Warm up area

[EsqUmp]

These rules are completely outdated. No one would ever prohibit a pitcher and catcher strolling a little away in order to warm up. But you wouldn't allow four "on-deck" batters, as they like to call themselves, swinging away behind the stands. They need to get some post 2000 AD language in the books.

[jTheUmp]

This question threw me for a loop also... I defaulted to "if the book doesn't say it's illegal, that means it's legal".

[Manny A]

You'll find your answer in NFHS Case Play 1.7.3 Situation B:

"While the game is in progress, the umpire notices that a non-adult is warming up the pitcher, but is not wearing an approved helmet and mask combination and throat protector (a) within the confines of the field, or (b) outside the confines of the field.

"RULING: In (a), the umpire shall warn the pitcher's head coach of the infraction and prohibit the pitcher from warming up with that individual until the non-adult secures the proper equipment. The next player not properly equipped will result in the player and the head coach being restricted to the dugout/bench for the duration of the game. In (b), rules prohibit team personnel from being outside the confines of the playing area or designated warm-up areas during a contest. The umpire shall warn the head coach of this infraction. The next offender is restricted to the dugout/bench for the duration of the game. The umpire's jurisdiction is restricted to the confines of the field and designated warm-up areas. (3-5-1; 3-6-1; 3-6-6)"

So a team cannot have a designated warm up area outside the confines of the field.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Manny A

You'll find your answer in NFHS Case Play 1.7.3 Situation B:

"While the game is in progress, the umpire notices that a non-adult is warming up the pitcher, but is not wearing an approved helmet and mask combination and throat protector (a) within the confines of the field, or (b) outside the confines of the field.

"RULING: In (a), the umpire shall warn the pitcher's head coach of the infraction and prohibit the pitcher from warming up with that individual until the non-adult secures the proper equipment. The next player not properly equipped will result in the player and the head coach being restricted to the dugout/bench for the duration of the game. In (b), rules prohibit team personnel from being outside the confines of the playing area or designated warm-up areas during a contest. The umpire shall warn the head coach of this infraction. The next offender is restricted to the dugout/bench for the duration of the game. The umpire's jurisdiction is restricted to the confines of the field and designated warm-up areas. (3-5-1; 3-6-1; 3-6-6)"

So a team cannot have a designated warm up area outside the confines of the field.

Certainly pertinent, but they still don't answer the question of where the "designated warm up area" can be.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

Certainly pertinent, but they still don't answer the question of where the "designated warm up area" can be.

Well, I read the case play as saying that players cannot be outside the confines of the field, so the designated warm-up areas must be within the confines of the field.

There has to be some semblance of control of the players by the coaches. They are ultimately responsible for them, and they cannot maintain control if their players are away somewhere where they cannot see them. That's why the rules require the players to stay within the confines of the field, as the case play answer (b) states. If they must stay within those confines at all times, then it's counter-intuitive to have a designated warm-up area that is outside of those confines.

I cannot believe that NFHS would allow players to warm up somewhere where they cannot be supervised. Imagine a bullpen that is behind a copse of trees beyond the parking lot, where nobody can see a pitcher and catcher warming up unless he/she crosses the lot and walks on a path through the trees. Who's going to check to make sure that catcher has her helmet/mask on when she's in a crouch? Do you think NFHS would say that's okay? No way I would consider that a legal "designated warm-up area".

[Edited to add:] If it is okay for a designated warm-up area to be outside the confines of the field, then I would expect the answer to (b) in the case play to say something like, "If the players are in a designated warm-up area that is outside the confines of the field, the umpires have no jurisdiction to enforce the helmet/mask requirement for the catcher, but should inform the coach that the catcher is not wearing the proper equipment," which is similar to the ruling in case play 10.1.2 Situation A. Since there is nothing in the answer that even suggests that a designated warm-up area can be outside the confines, it's pretty clear to me NFHS's position once the game begins. I don't need something definitively written in the rule book to tell me that the warm-up area has to be within the confines of the field. From a safety and well-being of the players point of view, it must be somewhere where the coaches and umpires can see them.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Well, I read the case play as saying that players cannot be outside the confines of the field, so the designated warm-up areas must be within the confines of the field.

