Thank you time limits
 

HS association allowed the umpires this year to ask the coaches of Frosh and JV games if they would be willing to use an 1:45 no new inning time limit.

Frosh game, first inning visitors score 1, home 5. Looks like its going to be an OK game. Famous last words. Home pitcher cant get within 4' of the plate the 2nd inning, visitors score 16. Visiting pitcher suddenly cant find plate either, home scores 6. 3rd inning I tell both coaches the strike zone is going to get GIGANTIC, pitchers still cant find plate, visitors score another 7 runs, home 5. Final 23-16, 3 inning, total time 1:55. Id have been there another 2 hours or more to finish the game.

Sounds like the plate ump is to blame for this fiasco.... just sayin....;)

Darrell, I was doing everything I could to call strikes. Just couldnt bring myself to call balls rolling over the plate, going 5' over the batters head, behind the batter or outside the other batters box. I told the coaches I was going to call the top of their heads to their ankles and middle of box to middle of box, and they still couldnt find the zone.

I'm surprised you didn't realize how dark it was getting about the third inning :rolleyes: ;)

Unfortunately it was a 3:45 start time so it was still plenty bright when time finally expired. I kept hoping a thunder storm or huge wind storm would blow in out of nowhere.

Wouldn't that be a judgment call? ;):D

You do have a point there. I will remember that for next time.

Wow! The time limits around these parts for those same games are 1:15.

I wish. We were still in the top of the 2nd inning when 1:15 ran out.

We got time limits and run limits for JV games in our neak of the woods. 5 runs an inning, 1:45 time limit.

We usually have the 5 runs per half inning around here as well. Left up to the coaches to decide that one, and most usually go for it.

I've told my assignor that I do not mind JV games that are followed by a Varsity contest just for that reason. I get to work a game and be home early. I do not want to do double headers anymore. Also down here we now have a 15 run/3 inning mercy rule. I love that. Having so many lop sided games here, that rule makes it bearable. Dragging out long one sided games does no one any good: players, umpires, or fans.

It took us two years to push the "15-after-3" run rule through the FHSAA bureaucracy, but it was worth it! :cool:

Can I get an.................
....AMEN

Some aspects of the FHSAA are good, but they seem all to resistant to some changes that are needed. Still talking softball, the 15 run/3 inning rule was a long time coming. The Nobel Prize to those who fought for it. Next up, I'd like to see the tie breaker rule used. Another Nobel Prize to those who can get that passed.

I'll be glad to accept. Proposed it at my first Officials Advisory Committee meeting and everyone wondered why it wasn't already a FL rule. (Baseball wants to add it too.)

Maybe the tie breaker will be my next windmill to attack.

re: tiebreaker
 

When I first moved down here, I made the fatal mistake of asking Gainesville why FHSAA didn't have the tie breaker rule. The response was such that you'd think I proposed a two strike/three ball USSA rule of something. Another rule that might help would be to allow the last batter out to run for the catcher so she can gear up before the next half inning.But I'll take the tie breaker first.

[QUOTE=SWFLguy;831794 Another rule that might help would be to allow the last batter out to run for the catcher so she can gear up before the next half inning.But I'll take the tie breaker first.[/QUOTE]

Isn't that the purpose of the CR?

"speed up rule"
 

Having the last out be able to run for the catcher would eliminate the need for a courtesy runner. That would help very short handed teams. The idea is to allow the catcher to get back to the dugout and gear up for the next half inning. If my memory serves me, we used that rule when I did D-3 and JUCO college ball back in CNY.

That had to be a local rule - but it would make sense as a speedup thing.

Had my first use of the 15-after-3 Florida run rule this evening. 21-1 after 2.5 innings. And three of the home team's six outs were for leaving a base early. At least it only took 1:22.

Are you in a hurry during every game you work? The main and most important reason why the isn't a "last out runner" rule is in NFHS softball, it's about participation. The CR gives a student/athlete, who may not have played, an opportunity to do so.

A few years ago in Ohio we had the ITB. It didn't last long, and when it was removed everyone, coaches, umpires, players and parents, were happy. It works in weekend tournaments when time is short but why change the way the game is played just to end a few minutes quicker?

I love those evening 7:00p games at my neighborhood field that has no lights. Coaches ask me for a time limit, and I simply respond: "The sun will take care of that." Always gets a chuckle or two from coaches and parents. Useable daylight generally runs out at 8:30p. I think our local rule was 80 minutes no new inning but with a nature imposed hard limit of 90 minutes, I don't bother keeping track of time in that situation...

First game of HS season, we claim the record, a little over 3 hours.
Even without the 2 injury delays (one ambulance :( ); 20-18 would have been really long.
Good thing I love this. :cool: And no, I was not PU. :D

Just out of curiosity, when a player gets taken away by ambulance like that, do you have any kind of injury report you must fill out and submit?

No, but should be mentioned in game report.

Wow - for school games here, we have to fill out a liability report, and file it with our state group, and the secretary/treasurer of our local group.....we have to describe everything - what happened, players number, game conditions, the whole nine yards...