Parent Involvement in Fed ???

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by ilyazhito

More directly, NFHS Rule 3-6-6 only permits the "batter, runner(s), on-deck batter, coaches in the coach's box, bat/ball shaggers or one of the nine players on defense... to be outside the designated dugout/bench or designated warm-up areas." This implies that no one else, except media (the rules provide for a designated media area to be set up on the field, with the stipulation that said area is to be considered dead ball territory) , umpires, and possibly active police or security, are to be allowed on the field.

That's a real stretch.

3-6-6 basically says that bench personnel must stay on the bench if they are not actively participating in the game. The exception is that they can also go to a designated warm-up area. The only implication in the rule is that team personnel are not allowed in the bleachers, concession stand, press box, along the fence next to the opposing dugout, etc. All of the case plays for 3-6-6 refer to bench personnel.

3-6-6 makes no mention whatsoever of spectators in between innings. Would you not allow a volunteer from the concession stand to bring your partner and you a Gatorade? What about someone from the stands who comes in to do some groundskeeping? Or a Mom who needs to help her daughter with a hair ribbon? So why would you feel compelled to prevent an adult who isn't a coach from helping a pitcher warm up?

I've done a number of high school games where there was only one adult in the dugout, and he/she has needed the help of a parent to take care of the dugout while he/she goes out to base coach. I don't see this as being any different.