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Maybe he's worked with 250 partners because nobody will work with him twice.

If I'm getting my plate brush out, unless there are no runners on, I will call time 100% of the time. As soon as I grab my plate brush, and start walking out in front of home plate, I'll throw my hands up and call time. It takes no extra time to do this, and prevents any possible shenanigans. I can't understand why we even have people against calling time in this situation. It does no harm what-so-ever, and can prevent a SH*#storm. I'm not opposed to someone not calling time, I'm just opposed to those saying you should not ever call time to brush off the plate.

I wrote this about 6 weeks ago for catharsis. I wasn't sure about posting it, but what the heck. I've been at this umpiring thing for 25 years. I have seen a lot of baseball and a lot of partners. Yesterday was a whole new experience for me. Yesterday (Friday) actually started out on Thursday when I texted a new-to-me partner with my introduction, when I would be arriving and "Bring black!" because I like wearing black. About five hours later I received a message from my partner referencing his military career as a captain in the US Navy and that he only takes orders from superior officers, his assignors, and his wife. He has worked with 250+ partners and I was only the third person who presumed to be above his station because I was assigned as the plate umpire in a children's baseball game. When we met prior to the game I mentioned that my text was not intended to be an order as a way to break the tension, which was followed up with him advising my that he had been to 3 umpire schools, umpired in the Armed Service League, and he worked with 250+ partners (again). He said he never really understood the whole hand signaling thing, so we went through the typical pregame discussion about coverages, rotations, and hand signals. During the game he did things that suggested that he really didn't have a good understanding of proper positioning, communication, or, for that matter, how high school baseball was played on the field and off the field. As an example, when the bases were loaded and the infield was in with less than two outs, he was in on the outfield grass Little League C. A couple of times during the game I offered a suggestion and was summarily ignored. In about the 5th inning he said that the home team was acting unsportsmanlike because they would occasionally make some noise as F1 was delivering a pitch. If it was that bad, I said, I would have put an end to it. I told him that I didn't think it warranted any intervention and he once again referenced his credentials and how I had nerve to presume that I knew better than he did. (in retrospect, if he thought it so egregious he should have squashed it) The game went into the 9th tied up at 2-2. The visiting team got a couple of runners on and became loud, especially since their JV team joined them (their game had ended already). They began to do things to distract F1 as he would deliver a pitch and I told them to knock it off. Visiting team scores five in the top of the ninth. Between the top and the bottom halves of the inning my partner came in to tell me I should have done something sooner. Home team goes quietly in the bottom half. Game over. As I am handing baseballs back to HTHC and shaking the hand of VTHC, my partner approaches VTHC and advises him that he will be sending a report to the state organization about the other team's behavior. The coach is confused and says there is no need to do that and my partner insists that there is. As we begin to exit the field, my partner tells me that I was played by the HT and I should be embarrassed. He tells me that he will be reporting me to the state as well and I stop walking with him. I then tell him to get my name correct and I spell it out for him. As I walk to my car I have a lovely conversation with one of the parents for the home team about the game, his son, and how beautiful a day it was. When we are at our cars I said that he seemed to take offense very easily and that for someone who went to 3 umpire schools he was out of position a lot, didn't communicate at all, and seemed entirely overmatched in a midlevel HS game. He then asked me if I wanted to settle this like men. I asked him if he was challenging me to a fight. He asked me the same question and reiterated that he would be sending a report to the state. I told him to go ahead and to make sure he sent me a copy as well. He said he wouldn't, I called him a punk, and he drove off. Anyone who knows me will probably tell you that I am fairly low key and there isn't much that gets me all revved up. This guy did it because he was, as my eldest son would say, aggressively stupid. Not only that, he was not good as an umpire. He struck me as the kind of guy who has to hold the upper hand in every relationship he has. I spoke to my assignor about the pregame text, the in game performance, and the post game antics. Apparently this is not the first time this has happened. This person is only the second person I have asked to never work with again. All of my umpire friends will know what to expect should this name appear on their schedules. Thanks for the therapy!

