the "bump" at first base

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by chapmaja

I am going to go at this from an NFHS perspective. In both a) and b) I have nothing unless I deem the act to be malicious, in which I have an ejection (and likely another to follow when the coach gets tossed for arguing).

With that said, an umpire should be able to see the repeated nature of this act by F3. After the first couple times I would be warning F3 (as well as have been calling OBS each time). If it continued beyond the warning and got to the point where the offensive team is getting frustrated enough to push the defensive player, we may have an ejection on F3 for unsportsmanlike conduct. Remember, the rule doesn't limit what is considered unsportsmanlike, is only gives examples of what could be considered unsportsmanlike. If a player is committing repeated violations of the same rule, he/she is now acting in an unsportsmanlike manner.

One other thing to consider is the way the game is going. If this is obviously a clueless F3, who really doesn't know what is going on, he/she might get multiple explanations as to the rule requirements (as well as the coach). If this is a player who you can tell has experience and knows what she is doing, the expectation will be a lot higher.

I'm not out looking for a problem, but if I see a player making a problem, it will be addressed.

If there is a warning to be issued, it must be to the coach. You can't be coaching the player. Also, if 1 warning is issued, the next violation should result in the player being restricted to the bench (and perhaps the coach as well). So if you meant after a couple of observations of OBS you would discuss with the coach, that's fine. And that would be the warning. Next would be the restriction.

I also agree w/ the "clueless" aspect of what the player is doing. Sometimes they just don't know what they should be doing. On any ball that's hit, F3's "job" is to go to first base. The "getting out of the way part" is what's often left out of the job description.