high school game-ending procedures

[chapmaja]

One of my former associations instituted a rule for all of their umpires. We follow the same rules as Michigan allows for with one exception. On unlit fields the game is stopped AT SUNSET. We don't allow pitches after sunset because of the risk of injury because of darkness.

This sets a hard deadline for when the game must be completed that both teams know before the games start.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by chapmaja

One of my former associations instituted a rule for all of their umpires. We follow the same rules as Michigan allows for with one exception. On unlit fields the game is stopped AT SUNSET. We don't allow pitches after sunset because of the risk of injury because of darkness.

This sets a hard deadline for when the game must be completed that both teams know before the games start.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't particularly care for that rule. It essentially sets a drop-dead time limit that coaches can manipulate to their advantage.

There's still enough daylight right after sunset that play could continue. Conversely, you could have conditions before actual sunset time that makes it too dark to play. Why take away that judgment from the umpires?

You want to do this for rec play, be my guest. But high school varsity? No way.