Courtesy of everyone's favorite gear hound and all around great influence here @MadMax, @Richvee and I had the chance to meet up with @cgroom and his crew before last night's Frontier League game here in NJ. The guys could not have been nicer and we had a great conversation about a whole bunch of things . Their work on the field was a joy to watch as it was a demonstration of how the three man system is actually supposed to work. There may have been one slip up, but nothing like I have seen recently, like when I as PU had to cover 2B because U1 was acting like a ticket holder as the BR was steaming around 1B as the ball and U3 (that being Richvee) were in left field. Many thanks to both Max and Caleb for putting us in contact with each other and hopefully we will be able to see them or anyone else on this forum if they come through Northern NJ for their assignents

I’ve known Kevin a long time. He’s one the most cerebral, even keeled, personable people you’ll ever meet. To know him makes this story even more mind blowing. To hear him tell the story is even better.

It’s highly likely that I can call an ABS zone a lot easier than they can pitch to one. Be very careful about what you want. You might just get it.

I was a catcher. Can confirm. I am an umpire. Can confirm. I have daughters who played softball (and umpired softball) . . . BIG CONFIRM. I was always told it was to make sure you are staying close to the play, not heading towards the line for nachos. Regardless of reason, don't put your hands on anybody.

And here's a thought. When you do brush the plate, do it with enthusiasm. I've seen some guys dust the plate and they look tired when doing it. And, what about kicking off dust with your shoe? My guideline was, if i could clean it with no more than two sweeps of my foot, OK. Otherwise, I use my brush

You’re now dining at the very table I frequent – Context & Imperatives. If/when an umpire calls Time, at the close of the play, I (as a developer / trainer / etc.) immediately identify the context. I would exhaust you guys with the different scenarios and contexts that we collectively encounter, so to your point – absolute imperatives serve no benefit to anyone. However, what I do not want to see is an umpire – especially a PU – call Time as a crutch to get back to / goto next position, or to perform some frivolous, tertiary-level “duty”… such as (directing to) moving a batting weight, retrieving a loose baseball, being brought spare baseballs, ushering a player back into the dugout… or brushing the plate because some fence-fans are sqwaking about it. Instead, what we should be doing is keeping the ball Live as much as possible, and conjoining tertiary-level duties to instances when the ball becomes Dead. HBP, Foul-ball that takes fielders out of position, Home-Run (over the fence), Runner requests Time to discard equipment, Runner or Fielder requests Time to tie their shoe 🤨… these are perfect instances to then perform one or several of those tertiary duties… Including brush the plate!

As always, context matters. Age, game type, etc. are all factors to consider. Remember, back 2(?) seasons ago, when a MLB batter got Ejected for tapping the helmet w/o ABS Challenge being implemented in MLB yet? Where’d he pick that up? Atlantic League (at the time)… which was using ABS on MiLBUs. That batter had just been called up, and he did it out of learned reaction. Is that an excuse? No. Is that an explanation (as to why)? Yes! Should he have been ejected? Yes, he’s a pro – he should know better. But these are amateurs we’re talking about, and kids at that. Adults (eg. Men’s Amateur)? Eject ‘em, absolutely. Kids, though, are morons. I’m going to give the coach(es) an opportunity, albeit brief, to “rescue” and discipline the kid before I dump him. If we look at college ball, for example, I operate in an environment where I have a churning confluence of levels and rules. Not only do I have a hybrid of OBR and NCAA, but I’ve got NAIA and JUCo players playing alongside D-1 talent, who just came from a season / post-season that has video review. We don’t have video review (yet). Am I supposed to dump a Runner because he starts doing “the headphones” when I call him out at 2B? I don’t dispute the warrant; I bristle at the automatic, the imperative – “I (we) must eject you (amateur < adult)”.

How about just saying "call is confirmed. You are out of challenges. Don't do that."

