JUCO rule
 

I do some JUCO ball and was wondering on this. If a player is discovered they used a non-approved bat, they are declared out and ejected. My question is, do they have to sit out the next game also since the JUCO rules say they do after an ejection. Or is this for only certain types of ejections? Dave

As far as I know, JUCO plays by the NCAA rule book. And there are no distinctions between ejections for different violations in NCAA play. An ejection is an ejection.

Don't forget:

13.2 Physical Contact with an Umpire or Opponent
Any threat of physical intimidation or harm, including pushing, shoving, spitting,
kicking, throwing at or attempting to make aggressive physical contact, or use
of equipment in a combative manner, shall not be tolerated and is considered
fighting.

EFFECT—The perpetrator shall be ejected and then suspended from
the institution’s next two scheduled and played contests in a
traditional season (spring). For a second offense by an individual
in the same season, the individual shall serve a four-game
suspension. For a third offense by an individual in the same
season, the individual shall be suspended for the remainder of the
season, including postseason competition (if applicable).....

Yeah, I forgot about that one. :o

So is this correct? In JUCO the player has to it out the next game after an ejection, but not in NCAA? My friend was working a JUCO tourney last year and was shown this in the JUCO rules or by-laws. NCAA doesn't mention sitting out the next game as far as I can see. Dave

I've never seen a copy of the NJCAA Handbook & Casebook. According to the NJCAA website, they cover by-laws, eligibility requirements, etc. etc., for all the JUCO sports, and are distributed only to the President and the Athletic Director of each junior college this is a member of the NJCAA.

It's entirely conceivable that the H&C does require a one-game suspension following an ejection in softball. But since I've never been issued a H&C, I can't verify that.

For JUCO play here, we use the NCAA rule book.

The JUCO conference has it's own bylaws and any person ejected is required to sit out the next scheduled game, including the second game of a double header, if the ejection happened in the first game.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Same here for the Region I work.

Your responsibility is to file a game report; and if the player returns in a later game you observe or officiate, you make note of it. The report should/must/will go to the NJCAA, Conference Commissioner, and the affected schools' administrators; if they violated an administrative rule that isn't a playing rule, it is their responsibility to deal with it, not the umpires.

In the NCAA, this is handled by Dee, and monitored by the conference; NAIA and NJCAA have their own process, let them handle it. The official scorebook and box score of each following game, mandated for standardization at each level, will document and support if they violated.

I'll just throw in a "same here" to cover the area I work.

Steve is 100% right. Eject the violator and file the report. Umpire's don't suspend players. It is none of our business what happens after the report is filed. If the violator/team/coach violates whatever penalty is imposed, that's for other authorities to deal with.

Two additional thoughts:

1) Even though the sanctions are administrative, I wouldn't feel comfortable stepping onto the field if I didn't know the rules. Where's your copy?

2) What protocol was used when checking the bats?

Good question.

Assuming that the NCAA bat check protocol was followed....

If the non-approved bat mentioned in the OP was discovered by the umpires during the pre-game bat check, properly secured from either team by the PU, and if a batter was discovered in the batter's box with that same bat; you're now also ejecting the head coach in addition to the batter.

The correct bat check procedure was followed. The non approved bat was not discovered during the bat inspection. It must have been somewhere else when the other bats were checked. Dave

This brings up an interesting dilemma that I've constantly faced through the years. Teams dutifully set up their bats (and for ASA or NFHS play, their batting helmets as well) outside the dugout for us to inspect. But while I check those bats (and helmets), I will look inside and see more bats sticking out of bat bags. When I ask about them, I'm given the usual excuse that those are just batting practice bats that the girls use during pre-game warm-ups, and that they'll stay in the bat bags during the game.

Should we require the players to get rid of the bats completely? Often, the bats belong to visiting teams that have nowhere to adequately secure them during the game (there is no press box, the team's bus is gone, they have no fans in the bleachers to watch over them, etc.)

Do you force the issue, or believe the girls when they tell you those bats will stay in their bags?

I don't believe any useful purpose would be served by forcing the non-existent issue. I wouldn't even ask about the other bats. They are showing you the bats they intend to use. They must use those bats.

If they show up at the plate with an illegal bat, they pay the penalty - it's that simple.

For ASA or NFHS, I am not forcing the issue (short of a Qualifier, National in ASA, State Championship in NFHS). There is no absolute rule that non-approved bats cannot be in the dugout; no rule actually applies until a batter enters the batter's box with a non-approved bat. Better to not have them where they can be accidently used, but the rule is what it is. Bat checks are a courtesy, anyway; it is still and always the batter's (and coache's) responsibility, not the umpires'.

In any and all collegiate levels, there is a rule (3.3.2) that no bats (other than approved warm-up bats) may be in any team area nor on the field that are not approved for use in the game. Even fungo bats (that aren't one piece wooden bats) must be removed and not used for team warmups once the umpires enter the field. And we are told these are professional coaches whom we are to treat as professionals; and that cuts both ways.

So, I'm sorry, but no option, Coach; your responsibility to know the rule, the effect, the result, and you are responsible for the actions of your team. Remove any and all bats that you are not submitting for game use approval. Your problem if you didn't make appropriate arrangements.

Refusal to do so is an ejection, and we still don't play until your team complies, forfeit if you don't; and an incident report.

Steve, are you saying that we are supposed to inspect even the warm-up bats that players may end up using in the on-deck circle?

NCAA rules (3.4) do not allow illegal, altered, or nonapproved bats in the on-deck circle. Only approved bats, or non-altered one piece wooden bats (softball or baseball). No other "warm-up" bats or devices.

So, there is no excuse for any other bat to be in any team area. Not in the dugout, bullpen, on-deck circle. Just those checked and accounted for in the team's bat list for that game (3.3.2).

Keeps it simple and clear. And 3.3.2 makes it clear the coach is the one responsible for the team's bat list.

This should be the be all and end all of this particular issue.

We (umpires) should not have to check bats and/or helmets prior to the game starting, IMHO.....

I agree. In fact, our colleagues in NCAA baseball no longer have to check bats during pregame.

Unfortunately, NCAA softball still requires us to do so. I'm just trying to gain an understanding on which bats do we check. The six to twelve bats that are lined up outside the dugout are a no-brainer. It's the ten additional bats I see in batbags in the back of the dugout that the girls claim they use for warm-ups that I'm trying to understand if I should check them, or have them removed from the area.

If it's an NCAA game:

Walking into the dugout for bat check...

Crew: "Coach those bats that are in the batbags, we'll need them taken out and brought over here so we can check them."

Coach: "Those are [fill in the reason/excuse/rationale] bats, we don't use those in a game."

Crew: "Coach, if they're not going to be used in the game, by rule, you're going to have to remove those bats from the dugout for both games."

Coach: "OK Blue, we'll get them out of here right now."

Crew: "Thank you, coach."

Piece of cake......begin your bat check.

Read rule 3-3-2

Well, it is known as the Fram Oil Filter Scenario......you can check it now as a group or you can deal with it one at a time at the plate.

First time I worked an AF Championship and all bats were tested and marked and the players were programed to come to the plate and show you the mark every time up, made life easy, very easy for the umpire.

Try getting that done on a regular game :rolleyes: of any organization at any level.:D

Good script, cryptic me was just going to post "have them removed from the area." :)