Referee Mag Article-BU Inside Infield w/ Runner on 3rd Only

[mcrowder]

I will use this mechanic at 10U only. At 12U, 14U, JV, or V, all of the problems Mike mentioned become significant, and the advantages you gain by moving inside nearly disappear.

At the levels where stealing home is not a possibility though, the need to be near third base decreases substantially. Also, at those levels, F4 and F6 will likely be in front of me, even if I'm inside. And it gets you much closer to the 20 times more likely play at first base.

I've seen occasional umpires go all the way back to A at 8U or 10U with R3 only. I don't like this because while the need to be near third is LESS, it is not ZERO - and you can be caught WAY out of position on that rare ball where you do need to be near 3rd.