excessive defensive contact of baserunner

[SC Ump]

If the play is, as I suspect, a case where the 8U base runner was tagged a bit hard, started crying and a bit embarrassed to go back in the game, it seems okay to me. I suspect that the umpire talked with the other coach about perhaps teaching the player how to more appropriately apply a tag. In 8U there is a lot of teaching to be done. (Bless all the coaches and umpires that choose to assist at this level.) I hope you were able to take the time to genuinely console the little girl tagged and to have not focus on vengeance.

If however, this was some kind of malicious two-handed karate chop being thrown by the defensive player, I think the ruling was not harsh enough.

[NCASAUmp]

If we were talking 18U, then I might consider tossing the player. But 8U should not be held to the same standard. Most of those kids are just barely learning the basics, and they don't fully realize just what kind of damage they can cause.

I seriously doubt the contact was malicious in nature. I chalk it up to a young, inexperienced player who's just trying her best to make a play and nothing more.

I also think the umpire was well within his/her rights to pull their coach aside and (most probably) tell them that they need to spend a little more time working on properly making a tag. Some will see this as going beyond the duties of an umpire, but I see it as preventative umpiring. I don't want to have to throw someone out, nor do I want coaches/parents getting involved in what should be a coaching matter for the other team.