16U ASA Fastpitch. Batter takes a full swing and hits ball which hits the plate and bounces straight up. Catcher doesn't see it right away. Ball lands on the plate and stays there. Now I'm the coach of the catcher but I umpire in this area as well. I yell for my catcher to tag the runner, which she does. Plate Ump calls foul ball, no out. Ball was clearly on the plate. I politely ask umpire why it was a foul ball. I know him...anyways, he says the ball was on the plate so its foul. I've always been taught ball on the plate is fair. Am I missing something somewhere?

I've always been taught ball on the plate is fair. Am I missing something somewhere?

You were taught correctly and yes, you are missing something - a PU who learned what was correctly taught.

Steve M

Hard to believe an umpire dosent know a basic rule such as this. Plate is is "fair" territory, thus a ball sitting on the plate is fair. He may be thinking its where the catchers position is when ball is touched, which would explain his call. You are correct. Dan

No DanIn,

I am afraid that there are many out there who are working as umpires who haven't a clue, and I am guessing that this was one in this case.

Since you and PU agreed the ball was sitting on the plate when it was touched, there is no problem with judgement. The problem seems to be with the rule interpretation of whether a ball on the plate is fair or foul.

If it was a meaningful play, I hope it was properly protested.

Lately I have worked with a lot of umpires that believe
that when the ball touches the plate, it is always a foul
ball no matter where it ends up. Guess there is a new
school for umpires out there somewhere.

glen