Time limit - -when does clock start running

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by ASA/NYSSOBLUE

Not being sarcastic...are we?

We always use 1st pitch here....dont deny the kids any playing time....

I don't deny them any playing time either. But, if they, or their coaches, do, by huddling instead of starting the game, that is their fault.

Time wasted by them shouldn't be our time. One team is the home team; take the field and start the game!!

[NDblue]

Originally Posted by Steve M

Yes, I wear my watch and my adjustable hat and my shin guards on the outside of my pants - is that OK?

I couldn't care less about your hat or your shin guards but isn't a watch considered jewelry?

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by Steve M

Yes, I wear my watch and my adjustable hat and my shin guards on the outside of my pants - is that OK?

Seriously, we have an umpire around here who insists on wearing his inside chest protector on the outside.

We have quite a few men who wear the adjustable hat. At a recent tournament, had one young umpire ask if I had an extra hat... it seems his adjustable hat's plastic bit had snapped in two when he put it on... he had it held together with a safety pin! I considered it a "teachable moment"... doubt if it sunk in, though.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by NDblue

I couldn't care less about your hat or your shin guards but isn't a watch considered jewelry?

On a JO player, maybe. Would you judge it to be a safety hazard on an umpire?

Actually, it is just bad form for the umpire to wear a watch.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

I usually don't go by time of day, to avoid watch synch problems. I use a stop watch and announce "90 minutes, time starts "NOW", after getting both scorers attention.

I don't use a watch just to avoid hours / minutes math.

Coach: "How much time's left, Blue."

Me (thinking): "Start time 6:17. Time limit 65 minutes. Now it is 6:51. Uhhh... Uhhh... " (now out loud) "About half an hour, coach." (thinking again) "I hope that is close..."

I use a count-down timer with an alarm when time expires. I use my watch (in my pocket...) as a backup in case the count-down timer has an issue.

Now, the conversation goes like this:

Coach: "What was our start time, Blue." (asked about 3 innings into the game)

Me: "Beats me, coach!" (enjoying the look on his face while I pull out the timer)... "But there's about 32 minutes left."

[IRISHMAFIA]

In a perfect world, it would be:

Coach: How much time is left, blue?

Blue: Don't care, coach. Just play the game.

[reccer]

I've got an irritating problem with local Blues at the last two open tourneys in Central Tx. Website advertising tourney says the E games will be 70 minutes. At the plate conference, Blue announces "70 minute ballgame no inning to start after 65."

We will play till we have a winner, so now we're really talking about a 65 minute time length, mentioning 70 minutes in this manner is superfluous.

The shaving of the five minutes isn't bothering me, the $24 paid to the umps hasn't changed for the last couple of years but his/her gas price sure has so no big deal.

My problem is there is often only one Blue at these plate conferences, and that Blue starts the clock as soon as the conference ends. Now, we wait another 2-3 minutes after the home team takes the field for the other ump to show so we can start the ballgame. I have been insisting that we not start the clock until the other blue is on the field. A couple of umps have worked with me and agreed to wait (although they are clearly put out that I would make such an issue out of it.)

You ask, where is the other Blue? Extending his break, using restroom, hustling over from another field, I don't know. I just know I have 11 sets of kids and parents I have to get into this ballgame and the more the time is squeezed the less I can get meaningful participation.

Please give me your thumbs up or thumbs down on whether I should let this go or keep being a burr in their blanket. I have not found any rule book guidance that I can use on the Blues, and remember, these are open tourneys , so you get what you pay for...........

[IRISHMAFIA]

As was pointed out earlier in this thead, more than a year earlier, ASA uses the first pitch. I don't care for it, but that's the rule. However, since you mention "E" level, it is probably not ASA. For that matter, I've never heard of "E" ball at the youth level of any sanctioning body. That must be some pretty bad ball.

Besides, this isn't an umpire issue as they do not determine time limits.

