NFHS Warm up pitches

[chapmaja]

How many warm up pitches under NFHS rules? My understanding is 1 minute to throw not more than 5 pitches (unless excused from this requirement due to actions of the umpire).

I have seen a lot of umpires enforcing 3 pitches each inning after the first.

[RKBUmp]

They have a maximum of 1 minute from the last out to the first pitch to the leadoff batter of the next half inning. Try timing it sometime, by the time the teams change sides, throw 3 warm ups, throw the ball around and the batter gets in the box it is right at 1 minute if they are hustling. The umpires are simply enforcing the 1 minute between inning and keeping the game moving.

[charliej47]

If they are not ready to play but have to have a conference, then I reduce the number of pitches from 5 to 3 or to 1.

[chapmaja]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

They have a maximum of 1 minute from the last out to the first pitch to the leadoff batter of the next half inning. Try timing it sometime, by the time the teams change sides, throw 3 warm ups, throw the ball around and the batter gets in the box it is right at 1 minute if they are hustling. The umpires are simply enforcing the 1 minute between inning and keeping the game moving.

I agree with the time, the issue is how they are enforcing it. When you flat out say, you have 3 pitches, you are not enforcing the time rule, but are enforcing a rule different than what is in the book.

I actually did time the breaks today while on the bases and we were averaging about 1:30 between half innings with two teams that did hustle on and off. This was with an umpiring allowing 5 pitches.

Thankfully the games only went 5 and a half. It was 15-0 and 21-0 for the two games and even with a slightly longer time period between innings were done in just over 2 hours (including the time between games).

[RKBUmp]

I agree with the time, the issue is how they are enforcing it. When you flat out say, you have 3 pitches, you are not enforcing the time rule, but are enforcing a rule different than what is in the book.

You just proved to yourself even when a team is hustling they are taking 50% more time than allowed by rule throwing 5 pitches. The umpires saying 3 pitches have simply realized that is approximately the number of pitches that can be completed in 1 minute and rather than go into a lengthy explanation about 1 minute between innings they just say 3 pitches. The rule also does not guarantee 5 pitches, it says 1 minute to throw not more than 5.

It isnt that big a deal in a non timed game except for dragging the game out longer, but it does become a huge deal in timed games. You get both teams taking an extra 30 seconds between innings and that could be up to 6 minutes of wasted time in a 7 inning game. Add in all the players having to huddle up and high 5 each other, hip bump and dance and you are easily talking a full inning of wasted time that could have been played.

[charliej47]

I find that when a team hustles, they can get the 5 pitches in within the time limit. It is the ones that don't hustle that I restrict.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by charliej47

I find that when a team hustles, they can get the 5 pitches in within the time limit. It is the ones that don't hustle that I restrict.

From the last pitch of the previous half inning?

I'm one who really doesn't care as long as the teams are not dragging it out, but it usually takes 10-15 seconds for the pitcher to just get to the circle.