Couple questions

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by tcannizzo

On Ball 4 have F2 fire the ball back to F1.
BR should still be only half-way to 1B at this point.
Have F1 keep ball in throwing hand and put both hands down at her side.
At the same time, have her WALK towards the back edge of the circle.
And have F6 walk over to 2B.
BR should be rounding 1B at this point in time and now simply becomes R.
When R is about 12-15 feet from 2B have F1 fire ball to F6 and make a tag or get R in rundown.

Now, this is usually done when there is R on 3B. Why? because on a play at 2B, R1 will easily score. Offense is glad to trade an out for a run. And this is where it becomes tricky for the defense.

I can't tell you how much it drives me crazy to see the defense do nothing on this play. I saw this just last night, with TWO FREAKING OUTS. take the out! Inning over! Asinine. Even with less than two, the pitcher has the ball - any pitcher worth 2 cents is usually one of the better players on the team, and should be able to properly time this out at 2nd so that you still have a play at home. 10U? Maybe not, but definitely 12, 14, or HS.

[Fg8or]

Good coaching tips guys. Thanks! I'm a first time coach with mostly first time players playing mostly all star handpicked teams. I was just getting confused as our league rules are a runner cannot leave the bag until th ball passes the plate. It seems these rules contradict theirselves. However legel it is I also think it takes away from the game( just my 2 cents). Thanks

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Fg8or

Good coaching tips guys. Thanks! I'm a first time coach with mostly first time players playing mostly all star handpicked teams. I was just getting confused as our league rules are a runner cannot leave the bag until th ball passes the plate. It seems these rules contradict theirselves. However legel it is I also think it takes away from the game( just my 2 cents). Thanks

Not sure exactly what your league rules say... but if we're talking about a walk here, the rules about what happens before the ball crosses the plate can't apply until your play is over. A walk (just like a single) is a live ball. Surely your league rules don't say a girl in motion (say, rounding first on a single) has to stop once the pitcher owns the ball. Consider a walk EXACTLY like a hit with the one minor difference that she can't be put out before reaching first base.

You've illustrated the problem that a great majority of the umpires have been saying for years. Almost ANY league rules (with the exception of time limits or run limits, I suppose) are inherently bad in that they poorly prepare their leagues for play in post-season tournaments and poorly prepare them to move to the next level. We fail to understand why the ASA (or whichever) rules don't meet the needs of leagues.