Umpires Authority

[RPatrino]

The umpires under OBR have their authority start once the home team line-up is handed to the UIC during the plate meeting. However, there are items covered in the rules that the umpires have authority to deal with pre-game.

In LL, the umpires must enforce the rules dealing with coaches warming up pitchers, catcher's wearing the proper head gear and other safety issues. More importantly, in your case, you have the authority and OBLIGATION to handle this problem, as does the President of a Little League.

Bottom line, if I was the umpire that had these pre-game issues with a coach, I would both deal with it at my level, but then refer it to the local administration of the league to be sure it never happened again.