One of my huge pet peeves when I meet a new partner is when their first words are their resume. "Hi, I'm Ed and I'll be your partner today. Nice to meet you." "I've been umpiring for 38 years." "Nice career. What's your name? Or should I call you Blue?" "You may call me Steven. I've started umpiring at 14." Often this same guy is the person you described. Has their own brand of mechanics, isn't in position, makes it about himself. I'm not the best umpire. I never will be. But I try to be in the right position, hustle, and make the calls as I see them. And above all, make it about the game, not about me.

Funny conversation with my son (senior on varsity) and Mrs. Beaker was had a month or so ago. My son was complaining about a strike called on one of his teammates during the regional tournament. "It was at his letters," exclaimed Son. Me being me, I pulled out Ye Olde NFHS Rule Book and read for the edification of Son and The Missus the definition of a strike. Needless to say the conversation ended pretty quickly thereafter.

Yes, but it will be available in another limited color scheme. This is just a render, colors may be slightly different and this is still subject to change.

I’ve just joined your ranks. I’m honored to say I have been hired and begun training with the United States Capitol Police. Though I have a long road ahead of me, I will give it all I’ve got. I guess when I became obsessed with umpiring at age 15, it should’ve been an early warning sign for those around me that I would get into law enforcement 😁. Shout out to all law enforcement and veterans on the site, and wish me luck!🍀

If you get the Fechheimer be sure to keep the wedding ring polished up. A line of suitors generally starts to form near the field exit if you don't have the ring on prominent display.

If you are not currently an MLB umpire, and maybe a big time DI guy who has been around for a long time, don't do it. They're grand fathered in (it used to be common), but it should not be emulated

Catchers HATE this

Obligatory: do NOT do 5-6 games in that kind of weather. Now that you will not listen to that advice . . . 😉 ABSOLUTELY! I started doing this when I lived in Mississippi. I started with a sun shirt, but moved on to the pull on sleeves. I'll say, I never really notice much cooling effect from the evaporation, but keeping the sun off of you makes a world of difference. You might also consider checking out https://thighpro.com/collections/men/products/short-sleeve-mock-neck . (Here is a thread from the man himself: If you don't have lighter weigh pants, get some! Here is a past thread with some other good tips and discussion on dealing with the heat: ! Now, if we could just get a long sleeved umpire shirt made from some of these cooler/cooling fabrics . . .

If the ball is already dead, it is already dead. There is no reason to make any proclamation. If there are no runners on, there is no reason to announce you are about to bend over. If there is a runner anywhere and the ball is in a live (but relaxed) state, CALL TIME. I've told it before, and I'll tell it again (though I am sure the details fade each time). Early in my career and I'm working a double header with a new (but good and experienced) partner. I had plate the first game. During our between game swap out, he asks me "Why do you call time when you go to brush the plate? Everybody knows what is happening." I shrugged and called it a habit. During the second game, he has plate. With play relaxed (LIVE!) and a runner on third, he comes around to clean plate. As he is sweeping the plate off, R3 comes sliding past him. The defense starts squawking (of course). He settles everybody down and comes to me for a quick meeting. The first thing I said was, "That's why I call time." The second was, "I didn't call time. So, unless you did, I have a live ball and a run scoring." Fun!

I rarely call time to clean the plate. Most of the games I work are on HS varsity and JUCO/D3 with partners who are generally attentive and the majority of those games are played on turf so there's no real need to clean the plate in many instances. I have to admit that it irks me to see the reflexive timeout every time a partner cleans the plate. I get that it's no big deal, but I am of the philosophy of keeping the ball in play as much as possible. It's akin to not calling time to throw - toss really - the ball from F6 to F1 after a ball goes to the outfield. I lose no sleep over this and only mention it if my partner asks me for feedback after the game.

