That is the absurdity. The plate umpire knows, or should know, when their partner is not in the right position to make this call, so why even bother?

From what I have gathered on other sites, AFA is basically a coaches' operated organization. I could be wrong, but it seems a patern with some of these organizations to set the coaches up for control. Sounds somewhat similar to the thread about TD issuing their own set of rules.

AFA adopted NCAA rules and even gratefully acknowledged
the NCAA's generosity in affording the AFA permission to
adopt, edit and reprint their official Softball Rules.
What can I say. [grin]