FED Bashing

[Dakota]

There are times when it would be helpful in game control to be able to restrict to the bench, but not as an alternative to ejection, but as an alternative to a warning. IOW, a warning with a bit of a bite.

I don't call adult softball, so I can't comment on whether or not it would be useful there. But I can comment on the use of the restriction to the bench in NFHS v the warning in ASA JO.

(As an aside, if a coach or player steps fully into the flagrant misconduct arena, I have no qualms about ejecting them. In HS ball, this usually carries with it a suspension from the following game as well, but the players and coaches all know this. Likewise in ASA tournaments - it usually is an ejection for the remainder of the tourney.)

I've used the bench restriction in HS ball, and it works well. The high schools, however, generally are not allowed to eject in the out of sight/sound sense with the players, since there may be no adult available for supervision. Similar problem for ejecting a coach, since HS ball will not allow the team to play without an adult in the dugout. So, in a sense, the bench restriction option is a necessity due to these factors.

That does not alter my opinion that it is a helpful tool in the right situations.

[Edited by Dakota on Nov 5th, 2004 at 01:58 PM]