Mandatory slide crap

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

Sometimes requiring a slide is probably more safe than not.

Hope you have counsel on a retainer, 'cause it isn't worth my house and family.

I had a sitch last night where a shortstop said next time that runner decides not to slide when I'm trying to throw it to first for the double play, I'm gonna hit him. Not the first time, and it wasn't an obvious attempt to break up a double play, but still....

That is where warn or throw the SS for USC and make sure all participants know that I am more than willing to offer testimony to the statement showing predetermination and maybe even suggesting a nasty, er....I mean good lawyer to the injured player's family.

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Hope you have counsel on a retainer, 'cause it isn't worth my house and family.



That is where warn or throw the SS for USC and make sure all participants know that I am more than willing to offer testimony to the statement showing predetermination and maybe even suggesting a nasty, er....I mean good lawyer to the injured player's family.

I meant that rhetorically, but there are situations where a slide would be the better protection for the runner, i.e. the play I described in my earlier posting.

This was uttered in a USSSA men's slow-pitch travel team league. I told the SS (who is a fellow umpire by the way) I'm ignoring that, but if it did happen he wouldn't be finishing the night on the field. I also went to the other team and suggested getting down or out of the way somehow to allow the throw to 1B for the double play, or I would be calling interference. I had to be careful with my choice of words both ways because I was working with my local Assistant UIC, and he's known to kowtow to the teams' whims in this league.

[wadeintothem]

Sliding lawsuits? I wonder if its ever happened. It probably happened ONCE and was handled lickity split by the ins company, with a settlement, and the umpire never heard word one about it. No ones going to court, testifying, or going after some broke *** umpire. They want the easy settlement INS money. There is no need to worry about a retainer if you stick to working your covered events.. you already have one. I believe the reps example was they could "play softball with hand grenades and you are covered".

As to the OP.. have heard the horrific story dozens of times, could have almost guessed the OP was a segway to "the tragic event" which defines how bkb approaches the game in many respects - that accident means nothing in terms of my approach to the game.

[Dholloway1962]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

could have almost guessed the OP was a segway to "the tragic event" which defines how bkb approaches the game in many respects - that accident means nothing in terms of my approach to the game.

Saw that story coming again too! It's horrible but sure gets thrown on here a bunch. It has nothing to do with sliding but reason why you don't wear jewelry!

As far as sliding, it's the safest, but not totally safe. No way I'm mandating someone slide. If they don't and cause INT or malicious contact I have a rule to cover it. Injuries are going to happen

[TwoBits]

The problem with mandatory slide rules is some of these girls don't know how to slide because they have never been taught to slide. I see it all the time: Girls who slow down and practically sit on the base; starting their slide too late and ramming their ankles into the base; head first slides that wind up being face first slides; sprained wrists for trying to break their fall, etc.

The coaches are often the ones who petition for a rule to be put in place. Mandatory slide rules are often seen in low-level rec ball. Perhaps if the threat of law suit was placed on the coaches, we would see less of that particular "rule".

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by TwoBits

The problem with mandatory slide rules is some of these girls don't know how to slide because they have never been taught to slide. I see it all the time: Girls who slow down and practically sit on the base; starting their slide too late and ramming their ankles into the base; head first slides that wind up being face first slides; sprained wrists for trying to break their fall, etc.

The coaches are often the ones who petition for a rule to be put in place. Mandatory slide rules are often seen in low-level rec ball. Perhaps if the threat of law suit was placed on the coaches, we would see less of that particular "rule".

Sadly, a lot of the lower level ball is coached by someone whose only qualification is that they are most athletic at their school. They know nothing of the sport (then again, do most coaches EVER know anything of the sport?), much less how to teach it to a small child.

You also have the volunteers whose DD is on the team, and no one else wanted the job. We've all seen our fair share of those.

Mandatory slide rules are well-intended, but we all know where the path paved with such intentions inevitably leads.

[LIIRISHMAN]

I make it a policy at my pre-game to let both captains or managers know about the crash rule especially at home plate that the runner must give themselves up or slide to avoid being tagged when the defensive player has the ball. Avoiding injury isn't always possible even with all the latest advances that have been made in the last 10+ years.Also with the advent of better design with the hockey style mask it's possible that the catcher could still wear her mask while making the play at home.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by TwoBits

The problem with mandatory slide rules is some of these girls don't know how to slide because they have never been taught to slide. I see it all the time: Girls who slow down and practically sit on the base; starting their slide too late and ramming their ankles into the base; head first slides that wind up being face first slides; sprained wrists for trying to break their fall, etc.

The coaches are often the ones who petition for a rule to be put in place. Mandatory slide rules are often seen in low-level rec ball. Perhaps if the threat of law suit was placed on the coaches, we would see less of that particular "rule".

