Pitcher covers rubber with dirt.

I had a player try this bull in an USSSA pitching/bat rule league that was played with otherwise ASA rules (I know, quirky, but we have one here in Omaha). When I told him I was going to call unfairly delivered ball everytime, he said that he was an USSSA umpire and that USSSA had come out with an interpretation that said his actions were legal. Bear in mind, I was wearing my ASA outfit that night (because our leagues in Omaha are ASA), and said, I am also an USSSA umpire and I have neither seen you work any USSSA stuff nor heard of this ridiculous ruling from USSSA. I told him, the plate stays clean intentionally. He looked at me and said "I gotta protect myself." I said find another way. He piled dirt in front of the plate so the PU couldn't see it (the PU doesn't do USSSA). PU looked at me with a quizzical look, and pointed to the plate as if he were asking if that was legal. I shook my head and gestured to the pitcher to make the plate visible to both umpires. The pitcher then asked "What the hell do I have to do to protect myself in this league???" I gave him an answer that made him the first ejection of the season before the game even had its first pitch.

My partner had the second ejection of the season on just the second pitch on the first batter. Crazy night we had.