Hey all,

I know all cities will have slight variations in the rules they employ. But, for the most part, they are all pretty much the same (plus or minus a mat here and there *gag*).

In our City Rules (San Francisco, btw and no mats yet!) it states:

NO PLAYER SHALL: Smoke while coming off or going onto the field of play or while on the field of play.

In your opinion's (wow, asking umpires to make judgement calls, that's dangerous) is the player area (aka dugout) considered part of 'the field of play'?

My instinct says 'NO' but I could argue both sides of this one with ease really. Last night, one of the players was smoking in her player area and I let it go since nobody was complaining. It was adult co-ed (ages 20something-50something).

Thanks for any weigh-ins.

I dont let them smoke. If you allow that, then there will be no end to the chaos caused by drinking and the likes.
http://smilies.sofrayt.com/^/aiw/vampire.gif

If you are playing ASA rules look up the definition of the dugout in rule #1. Local rules may be different. I personaly don't allow smoking in the dugout, if they want to smoke they can go somewhere else. Yes the dugout is part of the field of play.

[Edited by Ed Maeder on Apr 16th, 2005 at 02:21 AM]

smoking
 

I am amazed to hear that smoking in public is still allowed in SF. I guess all the rumors about getting arrested for smoking anywhere but your own home are not true.

The SF Smoking ordinance exemptions are:

1-unless you are in a home occupied at any time by children or animals especially baby seals.
2-unless you are playing sports



[Edited by wadeintothem on Apr 16th, 2005 at 09:37 AM]

Hehehe, don't get me started on the People's Republic of San Francisco. *rolleyes*

There are, in fact, one or two of us that literally hang on for dear life to try and keep this whole state from slipping further left into the pacific ocean. :D

---------------------------------------------
Hmmm, Jim Leland (sp?) smoked, Barry Bonds used steriods.

I think you are on to something rhsc! :/

[Edited by Alameda on Apr 16th, 2005 at 01:21 PM]

Dug outs are part of the game area .
In parts of New Zealand no smoking is allowed in the softball ball parks at all .

Dugouts are most definitely part of the field of play.

Some of the fields in Washington State are next door or at High Schools. They call those Tabacco free zones! You can't even smoke in the parking lot. 5-O will actually ticket people $101.00 for smoking in tabacco free zones.

Kool.. I better ask one of my vets, but I think thier smoking days are numbered. Thanks for the replies guys.

Funny thing: in Germany you can smoke almost everywhere (most restaurants don't even have a smoke-free area). BUT, we can't smoke once the game starts, period. I suppose you could leave the field and hide in the trees, but who would do that? In general, we don't smoke once the umpires arrive, and NEVER in their presence (that means between games during a double-header, if they don't leave the field. Usually they do, and half the players light up as soon as they're gone).

jeffstone
goettingen