Charged Conferences-FED

[Lawrence.Dorsey]

Had this same situation happen in a JR Legion game this summer played under FED rules. I was the PU. D-Coach asks for time and gets halfway out, may have said one or two words to defense, and goes back in dugout. It appeared to me he was caught up in the moment and really didn't know what he was doing.

My partner wanted me to charge a conference. I did not. Yes, I could have but in my opinion the crap storm to follow was not worth it. I have charged visits/conferences to coaches who have tried to circumvent the rule on several occasions. I deemed this one as a coach who was confused about what he wanted to do. Partner later said he could see my point but I think he still would have charged a conference. I like the foul line as a demarcation unless a player comes to the coach and talks with him. I agree this is not cut and dry and others may work their games differently.

Lawrence

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by Lawrence.Dorsey

Had this same situation happen in a JR Legion game this summer played under FED rules. I was the PU. D-Coach asks for time and gets halfway out, may have said one or two words to defense, and goes back in dugout. It appeared to me he was caught up in the moment and really didn't know what he was doing.

My partner wanted me to charge a conference. I did not. Yes, I could have but in my opinion the crap storm to follow was not worth it. I have charged visits/conferences to coaches who have tried to circumvent the rule on several occasions. I deemed this one as a coach who was confused about what he wanted to do. Partner later said he could see my point but I think he still would have charged a conference. I like the foul line as a demarcation unless a player comes to the coach and talks with him. I agree this is not cut and dry and others may work their games differently.

Lawrence

Your partner was correct, there should have been a conference charged in this case. Also, since when is Jr. Legion played by FED rules? In my State (and I thought others), Jr. Legion is played by Legion rules (basically OBR).

[Lawrence.Dorsey]

Ozzy,

In NC (I beleive the whole state but at least in Area III), JR Legion is played by FED rules. SR Legion is modified OBR like everywhere else. Why the difference? I have no idea.

Like I said, I am not saying I was correct. I am saying that's how I read and reacted to the situation. Could I have gotten him for a conference? Yes..It was just the situation as I read it didn't clearly call for a charged conference. This particular coach has a history of attitude issues but we have always gotten along OK. At this point, the game was progressing smoothly and I didn't deem he had gained much of an advantage except for calling "time" and choosing not to do anything with it. I figure we lost about 30-45 seconds and that was it. Had he crossed the foul line or a player come towards him to meet him, you bet I would have charged him. I have charged coaches who stop at the foul line and have a player come towards them.

I can think of less than five times this has happened in over 15 years of umpiring so I don't think it happens that often.

PS- When I said "halfway out" in the above post, I meant half way between the dugout and the foul line. He never came with a few feet of the foul line. It may not change your opinion on the sitch but I just wanted to clairfy.