Ding, Ding, Ding!!!!!!!

All of my daughters have grown up playing in a low level rec league sponsored by our church. The league has a mandatory slide rule on any "close" play. When my oldest daughter played, she was coached by a lady who is my volleyball officiating partner during the fall. She is a knowledgable softball coach and took almost one entire practice session teaching the players how to slide properly. My oldest daughter now helps coach in the league and one of her main jobs each year is teaching sliding.

I volunteer some time as an umpire each year and I have been in the league directors ear for the last five years to get rid of that mandatory slide rule. He just keeps insisting that it is for the safety of the players. So far, there have been no injuries as a result of it as far as I know, but I just cringe when I see some of the "slides" that are executed by these players.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

This was uttered in a USSSA men's slow-pitch travel team league. I told the SS (who is a fellow umpire by the way) I'm ignoring that, but if it did happen he wouldn't be finishing the night on the field. I also went to the other team and suggested getting down or out of the way somehow to allow the throw to 1B for the double play, or I would be calling interference.

Nope, this is bad advice. You shouldn't be telling the teams to do anything. Again, just setting yourself up.

What happens when the next runner "gets out of the way" by moving inside and the SS moves the same way for fear of an ejection and, BAM, the SS just did what you warned him not to do because of your suggestion to the other team.

Umpire the game and leave the coaching to the coaches.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Nope, this is bad advice. You shouldn't be telling the teams to do anything. Again, just setting yourself up.

What happens when the next runner "gets out of the way" by moving inside and the SS moves the same way for fear of an ejection and, BAM, the SS just did what you warned him not to do because of your suggestion to the other team.

Umpire the game and leave the coaching to the coaches.

I agree. Your intentions are good, as no one wants to see anyone get injured, much less deliberately. However, I've made it my own personal policy to never tell anyone to DO something. I simply tell them what they can't do (can't block the plate and hinder the runner without the ball, catch... can't kick the SS in the twig and giggleberries while sliding into 2B... can't call the my partner an ucking fidiot, even if you only said it to me...). I leave it up to their coaches to tell them the proper thing to do.

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Nope, this is bad advice. You shouldn't be telling the teams to do anything. Again, just setting yourself up.

What happens when the next runner "gets out of the way" by moving inside and the SS moves the same way for fear of an ejection and, BAM, the SS just did what you warned him not to do because of your suggestion to the other team.

Umpire the game and leave the coaching to the coaches.

Using your advice, I guess I might as well as go against what my UIC encourages, because that's what he did in a game before that. I'm not willing to eject players over comments like that in a league like that, because the UIC doesn't have a backbone when the teams think I'm unfairly ejecting them over stuff that umpires in USSSA tournaments don't even blink an eye at. You have to consider the level of play sometimes, and the politics sometimes if you want to survive in some of these leagues.

By the way, there are no "coaches" on these men's slow-pitch teams, just managers who go up for the pre-game flip. So if I were to leave the coaching to the coaches, who do I go to? The captains who were at the pre-game meeting who are going to tell me to f**k off and when I eject them, walk up to my partner who's the UIC and get me removed from the field for doing that? That's something to be considered at this type of level.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

Using your advice, I guess I might as well as go against what my UIC encourages, because that's what he did in a game before that. I'm not willing to eject players over comments like that in a league like that, because the UIC doesn't have a backbone when the teams think I'm unfairly ejecting them over stuff that umpires in USSSA tournaments don't even blink an eye at. You have to consider the level of play sometimes, and the politics sometimes if you want to survive in some of these leagues.

By the way, there are no "coaches" on these men's slow-pitch teams, just managers who go up for the pre-game flip. So if I were to leave the coaching to the coaches, who do I go to? The captains who were at the pre-game meeting who are going to tell me to f**k off and when I eject them, walk up to my partner who's the UIC and get me removed from the field for doing that? That's something to be considered at this type of level.

The only thing to consider is why in the name of softball you would voluntarily take that treatment. If that is what you have to work with, you might want to consider taking up golf or work for someone else.

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

The only thing to consider is why in the name of softball you would voluntarily take that treatment. If that is what you have to work with, you might want to consider taking up golf or work for someone else.

Or consider telling the city to stop being so player-friendly and put comments from both the players and umpires on an even keel? Politics...besides if I were to give up the games in that city, it would be half my schedule. I can't make up that half in another city, and I would be looking at getting bit by a judge in family court over quitting a job over principle. It already bit some of us blues in the area.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

Or consider telling the city to stop being so player-friendly and put comments from both the players and umpires on an even keel? Politics...besides if I were to give up the games in that city, it would be half my schedule. I can't make up that half in another city, and I would be looking at getting bit by a judge in family court over quitting a job over principle. It already bit some of us blues in the area.

You live in one ****ed-up place.