First basemans feet

[Marty Rogers]

Jim: We (coaches, umpires, etc.) have been
fighting switching to FED for years here
in Massachusetts, too. But per grape vine,
looks like it is finally winning out. I
am happy with the way things are, but since
(if) we are changing, I'll go with the flow,
learn the FED way.(All wood bats are coming, too)

Since they took out that dumb rule that
the defense does not have to appeal for
a runner to be called out for missing a
base (umpire calls it, regardless), I
don't mind it so bad. After all, 47
other states use it, so it can't be too
horrible (can it?).

Hopefully the old dogs can learn new tricks.
LOL It must be HELL to live in Wyoming.

[Jim Porter]

Originally posted by Marty Rogers
Jim: We (coaches, umpires, etc.) have been
fighting switching to FED for years here
in Massachusetts, too.

Oh, we're not fighting anything. No one's proposing we switch to FED rules at all. It's simply not an issue. We'll be using American League rules, with our local additions, for many years to come. You can bank on it.

[Tim C]

Jim:

Please be careful about condeming states changing to FED.

At the National School Administrators conference last summer a rule change was passed.

AS you know The NFHS is more than the "rules makers" for all high school sports. The "Fed" also is the organization that runs all Band competition, Speech and Drama competitions, and other inter-scholastic competition.

At the conference it was proposed and passed that ALL states that want to compete in ANY FED sanctioned actitivty MUST go by all Federation rules "no matter what the competition."

Three states wer mentioned in the documents:

Mass
RI
Tex

There were also comments about Ohio, Iowa and Indiana in terms specifically of football rules differences.

Jim, there "may" be a day when "little Roadie" will have no choice but to join in with "Fedlandia" --

Time will tell.

Best to you,

[Jim Porter]

Originally posted by Tim C
Jim:

Please be careful about condeming states changing to FED.

First, I didn't condemn anyone or any state.

Second, we value freedom of choice in Rhode Island.

Lastly, no one can tell us what rules our high schoolers use to play their games. That is simply unenforceable.

I scoff at your report.

[Tim C]

Jim:

The issue is bigger than you or any umpire.

Fed will eventually move into any state they identify that they want.

I am not here to fight with you I am just reporting the facts.

American Legion also said they would "never" play FED . . . two more states are playing FED until state finals starting this season.

Rhode island is no different than ANY other state . . . except obviously the size issue . . . don't think small Jim understand that times change.

[Thom Coste]

Originally posted by Jim Porter

Just some trivia - besides Massachusetts and Rhode Island, there is only one other state that does not use FED rules for high school baseball. That would be Wyoming. They don't have high school baseball.

I believe that's Montana, not Wyoming.

[Jim Porter]

Originally posted by Thom Coste

I believe that's Montana, not Wyoming.

Actually, it's Wyoming and Montana. Good catch, Thom.

So, we're down to 46 states that play high school baseball under FED rules.