slow pitch strike zone

[HM1 Hammonds]

It took me 8 weeks of a 12 week season to "break" 10 teams of the "Hey ump, was that too deep or what?" habit. It got to the point where I had to enforce invoke Rule4, Section 8, paragraph B much to the dismay of the players. As a matter, one team got so unruly about it in the top of the first inning (they were the visiting team), I invoked Rule 5, section 4, paragraph F.
I spoke with my UIC and local commissioner about the circumstances. He explained it like this, "Umpires have been doing 'favors' for teams for years. When the actual rules are enforced, the teams take offense and things may become unruly."
Through it all, I have no regrets about how I handled the situaion. Keep up the work and don't back down from rule enforcement.