"Foul Ball"

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

This is the "trickle down" theory. The mechanic to NOT call "obvious foul balls is an NCAA mechanic; at this point, so far as I know, it is not an NFHS or ASA mechanic.

The "trickle down" is that the top umpires that also work NCAA are probably your trainers and evaluators (or were personally evaluated by NCAA umpires), and they proceed with a philosophy that a mechanic that is required at the "higher" level must also be appropriate at a "lower" level".

It is easy to get confused by some of the minute and insignificant differences. While I can understand that it may seem unnecessary that an obvious foul be verbalized, I can't see what it hurts when it is. Other than indicating an umpire isn't using NCAA mechanics in an NFHS or ASA game, I also don't see why an evaluator wouuld tell you that you need to change.

Steve is correct on all points. And I was hoping to get to say all of this!