ESPN Softball Article

[Steve M]

Originally Posted by vcblue

yep... niceguy = trouble. Working Rec League All Star tournament as the BU. My partner saw the Pitcher go way out of the lane. Instead of calling illegal pitch he grabbed the bat from the batter, took it out to the circle and drew a line and explained that next week at districts they will call you on going outside the lane.

The OC coach called time went and talked to the PU and asked why he didn't call IP. It was a 3-1 count runner on 2nd, and he call a strike on the pitch. The coach (rightfully so, demanded the IP be called and the awards given. My partner who is known to BS with the fan too much said no and the coach protested. I was the senior official on site and told my partner the OC coach was right and make the awards.

Agreed - that's what you do in a scrimmage, not a game.

[kcg NC2Ablu]

Ive found more often than not if you call it then explain whats happened they learn rather than telling them. baptisim by fire BABY!!!!

[tcblue13]

I believe we have discussed this one before.
Blue should know the rules.
I noticed in the WCWS that anytime a ball was parked, the team gathered around home and did not touch the runner until she jumped on home. Then they celebrated and ran back to the dugout. I think this rule is a fairly well known rule.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by tcblue13

I believe we have discussed this one before.
Blue should know the rules.
I noticed in the WCWS that anytime a ball was parked, the team gathered around home and did not touch the runner until she jumped on home. Then they celebrated and ran back to the dugout. I think this rule is a fairly well known rule.

Yes, but it's possible the umpire may have confused rulesets together. ASA has no such warning if a coach physically assisted a runner.

Even if that's the case, that's no excuse. If you're calling a ruleset, you're calling that ruleset. Know it, apply it. Period.

There's a reason why I only call ASA. I only want to call one ruleset and know it as well as possible.

[AtlUmpSteve]

But let's be equally clear; ASA doesn't have a warning, but ASA also doesn't consider it a violation of "physically assisting a runner" if coaches or players "high-five" or otherwise congratulate a player that has hit a home run over the fence (running the bases during a dead ball).

The only reason it is a warning in NCAA is the "coaches wrote the rulebook" response; not because anyone ever considered it assisting a runner.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

But let's be equally clear; ASA doesn't have a warning, but ASA also doesn't consider it a violation of "physically assisting a runner" if coaches or players "high-five" or otherwise congratulate a player that has hit a home run over the fence (running the bases during a dead ball).

The only reason it is a warning in NCAA is the "coaches wrote the rulebook" response; not because anyone ever considered it assisting a runner.

Absolutely, Steve. That's why I made sure I wrote "physically assisted" and not "touched."

Simply touching a runner is NOT an out in ASA. A runner who is physically assisted by an offensive team member other than another runner is out (ASA 8-7-E). A high-five, in my opinion, is not physically assisting a runner, especially on an over-the-fence homerun.

Physically congratulating, yes. Physically assisting, no.

[bigsig]

We had a somewhat similar incident in our county championship game. Girl hit a HR over the fence in a tie game. BR between 3B and Home removed her helmet then touched the plate. DC wanted umps to call her out. Protest ensued and ruling was that removing helmet was a safety rule during live ball situations. Since this was a dead ball HR counts.

What do you guys think?