I would handle this in a couple of ways depending on the situation. At the first hearing of it, and if it wasn't directed at anyone, just dumb kids talking and loud enough for the stands to hear or if it was inapropriate, I would not issue a warning. I would just say loud enough for everyone to hear something to the effect of "Hey, knock it off with the profanity," or something along those lines. In that situation, if it happens again, I will then say something like "Hey, I already told you to knock it off, if you don't stop, then someone is getting dumped." I will even go as far as telling the coach that If I can't identify the culprit, then I'm going to dump him. But you must be loud and vocal so that everyone knows whats going on and what will happen. Of course you run a risk of a kid doing it in hopes he gets his coach dumped because he's not getting any playing time.😁 If it was egregious from the get go, then I'd either dump the culprit right then and there, or I'd go to the second step as described above right away. The problem with warnings are that you must follow through, otherwise you look weak. If I'm going to issue a warning, I'm very specific about the consequences that will follow. So if it does happen again, and I do dump someone, It's just what I said I'd do. I'm not a fan of umpires saying "that's a warning," and leaving it at that. What does that mean? Double secret probation? I'll warn you again? If I issue a warning, I'm telling right then and there what the consequence will be. I almost never say the word warning. I'll usually say things like "If I hear that or if that happens again, you'll be ejected." That way there are no ambiguities. Now that being said, these situations often have variables, and many ways to handle them. I don't normally have issues with profanity. When I do, I just give them a stern directive to not do that. One of my collegues like to say things like "Hey, if you do XY or Z, by rule, I'll be forced to eject you." That's not a bad tactic, and it works for him. BTW, I've never ejected someone for just profanity, I just tell them not to do that. Unless they call me a F*#Khead, or something like that.😅

The entire amateur baseball ⚾️ (and softball 🥎 ) community needs education on this simple point – any time when a batted ball (liner, pop-fly, fly, et. al.) is caught, the force is off. Thus, any subsequent outs will occur via tags, appeals, or INT by a member of the offense.

I pictured it like the attached, with one exception, the glove is not touching the ground. In this photo the fielder is on his way over the fence and lands in the Boston bullpen but in our OP we have him stopping his momentum and getting back onto the field of play without ever touching the ground in DBT. It is a third world play, which is probably why we won't find definitive answers.

I have a jabstep/jumpturn and a balk. MLBUM: (i) It is legal for a right-handed pitcher to begin a pickoff move to first base by first moving his pivot foot in the direction of third base provided that he makes a legal step toward first base with the non-pivot foot before throwing there and provided that the move is continuous and without interruption. A pitcher who makes such a pickoff move is considered to be in contact with the rubber when he makes his throw to first base.

The defense in your play is appealing that the runner left early. A valid appeal would be tagging either the runner or the base from which he left early, but they must do it before the runner corrects his infraction. Typically, the defense chooses to tag the base and this creates the race to the bag that looks similar to a force play.

I fully believe his "3 umpire schools" were the two mandatory high school association meetings an a cadet on field training day.

This is a time play. Since R3 (the runner on 3rd) scored before R2 (the runner on 2nd) was out on the appeal, the run scores. Even though the base can be tagged to appeal R2 being out for not retouching this is not a Force.

Call more strikes. 😆 Just kidding.

He was shopping for a call. When you put up the "Sorry, We're Closed" sign, he gave up. I call that a win!

I get this look too when I call the actual rule-book strike zone in Varsity baseball. Players look back at you, coaches and parents huff. Why? Because I called a strike above the belt and below the letters? I don't respond to them, but I have found out that you have to swing the bat to hit the ball. If you don't hit strikes, it makes it even harder.

Often times, parts of officiating are not a one size fits all approach. Sometimes you do what you have to do and what works best for your game and situation. I think sometimes we as officials are very stubborn in our ways and reluctant to think of a different approach to certain situations. I do realize that some procedures should be set in stone, but often times there are better ways to handle a situation than the "accepted" norm. I appreciate your thought process on this one. To paraphrase a welder I watch on YouTube, "this is not a how to do it repair video, this is how I did it." 😄 Sometimes the "wrong" approach turns out to be the right one.

