I'm going with the idea that you can't cut one sleeve off from a uniform. It may not have been the original intent, but don't the rules now allow the sleeves to be tied up to individual preference? From a grammar standpoint, it could probably go either way.

I know this is a rules theory discussion.. so thats fine.

In practice, I got other things to do than nursemaid a bunch of girls and who may have on a long sleeve undershirt and who doesnt or whatever and whose dressed what way.

All girls softball players look alike anyway.

Girl tuck your shirt so you dont get a cheap easy base while at bat with a shirt flopping around and thats about it, have on your uniform and safety equip as required and its all gravey after that. Im not gonna go nit picking around.

Players don't get "a cheap easy base while at bat with a shirt flopping around ", if the umpire knows what he/she is doing.

I tend to agree with this philosophy, but I will generally only attend to uniform issues when forced, err, I mean, requested, to do so (well, actually "forced" is closer than "requested"...). As for the shirt flapping around, if players have their shirt untucked, and it is hit by a pitched ball because it is blowing the the breeze or something, well, batter, you made no attempt to avoid (i.e. you did not tuck in your jersey). ;)

But, the rest of it, as I said...

As to the rule under discussion, I don't recall any specific training or POE or such since I have been certified for HS ball addressing this rule. Lacking further education as to NFHS's intent, and merely reading the language of the rule, I would have allowed different sleeve lengths on the different players (i.e. no requirment of all team members to be the same), but not allow mixed sleeve lengths on the same player. However, I also can't imagine a player who would have one sleeve short and the other long in the first place.

I'd rather have the whole general appearance part of the uniform rules placed in the same category as player eligiblity rules... a protest issue for the admin's to handle, and not a game umpire responsiblity. And, disallow any such protest to be filed after the contest is completed.

Let the game umpires only deal with uniform issues that actually affect the game (such as distracting items on the pitcher's arm, etc.)

JMO.

Sorry for the hijack, but, dude? You need a break. Or glasses. Or something.

Jennie Finch and Lisa Fernandez:

http://www.askmen.com/specials/2005_...nnie_finch.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Fernandez.JPG

Sorry to hijack another direction... it's interesting you chose a evening gown vs a uniform for the pictures.

I was in the parking lot preparing for a college game. A pitcher who I knew and had graduated the previous year was there to watch the game. She was in her "normal" cloths, with hair worn down and perfect make up. (And jeans so tight that I could tell she had a dime in her back pocket... and I could even tell that it was on heads.)

She threw up a big wave from across the parking lot, but I did not even recognize her. I literially looked over my shoulder to find out who she was waving to. I know girls that look that good just don't wave to me for no reason. When she teased me about it, I told her she would always be dirty and smelly to me.

Oh yeah them! Lisa.. well nah.. she looks like a sb player

but Cat!

:cool:


I stand corrected.

You wish!:D

I know what you and Wade mean, though. In uniform, on the field, they're pretty much all just ballplayers. Most of them. Jennie Finch and Michelle Smith look good anywhere, though!

ETA: Jennie looking smokin' in uniform:

http://espn.go.com/media/pg2/2003/02.../jf_rtprof.jpg

Wasn't this a rules thread at one point? Just for the record, I think the plain language of the rule means the sleeves of EACH INDIVIDUAL cannot vary for that individual (Jennie can't wear one long sleeve and one short), but that the sleeves of the INDIVIDUALS ON THE TEAM can vary from EACH OTHER (Cat can wear long sleeves, Michelle short). Just to justify my posting here :).