First college level game...

[AtlUmpSteve]

My opinion is that NCAA rimming has one advantage, always; it is easier physically than pushing the buttonhook. It also has one advantage, sometimes; if U3 doesn't chase and covers 2nd, any possible play between 1st and 2nd is automatically bracketed.

Rimming has one potential weakness; when U3 chases, if there is an overthrow at 2nd, U1 is behind a possible play at 3rd, and this results in either 1) a call from behind at 3rd, or 2) PU to take a potential play at 3rd that should routinely belong to U1. Sure, that can be overcome, but it requires an adjustment to standards by the umpires.

We could argue forever which is a better mechanic; bottom line is simply that ASA and NCAA have differing philosophies on mechanics for very good reasons. The ASA philosophy is to create basic rules that apply to the vast majority of situations, to minimize conditional exceptions, because the vast and overwhelming numbers of umpires calling that program need the absolutes of KISS, "KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID". The inside-outside theory without exceptions covers that situation.

The NCAA philosophy is to create or enable a much smaller and greatly more experienced group of higher level umpires to utilize a flexible set of mechanics that allow and even mandate exceptions to almost every general rule, to create specific mechanics that are "best" for each and every situation, and presume that each and every umpire in the program is fully capable (and will, in every case) to adapt and adjust to any variation.

Again, each progam has good and valid reasons for their approach. I, for one, simply refuse to say that either is better for all. Each is better suited to their own program, IMO.

And, this argument is no better than sniping about a philosophical difference to publicly publish on the internet a (NCAA) rulebook that no one would plagiarize (there is no one out there that I have ever met or heard of that wants to use college specific rules that isn't an affiliated member of NCAA already) versus not making internet available another (ASA) rulebook that would be (and is) regularly plagiarized or otherwise stolen without permission by literally thousands of teams, leagues, and tournaments, that simply play "ASA Rules", yet choose to not register their team, league, or tournament, unless forced to do so. Clearly different business models, clearly each has good reasons for doing it how they do it. Both are right, IMO, for doing it their way.