What the Heck is the Point For?

[Manny A]

At a training session over the weekend, a colleague brought the most recent NFHS Preseason Guide that Referee magazine puts out. For those who don't do high school ball, it's a 16-page document that covers rule changes, tips, guidance, etc., for the softball umpire's upcoming season.

In it (and I can't pinpoint the page number since I don't have a copy of the guide), there's a column about obstruction. It includes a PlayPic diagram of what the umpire should do when he/she sees a violation. The diagram has the umpire holding the arm out to signal delayed-dead ball, but shows the umpire pointing with the other hand at the infraction. Pointing? That's how a baseball umpire signals obstruction!

Is this just the latest goof by Referee magazine, which is notorious for putting out bad info in the past? Or has the mechanic in softball changed for this season?

BTW, I also think the PlayPic shows the umpire holding out the right arm for the DDB signal, while the point is with the left arm, but I could be wrong on that.

[okla21fan]

the 2014-2015 NFHS softball umpire manual does not mention or show the 'point'.

[MD Longhorn]

I stopped reading your post at "Referee Magazine". Other than the ads at the back, I've never found any use for any of the advice I've read in that magazine, and their rules and mechanics quizzes are more often wrong than right. Sounds like this one's wrong too.

[okla21fan]

I thought the article on Slap Hitters was pretty insightful and helpful.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

I stopped reading your post at "Referee Magazine". Other than the ads at the back, I've never found any use for any of the advice I've read in that magazine, and their rules and mechanics quizzes are more often wrong than right. Sounds like this one's wrong too.

Yeah, I used to post on another forum the mistakes I would find in each edition of the magazine. It made for some lively discussion on how screwed up their expert advice really was. After a while I got tired of reading them. I still get them since I'm a member of NASO, but they usually accumulate in the reading material basket next to the commode until I decide to empty the basket out.

I was just amazed when I saw the PlayPic with what amounts to a hybrid mechanic that is flat-out wrong for FED softball. I kinda wonder if this is a FED baseball mechanic that the writer felt (wrongly) applies equally in softball.

[EsqUmp]

Notwithstanding the fact that it might not be an approved mechanic, do you like the mechanic or see the value in using it?

[xtremeump]

I do like the mechanic, it shows everyone that you saw something. A simple point "That's Obstruction" followed with a DDB Signal ( left arm ) point taken.