New for 2008 CCA mechanic for fly ball coverage
 

There is some controversy in my association on the new for 2008 outfield coverage on flyballs with 3 man system. It states that the inside guy has catch, no catch in the middle cone. (new for this year). Yet it still lists the wing guy going out on "trouble balls." I feel this is MORE confusing then before. It seemed easier to me when the field was split in half. What are your thoughts?

The phrase "going out on trouble balls" doesn't change coverages. What's the problem?

I don't have the book handy, but iirc, if it's "routine" then the umpire in the middle has "the big V" (as opposed to "the little V" last year).


If it's not routine, then the umpire in the middle has only "the little V" and can / should go out on it. The umpire on the line should go out on trouble balls from F8 to his line.

(Assuming U1 on the line, U3 in the middle) So, U1 and U3 will have to communicate on fly balls hit between F8 and F9. Just like they communicate when both fielders are on the line. The "quarterback" is the umpire on the line -- if he comes in, the umpire in the middle has the catch. If he goes out, the umpire in the middle has the runners (revert to two-man).

My thought is that if you are doing the level of ball that manual was written for, you probably don't have much of a problem with this change. ;) I think it is logical and elegant.

Great feedback from the posts. That's what I was looking for. I don't have a problem with it, but the change is being taken literal by some of the newbies. They are reading it as "guy in the middle has coverage in the cone" period. It's hard to teach a guy/gal to P<R<R to begin with, let alone trying to teach them at a weekend clinic to read a trouble ball and go out from the inside.

There is a lot of things to remember in umpiring.

Your "newbies" are working 3 man mechanics?

I should have posted newbies to the 3 man system.

The change includes the literal words "U1 still has trouble balls from F8 to the line" (or something like that) (and, yes, i recognize the irony of using "lieteral" and "something like that" in the same sentence)

Communicate, communicate,communicate, this is a big ticket item for NCAA.
This is a logical minor adjustment, but they (NCAA) want communication on every play. Dont forget Bob, when JJ or I work with you, you have all fly balls.

:D :eek: :D :eek:

Sounds like what I was told last fall. Put them on the field and let them "run the play" Things make more sense that way, sometimes.

I was (am) a newbie to 3-man. The rotation, and coverages sank in after doing it several times.