Straddling rubber to take signs

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally posted by Tim C
Steve:

While you can have whatever opinion you want (and state) about Federation Rules makers I would suggest you learn first about how high school rules are written.

Over the past 15 years 92% of all new rulings were requested by coaches. 3% of the new rules were requested by high school administrators. The remaining 5% of the rules were brought to committee by a varying number of peoples.

It appears to me that Garth's original point was related to an opinion about one of the four "self admitted" reasons FED has for making rules.

"#4 -- Rules and mechanics to help untrained umpires by eliminating judgment and complicated rotations of mechanics."

I used to call this section "dumb umpire rules."

Tee

Oh.

Okay, 95% were requested by coaches and administrators, so they automatically figured, "hey, these coaches are really on the ball, let's use their suggestions. After all, who would know more about the rules than a coach? Wait, I know, an administrator!"

Of the remaining 5%, I wonder how many were those "too dumb to understand the rules" umpires? Yeah, what the hell, let's just eliminate judgment, since what would these dumbasses know about that. These are the same people who go out of their way to make the rules complicated and confusing in nature, so much so that they cause arguments.

It seems that we should be the ones to ask about the rules, and not a whole lot of anybody else.

And these truly are JMO. I enforce the rules, but I don't have to like them.

[GarthB]

Originally posted by SanDiegoSteve

I got it from seeing these folks butcher baseball rules every year for that last 19 years of working high school baseball, and every year saying "WTF did they make this or that stupid rule for?"

Can you really tell me with a straight face that you think some rules, like this one, make sense? Can you tell me what practical purpose killing the ball immediately on a balk serves? How about the rule that they almost fixed (half way) where the pitcher couldn't turn his shoulder when on the rubber? That was on the books for years, and what purpose did it serve? I could never make sense out it, and neither could my peers. There are so many more that I won't take the time to list, but they also make little sense.

There are obvious safety rules built in, which MAY be considered practical, but screwing with certain playing rules has always mystified me.

Okay, so the short version is, you made it up. That's exactly one of the reasons we have the "dumb umpire" rules, too many just make stuff up.

I'll take the word of my sources over a "made up" reason.

Thanks anyway.

[Tim C]

Steve:

Federation rules meetings aren't driven like any other process I know.

At the very best a single umpire maybe on a specific rules committee (Tim Stevens -- State of Washington FED Rules Interpretor is on National committees).

Many people at FED believe that umpires do their job when they simply report what happens during a game. This philosophy is injected into rules meetings. Many, many committee chairpersons feel that rules of any sport should be established by participants and only "reported on" by officials.

While umpires may have an intimate knowledge of what happens during a game rules makers don't really think they need that input.

Many FEDlandia powers listen clearly to coaches and administrators since THEY are the end user. An official just keeps an honest system "kinda sorta" honest.

I agree that coaches and administrators may not be the best sources for defining rules HOWEVER I am not sure that umpires should be in the "rools writtin' bidness" . . .

I selected for many years to NOT WORK FED because I did not like their rules . . . I turned that emotion into understanding the "what and wherefore" of rules and have tried to work since that day to teach umpires that rules are guidelines that need to be followed.

I am not, in any way, trying to make you into a convert I just think it is interesting to understand the root issues that cause FED rules changes.

Tee

[GarthB]

And, as most people know, the majority of rule changes in all sports, even at the profesional level does not come from the officials.


FED baseball is not unique in this.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Garth,

I was just stating my opinion on the subject, not trying to provoke any argument.

In my opinion, these rule makers show an unwavering adherence to their beliefs, which is one definition of zealous.