NFHS Equipment Checks

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by roadking

Your partner is setting the wrong tone for the game, if he's out there looking for things to call it's going to be a long game for you!

Somewhere along the line, HS softball coaches were told to put equipment outside the dugouts, because that's what's routinely done in our area. I have no idea why, but I suspect it has to do with the following:

- Makes things quicker for the umpires if everything's already laid out
- Keeps some separation between umpires and players/coaches in case there were any issues from previous games
- Some team dugouts are just too small to accommodate umpires trying to check equipment while players are also in the dugout
- There may be things that umpires just don't need to see inside the dugouts (girls adjusting uniforms, etc.)

Purely speculation on my part behind the reason(s). Regardless, it's extremely rare that teams don't but "bats and hats" along the dugout facing. And in situations where the teams haven't done so, a simple request has never been questioned in the past. Almost always, the team just didn't get around to it. This was the first time I've heard a coach question the requirement.

[MD Longhorn]

I've been told both in NFHS and ASA not to do the equipment checks in the dugout - for a variety of reasons. I've never had the situation in the OP presented to me though. I suspect that if they were organized as described and the players were not in there too, I'd have checked them as is --- and then later asked my assignor for a recommendation.

And if someone I assign had asked me a similar question, I'd be asking a level up before responding.

Good question! I'm going to ask a level up now.

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Somewhere along the line, HS softball coaches were told to put equipment outside the dugouts, because that's what's routinely done in our area. I have no idea why, but I suspect it has to do with the following:

- Makes things quicker for the umpires if everything's already laid out
- Keeps some separation between umpires and players/coaches in case there were any issues from previous games
- Some team dugouts are just too small to accommodate umpires trying to check equipment while players are also in the dugout
- There may be things that umpires just don't need to see inside the dugouts (girls adjusting uniforms, etc.)

Purely speculation on my part behind the reason(s). Regardless, it's extremely rare that teams don't but "bats and hats" along the dugout facing. And in situations where the teams haven't done so, a simple request has never been questioned in the past.
{SNIP}
.

That is pretty much true for our area also.
In addition we do not check alone, always 2 umpires.
Anytime any of these procedures is questioned, we are referred to the Jessica Lunsford Act better to be safe than sorry.
Jessica's Law - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[CecilOne]

There is also the suspicion of the other team if we are longer with one than the other. Favoritism is the worst they can say about you. INTEGRITY and Neutrality are our existence.

yes, yes, of course I know the suspicion is unwarranted, the caution about it probably overkill, but the question is about the reason for the policy.

[Crabby_Bob]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Somewhere along the line, HS softball coaches were told to put equipment outside the dugouts, because that's what's routinely done in our area. I have no idea why, but I suspect it has to do with the following:

- Makes things quicker for the umpires if everything's already laid out
- Keeps some separation between umpires and players/coaches in case there were any issues from previous games
- Some team dugouts are just too small to accommodate umpires trying to check equipment while players are also in the dugout
- There may be things that umpires just don't need to see inside the dugouts (girls adjusting uniforms, etc.)

...

Not to mention: - being accused of stealing something.

Who needs that?