Some coaches just don't know when to quit....

[Andy]

Just a rant.....

18u game Saturday, ASA rules, I'm BU.

Team A replaces their pitcher in the third inning after Team B get a few hits.
Team A pitcher's footwork is peculiar looking, but not illegal in my judgement.

Between innings, as I am cleaning the pitcher's plate, Team B assistant coach, who was coaching first base, asks me if the pitcher is illegal. I tell him that I have not seen anything illegal. I was in C position the entire time she was pitching in the inning, so I was waiting to get a look from A position to see if I could see anything different. She was pushing hard off the PP, and there was minimal drag with the pivot foot until it was about 6 inches in front of the pitchers plate. She was not leaping and not replanting with a second pushoff, so I left it alone.

During the next inning she was pitching, Team B head coach calls time and comes to ask me about the pitcher's footwork. I tell him that, in my judgement, the pitcher is legal. He doesn't like that answer and keeps whining, so I tell him that the pitcher is legal and let's play. During the next two pitches, I get loud comments from both coaches: "She did it again!" "You can't see that?!?" "It's happening every pitch!" I call time and calmly approach the head coach to let him know that he has made his opinion known and there will be no further discussion of the pitcher's footwork.

The third out comes and both coaches approach my partner at the plate to further complain. I retreat to my between innings position in short right field. He tells them that they are talking to the wrong umpire, but they keep on going. As the assisstant coach is walking away, he loudly says something about how we (umpires) need to learn more, then he points at me and says: "Especially him, out there!" At this point, I excused him from the remainder of the game.

How hard to understand was "no further discussion"?

[MichaelVA2000]

Originally Posted by Andy

Just a rant.....

18u game Saturday, ASA rules, I'm BU.

Team A replaces their pitcher in the third inning after Team B get a few hits.
Team A pitcher's footwork is peculiar looking, but not illegal in my judgement.

Between innings, as I am cleaning the pitcher's plate, Team B assistant coach, who was coaching first base, asks me if the pitcher is illegal. I tell him that I have not seen anything illegal. I was in C position the entire time she was pitching in the inning, so I was waiting to get a look from A position to see if I could see anything different. She was pushing hard off the PP, and there was minimal drag with the pivot foot until it was about 6 inches in front of the pitchers plate. She was not leaping and not replanting with a second pushoff, so I left it alone.

During the next inning she was pitching, Team B head coach calls time and comes to ask me about the pitcher's footwork. I tell him that, in my judgement, the pitcher is legal. He doesn't like that answer and keeps whining, so I tell him that the pitcher is legal and let's play. During the next two pitches, I get loud comments from both coaches: "She did it again!" "You can't see that?!?" "It's happening every pitch!" I call time and calmly approach the head coach to let him know that he has made his opinion known and there will be no further discussion of the pitcher's footwork.

The third out comes and both coaches approach my partner at the plate to further complain. I retreat to my between innings position in short right field. He tells them that they are talking to the wrong umpire, but they keep on going. As the assisstant coach is walking away, he loudly says something about how we (umpires) need to learn more, then he points at me and says: "Especially him, out there!" At this point, I excused him from the remainder of the game.

How hard to understand was "no further discussion"?

Unlike NCAA, answering questions from an assistant coach during an ASA game is not a requirement. If the head coach has questions about the other teams pitcher's mechanics, let the assistant coach know you will address the issue with the head coach if s/he has questions. If approached by the head coach I would ask the coach why they think the pitcher is pitching illegally. Then assure the coach you will continue watching and if there's an infraction it will called and that it's time to play ball now.

When the third out came and both coaches approached your partner at the plate, why did you retreat to your between innings position? With two coaches on your partner you should have been directing the assistant coach to the dugout. Never allow coaches to gang up on your partner. If the coach attacks you or your partner on a personal level, it may be time for them to leave the game.

[socalumps]

Answering questions from an assistant coach is a requirement in NCAA?

[MichaelVA2000]

Originally Posted by socalumps

Answering questions from an assistant coach is a requirement in NCAA?

This was addressed at length at the NCAA clinic in Atlanta. They now want us to answer questions regarding a play from any coach. Analogies they used were:

On a close play at first base who is more likely to have had the better view of the play, the head coach in the coaching box at third or the assistant coach in the coaching box at first? More often than not it's the assistant coach who had the better view.

or

You've called an illegal pitch and the pitching coach comes out and questions you about why the pitch was illegal instead of the head coach.

Two examples of when it would warrent a chat with a coach other than the head coach.

[socalumps]

Thanks.

Having it as an option makes more sense than it being a requirement.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by socalumps

Thanks.

Having it as an option makes more sense than it being a requirement.

It should always be an option, but NCAA softball is a coach-oriented sport when regarding rules and officiating, so you just have to expect some level of.....I'll leave that to your imagination.

[azbigdawg]

Originally Posted by Andy

Just a rant.....

18u game Saturday, ASA rules, I'm BU.

Team A replaces their pitcher in the third inning after Team B get a few hits.
Team A pitcher's footwork is peculiar looking, but not illegal in my judgement.

Between innings, as I am cleaning the pitcher's plate, Team B assistant coach, who was coaching first base, asks me if the pitcher is illegal. I tell him that I have not seen anything illegal. I was in C position the entire time she was pitching in the inning, so I was waiting to get a look from A position to see if I could see anything different. She was pushing hard off the PP, and there was minimal drag with the pivot foot until it was about 6 inches in front of the pitchers plate. She was not leaping and not replanting with a second pushoff, so I left it alone.

During the next inning she was pitching, Team B head coach calls time and comes to ask me about the pitcher's footwork. I tell him that, in my judgement, the pitcher is legal. He doesn't like that answer and keeps whining, so I tell him that the pitcher is legal and let's play. During the next two pitches, I get loud comments from both coaches: "She did it again!" "You can't see that?!?" "It's happening every pitch!" I call time and calmly approach the head coach to let him know that he has made his opinion known and there will be no further discussion of the pitcher's footwork.

The third out comes and both coaches approach my partner at the plate to further complain. I retreat to my between innings position in short right field. He tells them that they are talking to the wrong umpire, but they keep on going. As the assisstant coach is walking away, he loudly says something about how we (umpires) need to learn more, then he points at me and says: "Especially him, out there!" At this point, I excused him from the remainder of the game.

How hard to understand was "no further discussion"?

Thanks for the extra work, Andy... I'll see if I cant flood your desk with ejection reports during high school season.....