to puff my chest out about this.

I don't mind a good scuffle. OTOH, I have had exactly 2 EJs in 29 years of post-season, youth-league baseball. In 15 or so years of HS and a summer college league, I had one EJ.

However, I think every umpire who really takes the craft seriously should peer into the looking glass and ask him/herself the same questions you asked me!

Ace

I think there are a vast set of rules that directly affect the play of the game - and these should be enforced 100%.

Then there are those rules that don't affect the play of the game as much as they affect the flow or administration of the game. These are the rules for which we can be strict only when necessary, and lax when it calls for it. Coaches out of the box, batters taking signs from out of the box (in suck rulesets where this is applicable), coaches wearing gear to warm up pitchers (I would enforce this 99% of the time, but when Johnny lob-ball is coming in to just get through a game, I think it may be acceptable to let this slide), stuff like that. Enforce if it's causing you a problem, or if the coach is a jaggass. Let it go when it truly doesn't matter.

I agree 100% with you.

I ask and answer those questions after every game where I have a "charged" situation.

I try to be brutally honest.

I think it has made me a better umpire. But, lookin' in that mirror and bein' truthful is very difficult and not necessarily pleasant.



Doug

I love ya, man !!!!:D





Doug