Pre-game warmup question
 

Fed rules:
I had this question posed to me and thought I'd let some of your knowledgeable folks chew on this.

Is it permissible for (or would you allow) the pitcher to throw warm up pitches from the actual pitching plate while her team is taking pre-game infield?

I'd want to see a rule reference from anyone who says "No."

Don't they do that between innings?

You mean your fields don't have a Practice Pitcher's Plate (PPP) installed for warm ups? :confused: :rolleyes: ;)

How about the one that goes something like if not explicitly covered in the rules the ump gets to make a ruling.

Just for safety reasons I would say no. Just think of mommy and daddy in front of The Judge saying you put the little girl in danger with your gross neglegence. There is way too many opportunities for the pitcher to warm up elsewhere.

Just my thoughts on the question.

I don't do Fed.
Question... By NFHS rule, do umpires (beyond doing any required bat/equipment checks) have any on field authority prior to the exchange of lineups at home plate?

Yes. The umpire's jurisdiction begins upon entering "the confines of the field" (10-1-2).

Now... let me give you the rest of the story.

Apparently there is a school in our area that likes their pitcher to pitch from the game pitcher's plate while the rest of the team is taking infield/outfield. I had a fellow umpire ask me what I thought of such a practice. My response was, "There's nothing in the rules book against it. As far as I'm concerned, the field is theirs to use as they see fit while they run their infield."

During infield warm ups, I've seen pitchers throw actual pitches to catchers for the purpose of catchers throwing down to various bases to practice pickoffs, etc. I've not had a problem with that.

The umpire who had this occur in their game contacted the state association which has responded pitchers should not warm up from the circle during infield practice as it is a safety issue. Just curious what the rest of you thought.

Thanks for the discussion.

What are the rest of the players doing? I can see it being a safety issue if someone is using a bat to hit the ball to the other fielders. If not, how this is different from what goes on while the pitcher is taking her warm-up pitches between innings?

:confused:
As stated, the other players are taking regular infield/outfield practice. Yes, there's a coach hitting balls to the pitcher's teammates while she throws from the circle.

How about ask to the coach whether he/she thinks it might be dangerous? That would avoid neglect on your part if that is your concern.

Even hitting a ball, does a pitcher not need fielding practice?

I don't understand their reasoning as I see no more a safety concern than with any other actions any of the players are taking.

I believe I allow this every single game I work... what's the question?

If the idiots consider this a safety issue they should put it in the book. That opinion is ludicrous.

Maybe I'm not understanding what is being asked, either.

Sorry. Maybe I'm not being clear. This didn't happen in my game as I was merely asked my opinion about the legality of such action. Let me try this one more time.

Prior to the game. Team A, including the pitcher and catcher, takes the field for infield/outfield practice, infield/outfield warmups, fungoes, etc. While the coach is hitting infield/outfield practice (or fungoes, if you prefer), Team A's pitcher is throwing pitches to her (Team A's) catcher while on the field from the actual (game) circle from the actual (game) pitcher's plate to the catcher positioned behind the actual (game) home plate. Neither the pitcher or catcher (both from Team A) are involved in the fungoes being hit by the coach of Team A. Neither the pitcher or the catcher (again, both of Team A) are involved in any of the throws that are being made by their Team A teammates during the infield practice. The Team A pitcher is simply using the actual field has her bullpen while her Team A teammates take infield practice.

I offered my opinion there was no prohibition against this. The state association has since responded to this umpire's association directly deeming this a safety issue and for umpires not to allow this.

I was just curious what the fine folks on this board thought. (Apparently they think I can't explain a situation very thoroughly.) :rolleyes:

Games I've done usually have a lot going on just before game time. Typically I'll see pitchers/catchers warming up outside the field area. Some fields accomodate pitchers warming up on the outside area of the backstop, others down the foul lines. Usually catchers like to have a fence behind them to corral some of the wild pitches. On occasion, I've had to instruct catchers to put their masks on. Some mildly protest saying they're outside the field. I tell them the bullpen is part of the field.

Then there are two types of on field warm ups. Some involve all players at their regular positions and the coach will hit balls to both infield and outfield. Sometimes, pitchers are included in this and they get a few ground balls or bunt hits to field. Outfielders throw to various bases.

The other type has infielders and outfielders split. OF is down a foul line with a coach hitting fly balls to the CF area. In tournament play, this may be done by both teams at the same time. Then, infielders are fielding ground balls, turning 2, catchers fielding bunts, etc.

I don't recall seeing a pitcher warming up in the game circle while all this is going on.

There is this: ART. 4 . . . Hitting the ball to teammates on defense is prohibited after the game has started.

That's there ostensibly so nobody gets conked by a ball off a bat. But it's specific to the "after the game has started".

Not sure what I'd do if I came across this. A team's practice time is their own. I would tell a catcher she needed her mask. But that's a rule:
ART. 3 . . . (F.P.) Any non-adult warming up a pitcher at any location within the confines of the field shall wear an approved catcher’s helmet and mask combination and throat protector.