Probably a real no-brainer for you regulars out there but for this weekends tournament it says that the one minute rule (warmup time between innings is to be strictly enforced). However, it says that the next 1/2 inning starts immed after the 3rd out. It can't possibly mean 60 seconds from the 3rd out, or does it? Through all my HS FED games to my 16U ASA rec games I've never really enforced a strict time limit betrween innings (although I'm aware that there is one), I just make sure we keep the game moving. So I'm at a bit of a loss, I just want to make sure I'm being fair to both teams before the yelling starts and the coaches go flying.

Thanks,

Jeff

Speaking ASA.

Yes. Read the definition of "inning" in rule 1 and then check 6.9. It specifically states that at the beginning of each half inning....

The rule is never strictly enforced, but it is a great tool to get teams to get their *** in gear.

Played our 18U States last night. Team meeting outside dugout EVERY half inning by both teams, no hustle by players to get on and off the field, etc. Talk about making an evening looooonnnnnngggg!

we tell the coaches in the pregame that we will inforce the 1 min/5 pitch rule, so we use it to hurry them up in between innings. if the defensive team huddles b4 going out on the field then they'll get 2/3 max, but often its none if they're just toooo slow

One Minute Rule
 

I've done several tournaments where they have had the one minute between innings rule. Some of the tournaments have also included no warmup balls in the infield or outfield after the first inning. I remind the coaches during the pregame about these rules.

During one of these tournaments a team started an inning with a new pitcher. When their team took the field the pitcher and catcher as well as the infielders huddled in the circle and broke with a cheer. When the catcher took her position I told her, one pitch...twirl it and hurl it, their minute was up.

Great way to keep the games moving and the tournament on track.

Michael

[Edited by MichaelVA2000 on Jul 16th, 2004 at 11:57 PM]

Played our 18U States last night. Team meeting outside dugout EVERY half inning by both teams, no hustle by players to get on and off the field, etc. Talk about making an evening looooonnnnnngggg!

That does make for slower moving games. But I don't get into telling teams what the pace of their game must be. If both teams are moving at the same pace the entire game and now Team A wants to pick the pace up because they're losing, I see no reason that Team B must increase their pace too - along those lines, I'm also not going to allow Team B to further slow the game with obvious delays.

In rec games, I don't worry too much about the 1 minute rule. In tournaments, I do. I'll cover that in my plate speech. Very seldom is there a complaint. If there is, it stops pretty quick, once a ball or strike is awarded. They can get out there easily in a minute, if they want too. Now, I give a ittle extra time if the catcher was on base and I can see she's trying to get out there pretty quick. Otherwise, it's a rule, I'll use it just like I do any other rule.

When our association started calling for a nearby small town they were amazed that all of a sudden they were getting complete games in instead of the usual 5 innings. What changed? We say wwe are enforcing the minute rule to get them on and off the field. Can't tell you how many times I said "Hustle up we've got a batter waiting let's get a batter waiting up here!"

It's just a tool to help get complete games in.

This why ASA instituted the Courtesy Runner for the P/C....then there is NO excuse for the catcher not to be ready..ditto the pitcher.In tournaments/school gmaes I usually TRY to remember to ask the coaches to have somebody ready to warm the P up..I have found in most tournaments that the good teams are the ones that will only take THREE warm ups...with no Inf practice...

Im pregame I tell both teams in the Men's ASA Rec leagues that I ump that they get 3 warmup pitches or 1 min. max, whichever comes first, at the start of all innings. Mostly they think I'm nuts and that I'm making it up, 'cause no other umps enforce this rule. But when I've got 3 games in a night, or 4 on a Sunday, it makes a huge cumulative difference in saving time. In these Rec leagues, they want extra time at every opportunity (pre-game warmup, any stoppage of play), and we'd be there all day if they were allowed.

I've seen other umps who let teams dawdle at will, then call every semi-close play or closer as an "out" to end the games quicker. That's one reason I became an umpire. I could not stand that.

BTW, ASA CB Play 6F.9-2 covers this issue.

"RULING: The one-minute time limit begins immediately following the third out of the previous half inning."

My training empahsized the concept of hustling not only by the umpires but also by the players. Specifically, inbetween innings we were instructed to allow 4 warmup pitches to start the game and an infield/outfield ball. After the 1st inning, one warmup pitch and no infield/outfield balls. Every new pitcher gets 4 warmups. Games flow nicely due to this. I thought there was a ruling on the # of pitches for warmup, perhaps this is just a SOP in my area and no actual rule....dunno but it works great!

Last Saturday had an out of state team in for a seniors tourny. You should have seen the looks that I got when I told them that once I call for a batter the only throw of the game ball needs to be to the pitcher, they were still throwing it around when I had a batter in the box and I had announced "BATTER". I didn't even tell them what would happen if they continued to throw it around. Let's just say that if looks could kill.....

[Edited by ChampaignBlue on Jul 19th, 2004 at 01:55 PM]

Champaign,

You could have stopped it quickly by saying loudly, "ball one!"


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