Straddling rubber to take signs

[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