TIME OUT or PLAY ON?
 

Pitcher delivers pitch.
Batter hits ball, or any other form of action, stolen base, etc.
While action is going on, a foul ball from an adjacent field enters your field.
What is the call?
a.) Play on
b.) Kill play - "do over"
c.) Other: (describe)

Seattle Rules:
C: Depends on where it lands.

If the trespassing ball lands on the field where it's in the "area of the action" then kill the play, reset runners/batter/pitchcount to the beginning of the play. (Yes, a do-over)

If the trespassing ball lands on the field where it's not in the "area of the action" (i.e. ground ball to F5, and the trespassing ball lands in right field) then play on, then kill the play at the end.

Purely judgement.

We don't have this happen too often in our JO FP Tourneys, since we have a multi-thousand dollar netting system inbetween the fields. But some complexes we use that don't have nets, so the above is typically how we inform the umpire crew to work.

Play on. Unless the defensive team plays the "other" :eek: ball. Most here do games with fields adjacent to each other and have to deal with this problem on occasion. I have had teams play the wrong ball and have treated yhe situation as a blocked ball. Kill the play and award bases and be prepared to listen to a unhappy coach or manager.

The "Play On" philosophy begs the question of safety/liability issues.

If you saw the ball, did not kill the play, and a defensive player was struck in the head while the ball was in flight, or a baserunner unaware stepped on the extra ball causing a compound leg fracture.

The question goes beyond its affect on the play. It's how much risk is involved; and would it be a case of gross-negligence if an injury were to occur?

That's why we get paid the big bucks :D It's been my experience you get fewer arguments from girl's FP people for killing a play rather then men's SP when it comes to safety issues.

What happens if a base comes up? Do you stop the game because an unaware player may trip over it or step in the hole left by a missing base?

If a sea gull is flying low over the field, do you stop the game because a ball may hit it or the bird may attack a player? Are you going to stop a play because a ball gets away from girls warming up to enter the game? If an infielder loses her glove while diving for a line drive, do you stop the game because the runner may trip over it?

We can come up with hundreds of possible scenarios in which anyone could incur an injury. Softball, like damn near every other sport, have some dangers to it's participants. Some obvious, some not so.

The player accepts the risk of being injured when they step on the field. If the risk is too high in the player, manager, coach, parents or umpire's opinion, they should stay home.

I'm umpiring a ball game. If another ball enters the field, I don't care unless is approaches the area in which a play is occurring and only then to make sure I'm aware of which ball is part of my game.

Seems to me that I've seen far more injuries playing with just the one ball. I was aware of the existence of the one ball, and was also aware that the pitcher intended to hurl it at 50-60 mph toward a spot mere inches from where a nearly defenseless batter stood. Since I have failed to stop play upon become aware of this situation, am I liable for an injury that occurs due to a HBP? Further, I knew that the batter held a sturdy stick in her hands and that she intended to hit the ball as hard as she could, and that the field was made of dirt, and bounces could be unpredictable. Am I liable for the injury that occurs when F6 takes one in the chin after a bad hop? I could go on.

If a ball from another field was entering play in such a way that it could interfere with play or confuse either team, I'd kill it, and "do-over". Other than that, play on.

I have a question. Leaving the "life is dangerous" issue aside... ;)

Since the rule book has specific rules dealing with equipment not involved in the game being in the field of play, why is it necessary (or desirable; or preferred...) to stop the game and do-over as opposed to applying the rules?

How do you determine if the equipment (loose ball from adjacent field) belongs to the defense or the offense on your field in order to enforce the rule?

I remember this question coming up on McGriff's several years ago....My response was to kill the play, award appropriate bases, and go from there. I was corrected (by Mike, I believe) and told that the rules (ASA) do not allow me to kill a live ball in this situation. I don't have the book handy to look for a reference right now. Perhaps one of the long time board regulars may remember and comment.....

You know in a perfect world every game we do is played at Shea or Yankee stadiums where there isn't a blade of grass that isn't perfect.Unforunately for most here we call games in the real world where fields abutt each other and chaos is all round us. Where things can go wrong pretty quickly. I wil kill a play always when safety becomes a issue (especially girls FP). It's a lot easier to do then being sued for negligence

True safety issue (e.g. lightning, run away car, pack of rabid dogs)? Sure. An extra softball rolling around on the ground? You're kidding, right?

Tom,

He's probably talking about games on Long Island were every third parent is a lawyer.

ASA 10.4.E-H

More or less, the umpire can only suspend play during a live ball due to an injured player which needs medical attention.

Play on.

Now if the ball from another field enters my field right before a pitch, I'll stop the pitch or yell "No Pitch", however if the ball is already live, then play on.

There is always exceptions to the rule and you should always rule in favor of safety, but in 99% of the cases that I have umpired, we have played on.