Do you umpire a forfeited game?

[JEL]

For our rec programs we will. Games are scheduled for an hour and a half. If a forfeit happens due to one team being shorthanded, we call for about an hour or until all players have had at least 1 at bat. This is at the rec departments request.

All other stuff, tournie's, school and such-- no, we go home or wait for next scheduled game.

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

Originally Posted by JEL

For our rec programs we will. Games are scheduled for an hour and a half. If a forfeit happens due to one team being shorthanded, we call for about an hour or until all players have had at least 1 at bat. This is at the rec departments request.

All other stuff, tournie's, school and such-- no, we go home or wait for next scheduled game.

You better make sure that the rec dept understands the terms 'liability' and 'risk'...and your assignor makes sure that they WILL pick up all of your legal fees and such if anything happens in that hour...just because it is 'recreational', doesnt lessen any of the risks you occur.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by ASA/NYSSOBLUE

You better make sure that the rec dept understands the terms 'liability' and 'risk'...and your assignor makes sure that they WILL pick up all of your legal fees and such if anything happens in that hour...just because it is 'recreational', doesnt lessen any of the risks you occur.

I don't believe that is true in these circumstances. So far as I understand from the representatives of Bollinger insurance, the ASA liability coverage extends to any regularly scheduled game assigned by an ASA organization, where the teams and umpires are all registered ASA. Whatever rules are published and accepted as standard are expected to be enforced.

If the local league rules state that a team can play with 4 players, the umpires are covered when they play that game. If the local rules state that a scrimmage is to be umpired in the event of a forfeit, the umpires are covered. In fact, I believe that the "don't quote me" quote from John Spiota, representing Bollinger at the ASA National UIC Clinic was "if your local (written) rules state that you play with hand grenades as balls, your umpires will be covered. Don't expect us to keep the rates the same when the claims start coming in, though." Mike, so yopu recall anything different?

[IRISHMAFIA]

As long as it is ASA-sanctioned, which assumedly would cover any "scrimmage" as that would be a "scheduled" alternative, the umpire "should" be okay.

However, none of this was not mentioned in the OP to which is the one I responded.

My personal policy is if there is no official game (a 7-0 score for a forfeit IS the official game), I don't work it.

Just because I have the insurance, I'm not looking to test it's limits.

[JEL]

Originally Posted by ASA/NYSSOBLUE

You better make sure that the rec dept understands the terms 'liability' and 'risk'...and your assignor makes sure that they WILL pick up all of your legal fees and such if anything happens in that hour...just because it is 'recreational', doesnt lessen any of the risks you occur.

That has been addressed by both the rec dept and assignor. We also have a supplemental policy which covers us for any games to which we are scheduled. We do more ball than just ASA, (Dixie Youth BB) and need coverage there also.

I might add, the forfeited games we call are in the youth program only. The thinking is the kids can't be responsible for getting themselves to the games, adults can. Don't want to punish the kids who are there ready to play by not allowing any playing time! Sometimes the "short team" will borrow a player or two from the other team to have enough to cover the outfield. We also had a couple of teams who knew they were going to loose games when playing another team, the coach would tell them just not show up! The team that is left gets another practice then!