[reccer]

E meant bracket or elimination game as opposed to pool games.

[Dakota]

It is not unusual for tournaments to specify that the clock starts immediately after the plate meeting. It helps keep the games on schedule.

It is also not unusual at tournaments for umpires to be late getting to a field, due to the previous game. However, it would just seem to be good sense to not start the clock before the umpire crew is all there.

I suggest you discuss your issues with the tounament director.

[wadeintothem]

For all of our local tourneys, moststart it after the meeting.. Usually I start it right the time home starts taking the field.. ie I give them their little rah rah time, then I go. Many don't do that.

[bkbjones]

At the risk of incurring wrath:

1. Why start the clock at any time other than on the first pitch? the only exception I can see that is fair to the teams is to add one minute and start it at the end of the plate conference. The home team has been determined by this time.

2. What in the !$#@ gives us the RIGHT to "interpret" anything concerning time, time limits or time remaining? It is not our game, our field or our anything. These teams pay beau coups bucks (including your pay) to play in these tournaments. If they have, say, a 1:20 time limit, interpreting that to mean 1:18 or anything else less than 1:20 is no less of a sin than, say, a supermarket checker or bank teller tapping the till. If you feel that you need to "interpret" 1:20 as something less, you're stealing from the players and stealing from the game. That is not my opinion; that is fact.

[reccer]

Last weekend, we were in a 24 team tourney, and although we opted out of having an if game, we still didn't conclude playing until 11:00 PM Sunday and we had a 1 hour drive ahead of us. Blue also had a drive ahead of him and a work day coming up in just a few short hours.

If reasonable people acted reasonably, we could start time with first pitch. But, coaching teenagers is like herding cats. The Blue needs a hammer to keep the tournament moving as fast as he can.

Even in non tourney league type play, I would start the clock at the conclusion of the plate conference. That beginning coach who insists every one of his kids has to field one more ground ball before heading to the dugout is delaying bed time/study time for all.

Talking to the TD won't do any good. Last summer I raised the issue of how the tourney advertisement says 70 minutes but the blues are only allowing 65.
TD talked to the UIC, but the UIC wouldn't budge. So now, 65 is a local custom for these open tourneys. What I intend to do next weekend is let the other coach pay the ump who conducts the plate conference and I will pay the other ump when he finally shows. Anything over 2 minutes late and he will have a pro-rated fee waiting for him.

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by bkbjones

At the risk of incurring wrath:

1. Why start the clock at any time other than on the first pitch? the only exception I can see that is fair to the teams is to add one minute and start it at the end of the plate conference. The home team has been determined by this time.

2. What in the !$#@ gives us the RIGHT to "interpret" anything concerning time, time limits or time remaining? It is not our game, our field or our anything. These teams pay beau coups bucks (including your pay) to play in these tournaments. If they have, say, a 1:20 time limit, interpreting that to mean 1:18 or anything else less than 1:20 is no less of a sin than, say, a supermarket checker or bank teller tapping the till. If you feel that you need to "interpret" 1:20 as something less, you're stealing from the players and stealing from the game. That is not my opinion; that is fact.

Nope, you start the clock in anything less than championship play.

You go.

I've worked with umps like you who start late, run their fields late.. etc.. that just messes up everyone... by the end of the day, because of your "clock morals" the fields 45 mins late and everything is screwed up. Your partners are screwed up, field crews are screwed up, teams are screwed up TD is NOT happy, the only one happy is your clock moral angel on your shoulder.

YOu'll actually find it VERY rare these parents paying all this $$ would ever complain that you keep it moving. They are sitting there all day too.

Just go.. keep everything moving, everyones happy. No need to be anal about the clock morals there pal.

[wadeintothem]

Oh yeah, and I'd me remiss if I didnt add, that in nonchampionship tourney play; in order to maintain proper tournament Zen, you must also be creative with ending it as well..

You better be careful bkbjones, you might find yourself working in Delaware.