It always amazes me how people think that just because they are unaware of something that it is a new idea or hasn't already been discussed or actually even tested or used.

Next thing you know, someone is going to want to require the wearing of gloves by the defense put in the book.

Just 51 weeks until we all get the opportunity to talk to umpires from all over the country.

Amazingly, you still miss the point. How is it that ASA writes a 50 page guide on safety and yet this still isn't covered. This is a more important issue than the majority of the dribble they publish in the guide. ASA is unwilling to devote a paragraph or two on this topic? That's rather disturbing. If it's that important, take a minute or two to write something about it.

Odd how umpires want to get involved with lineup cards more than safety issues.

Hmm. How many umpiring clinics has this trainer attended? I'll bet it's a number fewer than one...

Reminds me of the assistant coach who was certian his player colud not be guilty of OBS if she was chasing after a bad throw. "But Blue she HAS to have the right to go after the ball!"

Neither is NCAA or NFHS. (and every other softball 'alphabet' ) See a trend here? You think there might be a reason for this? :rolleyes:

here is a hint...... its a different game :eek:

Hmmmmmmmm
ASA does not consider this something they need to get involved with. NCAA does not consider this as something they want to be involved with. Nor do some/most of the major sanctioning bodies consider this as something worthy to be involved with. Here's a suggestion - submit a rule change suggestion. Until it is a rule, stop looking for boogers.

Or PONY, or USSSA, or...

But probably not in the "My Game/My Field Officials Assn." :rolleyes:

Sorry, Mike. That's one of the sanctioning bodies I'm not involved with.:D

xtreamump
 

If you do more than a few games' a year, you would know that this does not happen often. The point is please use common sence. Save a possible train wreck, with a simple task not covered the Softball manul moveing of the bat. I am a parent first & an Umpire second. As a parent I give you permission to at the very least try it. I did & it works. We can call balls & strikes at the same time. Or chew gum & walk for those that do not want to understand or try something new. Esqump keep up the fight, if we can get one of thease old-timers to try something new (WE WIN)

It shouldn't ever happen and any UIC who tells you otherwise, IMO, may not be qualified for the position and possibly teaching their own philosophy, not that of the organization they are representing.

I believe that will be changing in PONY for 2013. PONY - Protect Our Nation's Youth. We, as umpires, aren't doing that if we leave a three feet piece of metal in the players' way when we can reasonable do away with the obstacle.

There have been some articles written in Referee and Officiating.Com regarding bat removal. They often have two attorneys write for them as well. The attorneys screen issues dealing with safety. I cannot speak for them, but I highly doubt these articles would get past the editors if the attorneys disagreed with the teachings contained therein.

Again, most associations don't have 50 page manifestos on safety. ASA does. So why have they neglected this issue? If it is important enough to bring up in the 50+ clinics all the clones have been to, why is it not important enough for ASA to put in writing. Even if ASA says NOT to remove the bats, wouldn't ASA want to put that in writing so that they can at least say, "We tell umpires not to remove the bat. I don't know what that umpire was doing." I, of course, would disagree with that ruling but would likely go along with it since that's what ASA wants.

NCAA deals solely with older players. Though there may be a 17 year old thrown in there every so often, most of their players are legally adults and take on greater responsibility for themselves. Only without intelligence can one state that a 21 year old college athlete and a 10u player have equal ability to deal with obstacles on the field. With that said, even in NCAA I am moving the bat. They haven't told me not to and only a fool would leave it sitting there if they could reasonably remove it.

Stop thinking like an official and start thinking like an adult with common sense. "Gee, I can leave the bat in the way or I can remove it. I guess I'll leave it."

No one ever told me to remove my neighbor's garbage can from the middle of the street when the wind blew it over there. But I still moved it so that no one would crash into it. Anyone who told me that I was wrong to move it would be an idiot. There's no other way to put it. I could have left it - that wouldn't have been right but it would have been within my right to leave it.

I would love to cross examine the umpire who left the bat there and hear the only reason why he left it there was "Because a clinician at the ASA camp told me to." Good luck. I hope you have extra insurance. And even better luck getting the person from ASA who told you that to appear in court.

I sincerely doubt this.

Cross examine away, GFL :D

I cannot leave what I do not possess to begin. The umpire's job is to officiate the game which s/he cannot possibly do if not watching the ball or play.

The player is not required to, nor is it even suggested that, any equipment be discarded in the plate area or on the field for that matter. In ASA, it isn't even suggested that the bat be discarded at all as the player is permitted to maintain possession of the bat. Maybe we should start ejecting players for the unsportsman-like act of creating a public nuisance and endangering the welfare of the umpire, catcher, fielders backing up or covering the plate and other runners attempting to advance.

The umpire is the invited guest of the teams, not the other way around. Since when is the guest responsible for the host's shortcomings and inability to control their own actions? Well, in this country with all the ambulance chasers around, I guess some putz who reached the bench could see it that way, but that doesn't make it right, just additional fodder for the Ninth Circus Court of Appeals where everything except freedom, common sense and constitution apply.

xtreamump
 

If you can not officiate the game by watcghig the game "ball or play" and bend over and clear a bat. Mabee its time to watch the younger Umpires with new & better ways to get the job done. It is not a challenge, its just the right thing to do. There is Black, white, & a little common sence.

How odd... I'm 34, and I don't consider myself that "old." :rolleyes: