Live ball appeal

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by MigoP

The only one's I can see this confusing is umpires who only do softball.

I don't agree. I routinely find softball and baseball umpires who innocently confuse the rules and, unfortunately impose the wrong rule in the wrong game. I don't know how many times I've heard a baseball umpire working a softball game tell me, "that's how we do it in baseball".

Once talking with Mary S. from NFHS and she referred to my state's Fed interpreter as the "cute little man who always asks why we just can't use baseball rules for softball". Sad part is that this baseball guys idea of a softball rules clinic was to read that year's rules changes from the documents provided by NFHS. He "ran" an association that trained the softball umpires in baseball rules and mechanics. Offered to help his association by opening the ASA state umpire school to his umpires. He refused to pass this on to his group. No idea why.

The majority of umps work all year in multiple leagues and are not limited to softball. We prefer to be versed in any league we call.

Absolutely, positively agree. But I don't agree with mingling. I often have prospects tell me that they are going to do everything, baseball, softball, FP, SP, high school, league, travel ball tournaments, etc. My only response is to advise them to concentrate on a single discipline/game until confident and then expand their skills.