Dead Ball--Play Suspended

[Manny A]

I don't umpire NCAA Baseball, so forgive me up front. But what is the purpose of this rule? Doesn't the umpire call Time and suspend play anytime a coach or player requests it? What is so magical about that third (or fourth) request? If this is a conference-limiting rule, then it should start by saying, "A coach or player requests Time for the purpose of a conference."

As it reads, it's fraught with mistakes. First, it's called "Time", not "timeout". And coaches and players request it, not call it. And, what; an umpire doesn't call Time and suspend play if it's the first or second request?

Maybe when the word "fourth" was in there, the NCAA meant to say that the umpire shouldn't call Time and suspend play when the team exceeds its allotted number of conferences. That would make more sense to me than changing the word "fourth" to "third".

What am I missing?

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by Manny A

What am I missing?

Don't be anal Manny, your missing the intent of the rule and discussing something out of context. This has been in the rule book for years, the word fourth, was obviously and erronously changed to third.

[briancurtin]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Doesn't the umpire call Time and suspend play anytime a coach or player requests it?

No.