Being Looked Upon as an OOJ

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Manny A

It started during the equipment check. Not one batting helmet had a chin strap, as required by ASA rules. When my partner and I pointed it out, we of course got the, "Well, the other umpires..." whine. Against our better judgment, we let it go and told them they needed to get chin straps for the next day's play.

That is not your call. The is up to the TD, not the umpire

A point of emphasis from the tourney staff was to ruthlessly enforce the rule requiring the batter to maintain one foot in the box. I had mentioned that to the coaches at the plate conference. Sure enough, the first batter for this team walked almost halfway up the third base line after a pitch to look for her coach's sign. I asked her to come back and keep a foot in the box. She did it again, and this time I addressed the coach:

That's were you start calling strikes for the rest of the game.

Why is there always one team that makes things that hard?

Because they don't really know how to play the game and they think they can get away with being asses away from home.

Once had a HS team and their parents that behaved so poorly on and off the field AT DISNEY they were asked to leave and never come back. Turns out the umpire was a friend of mine and gave me a heads up. I held a pre-game with the crew that had their first game back home. The PU warned them there will be no tolerance of........there was a list of about 6 things my friend noted and he covered them all. The coaches and captains stood there with their jaws dropped with a "how the **** did they know about that look" on their face. It was great!

Had the same thing at an Eastern National a few years back with a team from OH. TD couldn't wait to get rid of them.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Quote:
Originally Posted by Manny A View Post
It started during the equipment check. Not one batting helmet had a chin strap, as required by ASA rules. When my partner and I pointed it out, we of course got the, "Well, the other umpires..." whine. Against our better judgment, we let it go and told them they needed to get chin straps for the next day's play.
..............................

That is not your call. The is up to the TD, not the umpire

Even when it is a book rule ??

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

Even when it is a book rule ??

I think Irish's point is that it wasn't our call to tell the coach to go out and find chin straps for the next day.

But I believe it is our call to decide whether or not the current game gets played. We had eight or so batting helmets that were not in compliance with the rules. IMHO, we did have the authority to not play the game until the coach made those helmets compliant.

Now, if the TD got involved and said, "Play the game anyway," I guess that's within his/her purview. I'm curious if a TD would make that decision.

[Crabby_Bob]

Originally Posted by Manny A

I think Irish's point is that it wasn't our call to tell the coach to go out and find chin straps for the next day.

But I believe it is our call to decide whether or not the current game gets played. We had eight or so batting helmets that were not in compliance with the rules. IMHO, we did have the authority to not play the game until the coach made those helmets compliant.

Now, if the TD got involved and said, "Play the game anyway," I guess that's within his/her purview. I'm curious if a TD would make that decision.

Not any I've come across.

How many helmets did you have in compliance?

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by Crabby_Bob

Not any I've come across.

How many helmets did you have in compliance?

Not a one. All of their helmets were missing straps.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Not a one. All of their helmets were missing straps.

I think Irish was saying it's the TD's call to allow the team to play if they weren't in compliance. Not the umpires. "Sir, I cannot let your batters bat without chinstraps unless the TD tells me to waive that rule for you." And only one TD I know around here would have let them play (that one ... anything for a buck, ALWAYS sides with teams, came onto my field once and wouldn't leave and I was the one that got in trouble... I don't work there anymore.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

Even when it is a book rule ??

Where in the rule book does it allow the umpire crew to waive the required equipment?

[IRISHMAFIA]

AFA the ODC is concerned, if the field is that small that room is limited, the ODC should be outside the fence with a team area designation.

And, of course, no one has a problem with alleged "safety" rules, right up until the whining starts because this player said this or called her that or is accused of trying to steal signs or blocking the coach giving signs, yada, yada, yada.....and yes, it DOES happen and I pity the umpire who thinks that once a comment to that effect is made, it will stop with a warning.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

AFA the ODC is concerned, if the field is that small that room is limited, the ODC should be outside the fence with a team area designation.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

And, of course, no one has a problem with alleged "safety" rules, right up until the whining starts because this player said this or called her that or is accused of trying to steal signs or blocking the coach giving signs, yada, yada, yada.....and yes, it DOES happen and I pity the umpire who thinks that once a comment to that effect is made, it will stop with a warning.

Maybe it's the mythical "Minnesota Nice", but we've been using this in girls fastpitch for a number of years in both high school and travel ball from 10U through 18U, and speaking personally, I've had no problems at all in any of the games I've umpired. I still don't like the rule (I think it is pointless and silly), but it has created no problems in my games.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Agreed.

Maybe it's the mythical "Minnesota Nice", but we've been using this in girls fastpitch for a number of years in both high school and travel ball from 10U through 18U, and speaking personally, I've had no problems at all in any of the games I've umpired. I still don't like the rule (I think it is pointless and silly), but it has created no problems in my games.

It doesn't matter to me. Just tell me what you want so I can tell my girls which side they have to go to.

BTW, I am enjoying sitting on a bucket outside the dugout, though, knowing I would never allow such a thing when I'm umpiring. I always wait till the other coach does it first.

[KCRC]

Originally Posted by Rich

BTW, I am enjoying sitting on a bucket outside the dugout, though, knowing I would never allow such a thing when I'm umpiring. I always wait till the other coach does it first.

This made me laugh as I remembered an incident from earlier this summer. I'm coaching 1st base in my daughter's 8U coach-pitch game. The opposing team coach is sitting on a bucket outside of the dugout when one of our players comes to bat without proper equipment. He immediately starts complaining to the PU to make the girl get a new helmet. He looks at me and says, "I'm sorry, but rules are rules." I just smiled and nodded and waited as our batter swapped helmets with a friend. Ahhh, the irony.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Where in the rule book does it allow the umpire crew to waive the required equipment?

Nowhere, I was questioning your comment that the TD could overrule a book rule.

"That is not your call. The is up to the TD, not the umpire"

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

Nowhere, I was questioning your comment that the TD could overrule a book rule.

"That is not your call. The is up to the TD, not the umpire"

The TD has the authority to do whatever necessary to complete the tournament. I think it is ridiculous that they can, but my point actually was the umpire CANNOT.

BTW, this is routine in your area when it came to state tournaments whether it was a uniform or ball or double-base or chin straps or whatever.