Player coaching first
 

I had a player coaching first without a helmet. I was in the C position (with R1 and R2) when the player assumed the coaching position and I asked my partner behind the plate if the player needed a helmet. He said "You can pick that scab if you want to". I looked over at the third base coach and made sure he was a player and not a young coach or adult.

My question is: Do you call time immediately and take care of these problems or do it discreetly and possibly allow an infraction to occur for a little while during the evidence gathering phase?
2nd question: Should I have started a new thread?

1) I'd get it fixed as quickly as I could, but you don't need to make a big deal about it -- especially if the team was on the first base side.

2) Yes, imo.

1) yes, this is a safety issue.
2) Look ... you did! :)

[QUOTE=Robert E. Harrison;892513]I had a player coaching first without a helmet. I was in the C position (with R1 and R2) when the player assumed the coaching position and I asked my partner behind the plate if the player needed a helmet. He said "You can pick that scab if you want to".

My question is: Do you call time immediately and take care of these problems or do it discreetly and possibly allow an infraction to occur for a little while during the evidence gathering phase?
QUOTE]

Immediately call "time", dump your partner and ask the player to put a helmet on.

"You can pick that scab if you want to". :eek::confused:

Always -- ALWAYS correct safety issues as soon as they are discovered. The coaches don't want to be liable any more than we do.

That's not picking a scab at all.

Why would you ask your partner about this anyway? You are an umpire, umpire!

No debate in my area. Helmet is required by players coaching at first/third.

I saw a kid coaching 1B take one off the helmet today. I was in C. Lefthanded batter rips one down the line, the kid tries to duck and the ball hits the crown of the helmet. It would have been really ugly if he hadn't been wearing one.

You could be held liable if proven you were aware of it and did not fix it.

Unbelievable. I wonder how many other safety rules your partner ignores.

This is a no-brainer. It needs to be dealt with immediately. There is no "evidence gathering phase." You call Time and ask, "Coach, is your first base coach a player? Then he needs a helmet!"

Louisiana started the rule last year that anyone occupying a coaches box during play, must wear a helmet. Adults don't need earflaps however, it must be a helmet.