Umpire Jursidiction

[PeteBooth]

Since this Forum has been quiet of late I thought I would bring an interesting topic from another Forum (the URC to be exact) to get your views. Rather than repeat the thread go visit the URC on a thread titled "Umpire goes to Court"

Here's the link

http://www.umpire.org/

Here's my take on the situation

FED Rule 10-1-2

Umpire Jurisdiction BEGINS upon the umpire(s) arriving at the Field (within the confines of the field) and ENDS when the Umpires LEAVE The playing field at the conclusion of the game .

FED rule 10-2-3h

The UIC may forfeit the game for prescribed infractions by spectatators, coaches, players or attendants.

The reason I bring up the aforementioned is in response to Rodney's latest thread.

As Umpires we are Responsible for activities within the confines of the field or as is most common things Inside the Diamond

Most things outside the Diamond are NOT our responsibilities and IMO when we as officials try and interject ourselves regarding things not within our jursidiction is when we get into trouble.

Even LL put in a new rule this year that says an umpire can stop the game if Fans become unruly etc.

Therefore, my advice to new or first year umpires is to not become involved with situations "outside the diamond" That is someone else's responsibility.

Most of us at one time or another have had problems with Fans. For the most part we should simply ignore unless the Fan's actions make it difficult to continue playing in which case we simply go to the appropriate parties and ask them to handle.

In HS it's simple "Skip the fan is making it almost impossible for us to continue playing" Can you kindly ask that person to leave otherwise we will stop here and a letter to the AD will be forthcoming" Plain and simple No need to shout etc. Most HS coaches will assist and to date I haven't had any problems.

I don't mean to criticize LL officials, but some LL officials take their authority where it shouldn't and that is outside the diamond. I realize that some BOD members are also umpires, however, when you umpire you act as an umpire, just like when you coach.

I don't mean to sound insensitive like we shouldn't care etc., however, in this "sue happy" world we live in, let the appropriate parties handle things outside the diamond.

Let's take a typical case for example. As been mentioned some fields have a rope around the home plate area which means this particular league doesn't want any fans standing behind the plate and atangonise the PU.

This is a LEAGUE REGULATION not a BASEBALL RULE which IMO is what we as officials have to disntinguish. If we see a fan behind home plate I don't say anything UNLESS the Fan starts shenanigans at which time I will not even direct any comments to the Fan, simply ask the coach or BOD representative to handle as that is a Park Rule so to speak and not a baseball rule.

In summary, whenever you have problems involving things "outside the diamond" let the appropriate authorities handle. If actvity outside the diamond does in fact effect what goes on "inside the diamond" then simply stop the game which is what we as officials can do.

When we stop the game at that point it's up to the League administrators to handle as we did our job.

Side Note: IMO this would be a good topic for one of the writers on this Forum to write an article about in Officiating.com

Pete Booth