Wristwatches were and should be anathema but the current wrist gadgets seem acceptable and I believe I've seen stuff on MLB umps wrists. I was a fill in on an Indy League game a while ago and my crew chief kept asking me the time while we were rubbing up baseballs so I forget to take it off my Casio as we headed out. I'm plate. After the game my partner told me during the game two players asked why I was wearing a watch. He told them I had a hot date that night.

Congrats! Not a LEO here but a first responder. Fire police officer (traffic control at emergencies basically). Stay safe out there!

Congratulations and thank you for serving!

I’m 6’2”, 215lb, and can wear a 44R, but the 44L makes it drape on me properly while wearing the fabulously low-profile DX family of CPs (shameless, shameless plug). My first-ever plate coat was a Fechheimer 46R, and while it did fit me (and the Schutt XV I wore) well, I was… “treading water in it”. In a 44R, with the CP on, the cuffs ride up a bit for my liking, so YMMV. The 44L turned out to be “just right”. If you’re going to a liquidation sale to track one down, or heck – just to determine your size, take your CP along; no shame in that.

With great respect for Mr. Madmax, I don't think it's a ridiculous question at all. I recognize we don't have jurisdiction beyond the fence, but we do have a game management role. I had it in a JV game with very few around in the stands except for a clearly-close-to-the-team parent who was kinda/sorta coaching the players informally doing this right behind a short cramped backstop, so about 3 feet from me and the players. Isolated, rough and ready city field. Two very rough teams, though with excellent, development-oriented coaches. No admin for miles Ridiculous and distracting. Same as relaying signs by someone in the crowd, and I think appropriate to stop. I did address it. Was going to say something to the coach like "Is that a coach over there? If not, please ask your parent to stop signaling the hitter before we continue" and he would have done it, but I opted for the low-key direct approach. Its a neighborhood where there is a LOT of back and forth at the games. "Hey man, do me a favor, can you not call out the catcher position before the pitch?" "hey I"m I'm being polite!" (which come to think of it is a slightly odd response and indicative of someone who may have had similar discussions before) "You are being polite, and I'm not asking you to move. Calling out positions is a little different and its distracting, and I'd appreciate it if you can stop" He grumbled off and I heard the coach ask him what was going on a little later, parent said "yeah, I get it actually." So, it worked. Which I recognize does NOT mean its the right approach. But I think it was right for this game. My other/next step would have been to go to the coach and say I'm going to treat your guy as a coach since I've seen him interacting with you and the team a lot today, and I need you to tell him to stop this, Or I've gotta restrict both of you. Lets not go there. I'll hold the game till he stops, and you go talk to him. Again, this approach felt right and in keeping with the vibe of the day. Have at it.

It’s called a brace hand, and its misuse in amateur baseball is due to naive or uneducated mimicry of Big League umpires, especially “established”, long-tenured ones. To be fair, these mimics are often told to do so by amateur association heads and “trainers” who are of the opinion that the Big League guys are idols whose methods and practices convey credibility and validation. The brace hand is employed by a PU who may not be as nimble as he once was, and is aware and cognizant of how lightning-fast a professional catcher will rise up to snap off a throw and needs that “tactile alarm” of feeling the catcher suddenly shift. Some select MLBUs do it as well because they get exceptionally low in their compressed stance, and need that hand as a gauge. In amateur circles, at all levels (with, perhaps, NCAA D-1 as an exception), the brace hand isn’t needed, and is, as many colleagues mentioned, discouraged and frowned upon.

Fechheimer and it isn't even close but as MadMax said, if you want to make you're own it certainly possible and none on the market are available in a more suitable summer fabric.

