Putting the ball in play

[Dutch Alex]

Originally Posted by Rita C

Just curious:

Do you all put the ball in play after every dead ball? With a signal at least?

Rita

The question can be best answered by a question! Since when is the play not dead anymore if the umpire don't signal and/or say "Play (ball)"?

In the ISF rule-book there is a section where is written that play is dead any time the plateumpire turns around to brush the plate. [R10 s8b] No such thing is written about making play live, except by indicating with signal and verbal Play (ball).

I have never umpired baseball, so that's no issue. I'm embarrassed to admit that I've played it (small ball) for one season All the instructors I've seen the past 27 years, told me to signal and say "Play (ball)".
It the same as making a call on every play made by defense. Even on the obvious plays...