legalities

[Little Jimmy]

High school playoff time. Fed rules. No.1 seed team is hosting teams who have never been at it's home field. Field is fine but has unusual feature. About 200 feet or so in the outfield the field begins sloping down another 30 feet or so on all sides. The slope end in trees/undergrowth. No fence. From any umpire position we cannot see where the ball actually ends up at when it rolls down the hill. We can only see the top of the fielders' head. Ground rule has always been get what you can:no two base award as mentioned in 4-1-3-d. Local umpire organization and county athletic director have always told we umps to call it that way.

All the local teams know this is how it's played and have no real problem. But playoff time brings teams from other places.

Pregame a few days ago begins with visiting coach saying that he wanted to be sure that we understood that the umpires were "legally responsible" if one of his girls gets hurt retrieving a ball at the edge of the woods. We went back and forth a few times accepting his concern but being clear that we accepted no legal responsibility. Game goes on with no problem.

Saturdays' regional championship started with a different visiting coach handing me (plate ump) a letter from her AD saying that they also did not agree with the ground rule and expected umpires to understand that we were liable for any harm to their players if they went into the brush. There was even a place for us to sign. I told her I understood her concern but we wouldn't be signing the letter. Let's play. We did. No problems.

We're bringing all of this up at our next organization meeting. We want something in writing from the county saying they sanction the groundrule interpretation. Anybody experience anything like this? Are we on shaky ground?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Little Jimmy

High school playoff time. Fed rules. No.1 seed team is hosting teams who have never been at it's home field. Field is fine but has unusual feature. About 200 feet or so in the outfield the field begins sloping down another 30 feet or so on all sides. The slope end in trees/undergrowth. No fence. From any umpire position we cannot see where the ball actually ends up at when it rolls down the hill. We can only see the top of the fielders' head. Ground rule has always been get what you can:no two base award as mentioned in 4-1-3-d. Local umpire organization and county athletic director have always told we umps to call it that way.

All the local teams know this is how it's played and have no real problem. But playoff time brings teams from other places.

Pregame a few days ago begins with visiting coach saying that he wanted to be sure that we understood that the umpires were "legally responsible" if one of his girls gets hurt retrieving a ball at the edge of the woods. We went back and forth a few times accepting his concern but being clear that we accepted no legal responsibility. Game goes on with no problem.

Saturdays' regional championship started with a different visiting coach handing me (plate ump) a letter from her AD saying that they also did not agree with the ground rule and expected umpires to understand that we were liable for any harm to their players if they went into the brush. There was even a place for us to sign. I told her I understood her concern but we wouldn't be signing the letter. Let's play. We did. No problems.

We're bringing all of this up at our next organization meeting. We want something in writing from the county saying they sanction the groundrule interpretation. Anybody experience anything like this? Are we on shaky ground?

Unless the umpires own this field, it is not their concern. If the teams are not aware of this, they shouldn't be there.

However, it is quite obvious the the teams were aware of the field and ground rules as it seems the coaches were prepared for the discussion of their concerns. I the visiting schools have an issue, it should be with the local Fed affiliate which allowed the games to be scheduled at this facility.

As far as the ground rules are concerned, if I, as the umpire, lose sight of the ball, it is dead. There is such a field in my area and that has been the ground rule for at lease 20 years. An umpire cannot call or rule on what they cannot see.

[SC Ump]

Originally Posted by Little Jimmy

High school playoff time.

I would think your high school athletic office, that sanctions the games, would be able to settle the dispute.

At the pre-game when these coach's expressed their concerns and their letters, y'all handled it as I would have. However, immediately after the game, I would have contacted the appropriate "management" level or the state high school office.