Stepping on the Plate

[tmielke]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

I am calling time, before they commit the offense, and using however much time is necessary to kill the clock to explain to Coach A how that strategy violates the rule, and (oh yeah, by the way, coach), time has now expired.

I have coached, I prefer to umpire. Maybe my perspective is a bit different.

Let the players play, let the coach coach, I'll call balls, strikes and outs. I don't see any need to get involved in the outcome of the game by managing the clock for the coach.

A timed softball game is no different than any other timed gamed, clock management becomes part of the game. An umpire purposefully delaying the game because they don't like the lack of hustle of a team is a lot closer to unsportsmanlike conduct than a coach hollering at Suzie to leave early.

What makes it ok for the umpire to delay the game when it is against the rules for the participants to delay the game?

Tom