LL jr's Softball - double 1st base

[Rog]

I've never done this division and need some info for an umpire who is starting up in this program.

Are there any web sites specific to the rules and umpire mechanics involved?

What are the rules involving the use of the double 1st base, i.e. can the 1st base person be touching the orange with their foot -vs- the white upon receiving the ball and get the out call before the runner gets to the base?

Any and all help is appreciated.....

[Edited by Rog on May 26th, 2002 at 06:15 AM]

[Skahtboi]

I am not sure how LL treats this, but most sanctioning bodies say that there are legitimate situations where the defensive player can use the orange portion of the base while the offense uses the white. Usually, if a throw draws the defensive player into foul territory, then it is acceptable for this to occur, since the main purpose of the safety base is to prevent collisions at first. ASA states that "on any force out attempt from the foul side of first base, or an errant throw pulling the defense into foul ground, the defense and the batter runner can use either the white or the colored portion of the base."

Scott

[mick]

Originally posted by Rog
I've never done this division and need some info for an umpire who is starting up in this program.

Are there any web sites specific to the rules and umpire mechanics involved?

What are the rules involving the use of the double 1st base, i.e. can the 1st base person be touching the orange with their foot -vs- the white upon receiving the ball and get the out call before the runner gets to the base?

Any and all help is appreciated.....

[Edited by Rog on May 26th, 2002 at 06:15 AM]

Rog,
I do not see where Little League addresses this type of base. If that happened on one of my fields, and since LL states:

Rule 1.06 - "The first and third bases shall be entirely within the infield."
...then I would require that a player at first base have contact with the white in order to get the legal tag of the bag, and if the fielder is on the Orange, I would disallow a legal tag of the base.
mick

Hi Rog,

As mentioned earlier, Little League rules do not mention the double base. I have noticed that some of our leagues here in the Tidewater area have started to use them. Unfortunately, the coaches do not know how to use them correctly. Since there is no mention of this in the LL rules book (or LL umpires manual for that manner), I refer to ASA rules.

As Scott mentioned, there are legitimate situations where the defensive player would be allowed to tag the orange portion of the base and the batter-runner to touch the white portion of the base.

To me, the whole purpose of the double base is to prevent collisions at first base.

Hope this helps you. Good luck.

Sergio