CJK

You downvoted me because you conflated a pitched ball with a thrown ball?

You are incorrect. A ball thrown out of play awards all runners two bases, every time. If it's the first play by an infielder (unless, as noted above ALL runners including the BR have already advanced at least one base), then the award is based on the runners' bases last legally touched at the time of the pitch. On all other throws out of play, the award is based on the runners' bases last legally touched at the time the throw was released.

The detached equipment award is for when a fielder "deliberately" throws/uses detached equipment to touch the ball. The word "deliberately" is used every time the detached equipment or thrown glove violation is mentioned. F1 in this video clearly did not "deliberately" throw or use detached equipment. Play on.

Same in all softball codes. As a funny aside, I had a play this weekend with R1, no out, uncaught 3k, and both R1 and BR took off. F2 threw to 1B late, but it didn't matter, BR was already out. OHC came down from the 3B coaches box to make sure she understood who was out and why, so I called time (working solo) to talk to her. While time was out, the runner headed back to 1B. I looked back up, saw her, and sent her to 2B. The defense tried to tag her out as she "re-advanced", and I had to have a new discussion with the DHC why the runner got 2B "for free." Goofy.

I don't think catch/no catch in the infield is reviewable. Replay Review rules

Find somebody to catch for you and go see some pitches in a cage. Ask a local team if you can work a scrimmage or if you can visit a practice and see pitches during side work or a simulated game. Look up a local pitching coach and ask if you can see some pitches during lessons. Whatever you do, though, SEE SOME PITCHES. It's fantastic for your confidence to see pitches in a low-stress environment. Then go to your next game, relax, trust yourself, and do a great job.

Do the stock pads in this Champro need to be replaced?

Not my problem. I'm just here to keep calling your runners out.

But not all the ones you've coached in, right? Because the major girls' fast pitch associations (NCAA, USSSA, USA Softball, NFHS) don't have that requirement.

For the record, this concept applies to any age and in pretty much any part of life, from politics & economics to sports & entertainment to religion & lifestyle. Anybody can find an easy, obvious solution to any problem by considering only one point of view.

Yes. When he retreats past second base, the force play is reinstated.

It's not unfortunate, and it's not bush. It's a good job by the coach of that team to use the rules in whatever way gives his team the best chance to win. There are really only two kinds of teams: the ones that play to win, and the ones that visit the ballpark together so they can get ice cream afterward. Anybody who doesn't like playing against one or the other of those should make their league and tournament choices accordingly.

If you're not going to follow the rules, why would you need an umpire?

This is incorrect. He can slow down. He can stop. He can go back. He can run more than 1 step away from the fielder (because while he's obligated to avoid the fielder, he's not obligated to stay on or near the direct line between the bases, and he's not at risk of being "out of the base path" until the fielder has the ball and attempts a tag). He has lots of options.

That's mainly because Baez didn't stay planted in the way of the sliding runner and let him get a piece of his ankle. Baez got his cleats out of the ground to avoid the runner and protect himself, just like defensive players learned to do for hundreds of years before MLB implemented a beer-league "everybody has to work tomorrow" slide rule.

Getting bonked on the top of your head one time is a pretty good deterrent. Remember that almost all of your protection is on the front of your body parts. Whenever you set up or adjust, do it in a way that only shows the front of your body parts to the ball. Also, wearing a pair of glasses or sunglasses with help a ton. It will protect your eyes from the dust or sand or infield product or drying agent that comes through your mask when the ball is caught in front of your face. Equip yourself well and trust your equipment. That will give you the confidence to focus and relax so you'll feel comfortable staying still.

The standard for obstruction in USSSA is as follows:

I know you didn't write the content, but your link claims that this was "Hernandez at his worst." That's terrible reporting, because this wasn't anywhere close to the worst he's ever been.

Correct. The specific language in the rulebook is "Note: The interference shall be disregarded if the catcher’s throw retires the runner." If the catcher's direct throw retires the runner, there is no interference, the ball remains live, and whatever happens happens.

To expand, if the catcher's direct throw retires the runner, the runner is out and the ball remains live. If the catcher's direct throw does not retire the runner, the ball is dead and all runners return to TOP bases.

I suspect @Rich Ives said this tongue-in-cheek, but high/low is also pretty easy to see from the bases. If you really are hearing it from both sides, sometimes your partner can help put into perspective on whether you're leaking below the knee or above the sternum, or whether the buckets just need to be re-calibrated.

@Senor Azul, thanks for bringing this up. I forget that rulesets range far and wide, and I forget that while baseball and softball have significant overlap in their rules, they're not the same. USSSA fast pitch: "NOTE: Every effort should be made by the Umpire to obtain the correct dimensions. If the base distances or the pitching distance is found to be at the wrong dimensions during the course of the game, the error shall be corrected immediately, with no penalty. The game shall continue and shall not be protested for this reason." NSA fast pitch: "NOTE: If during the course of any game, the base distance or pitching distance is found to be in error, the error should be corrected immediately, and the game should continue. This is not a point to be protested." Once again, I should investigated baseball rulesets before posting, and I did not.

<< fast pitch softball rules >> You were correct to have it fixed immediately. The rules are clear. If you do not fix it immediately, you risk a protest that you will definitely lose. << fast pitch softball rules >>

"Play 6" (cited above by @noumpereand commented on by you) is from the OBR -- Rule 6.03(b)(7) Comment -- and contains the specific text repeated here. I don't see how it could be more clear.

Some other answers, which may apply to these or other questions on your test: R2 is ejected and the ball remains live. Enforce the penalty; the offense has the option to accept the result of the play instead. It's the name of the sled. Don't talk to the fence. This is a live ball appeal and a time play; score the run. Kill the rivet, reposition the shoulder flaps, and secure them with Chicago screws. Not a fumble, according to the Tuck Rule (which has since been repealed). I do not recall. Inform the head coach that his assistant has received a written warning and is restricted to the bench. Resist the urge to offer the assistant a binky. 42.