There has to be some semblance of control of the players by the coaches. They are ultimately responsible for them, and they cannot maintain control if their players are away somewhere where they cannot see them. That's why the rules require the players to stay within the confines of the field, as the case play answer (b) states. If they must stay within those confines at all times, then it's counter-intuitive to have a designated warm-up area that is outside of those confines.

I cannot believe that NFHS would allow players to warm up somewhere where they cannot be supervised. Imagine a bullpen that is behind a copse of trees beyond the parking lot, where nobody can see a pitcher and catcher warming up unless he/she crosses the lot and walks on a path through the trees. Who's going to check to make sure that catcher has her helmet/mask on when she's in a crouch? Do you think NFHS would say that's okay? No way I would consider that a legal "designated warm-up area".

[Edited to add:] If it is okay for a designated warm-up area to be outside the confines of the field, then I would expect the answer to (b) in the case play to say something like, "If the players are in a designated warm-up area that is outside the confines of the field, the umpires have no jurisdiction to enforce the helmet/mask requirement for the catcher, but should inform the coach that the catcher is not wearing the proper equipment," which is similar to the ruling in case play 10.1.2 Situation A. Since there is nothing in the answer that even suggests that a designated warm-up area can be outside the confines, it's pretty clear to me NFHS's position once the game begins. I don't need something definitively written in the rule book to tell me that the warm-up area has to be within the confines of the field. From a safety and well-being of the players point of view, it must be somewhere where the coaches and umpires can see them.

It says OR, meaning the warm-up area might not be in the confines of the field.

How is this any different from a field where warm-up ares are hidden under the stands?

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Who's going to check to make sure that catcher has her helmet/mask on when she's in a crouch?

Rule 1, Section 7, Art. 3...(FP) Any non-adult warming up a pitcher at any location within the confines of the field shall wear an approved catcher's helmet and mask combination and throat protector.

Note that it does not say anything about whether the catcher is standing or squatting. If both players are throwing overhand, the mask is not required. You may not find it anywhere in any book, but a softball pitcher warming up is throwing underhand.

Regarding "copse". Had to look that one up. I wouldn't have passed that one on the vocabulary test.

[RKBUmp]

I don't have the 2016 nfhs rule book but I have seen somewhere there was wording added that specified the catcher was only required to wear an approved helmet when crouched.

[Insane Blue]

A local school has their bullpen located about 20 yards behind the back stop. they use to have bleachers positioned right behind the backstop where you could not see the bullpen from the field. It was brought up numerous times in the past with some umpires not allowing teams to warm up there As the area behind first has copse's behind it with a gully behind that and third base has school buildings behind it. They use a lot of game balls every year. Last season the school moved the bleachers apart towards each dugout about 10 feet so the bullpen is visible from the field and within the confines of the field.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

Certainly pertinent, but they still don't answer the question of where the "designated warm up area" can be.

Simple. Wherever they designate it to be. So many fields, so many different designated areas.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Manny A

You'll find your answer in NFHS Case Play 1.7.3 Situation B:

"While the game is in progress, the umpire notices that a non-adult is warming up the pitcher, but is not wearing an approved helmet and mask combination and throat protector (a) within the confines of the field, or (b) outside the confines of the field.

"RULING: In (a), the umpire shall warn the pitcher's head coach of the infraction and prohibit the pitcher from warming up with that individual until the non-adult secures the proper equipment. The next player not properly equipped will result in the player and the head coach being restricted to the dugout/bench for the duration of the game. In (b), rules prohibit team personnel from being outside the confines of the playing area or designated warm-up areas during a contest. The umpire shall warn the head coach of this infraction. The next offender is restricted to the dugout/bench for the duration of the game. The umpire's jurisdiction is restricted to the confines of the field and designated warm-up areas. (3-5-1; 3-6-1; 3-6-6)"

So a team cannot have a designated warm up area outside the confines of the field.

That isn't what it states.