Tangent since it came up: There is a longer version covering all 3 bases that I'll try to find in a shareable form but this is great for those plays Plus a real world application

^^^ This. Study the 'wedge' on tag plays. There are 2 wedges on every tag play. Let's see what is known, everywhere, and relate it to that: First, think of yourself getting to 3rd base line extended on a ball coming from the outfield to the plate. You're off the catchers hip, tracking with him, catching the 'back half' of the wedge. The OTHER wedge on this play, is nearly exactly opposite of where you are tracking this play from. It would be up the 3rd base line just a bit. Now, obviously we don't want to be there with a ball coming in from the outfield, but that's the other side of the wedge. It's the 2nd most ideal position. Inside the 'cutout' inside the line just a bit, so you don't get straightlined by the runner. Now flip everything about that play at home plate, and put it at 2nd base. The first, most idea position for U2, is in a 4 man crew, OUTSIDE of the infield, tracking the steal of a runner at 2nd base by essentially being at 2nd baseline extended (I just made that up), the line from 1st to 2nd extended, working off the fielders hip (the one taking the throw from the catcher on a steal). However, in a 2 man, you don't get the luxury of being there. So you take the inside of that B position, to catch the other half of that wedge. If you're in the Deep C, (relate this to a play at the plate), you'd be somewhere like, 6-10 feet up the first base line. Well, that doesn't make any f'ing sense..... So, why on earth would we want to be in Deep C on a steal at 2nd? Flip everything you know about plate positions on plays at the plate, mirror it, apply it to 2nd base, and you'll see it.

Correct placement, but it's the first *PLAY* by the infielder, not the first throw. Doesn't matter in this situation, but it can make a difference.

Advice? This ain't advice. It's an official edict, especially when using the words "mandatory" and "only... acceptable". This reeks of assumed tyranny, justified through a whole bunch of whimsical obfuscation ("in this combination, do it this way, but in this other combination, do it this other way, but if this other component changes, stand on your head... "). I can assure you – MiLBUs don't (over)think this. We teach our guys to set IP in B-deep each time, every time, with a single alteration to "C-deep" if-and-only-if the count goes to 3-2 with 2 outs. And, in all leagues and conferences I've worked, including Arizona High School, we are compelled / obliged to make a check swing appeal, so it doesn't matter a high hill of jalapeños whether U3 is in B-deep or C-deep, or at D, or scaling the fence in left center field... PU allows/makes the appeal, and the U3 gives what he's got (yes/no on swing attempt). (To the guy issuing this edict – ) Stop building paper crutches, and your umpires will be (forced to be) more aware, alert, and focused on their responsibilities, regardless of where they're standing, instead of fretting about where... they're standing.

The correct call is No Call. The BR ran exactly how the Safety Base Rules-makers envisioned. The F2 and F3 both went "outside" and used the orange (safety) base; as a consequence / allowance, the BR must use the opposite, in this case, the white base. Furthermore, the BR was within or on the chalk of the baseline all the way until the last stride, which takes him(?) to the white base... which he has to touch by rule, since F3 is squarely on the orange base. And he didn't even interfere with the (poor) throw from F2, either. Granted, NFHS wrote into the(ir) rules that F2 doesn't have to throw to 1B to enact RLI being called on the BR, because TPTB don't want to have throws deliberately aimed at the BR's body, but even if NFHS is applicable here, on this play/game, it's not warranted on this play, since the BR, again, is not outside the lane until the last stride. The PU shouldn't call RLI in the first place. That "fixes" it right there. Otherwise, I don't see any other umpires on that field that could refute the call. Either this PU is working solo, or the BU is at C; in either case, the BU is in no position to contribute any information on this, other than perhaps a cursory consultation of rules knowledge. Furthermore, I can tell from body language and conduction alone – this PU was dead-set-convinced on calling RLI. Consulting other umpires on the crew (when they're present) ain't gonna change much, if at all. What's needed is a PU who knows these applicable rules better / more effectively, and can interpret them properly. To run exactly how this BR ran. This particular PU booted it. If you're going to explain anything to kids, it's "don't swing at a pitch that's in the other batter's box". He shouldn't have been called Out. Simple. Do nothing different – other than the aforementioned "don't swing at pitches that grossly outside". Carry on.

This might change your mind. 2009 Interps SITUATION 15: With runners at first and second and one out, the batter hits a bounding ball to left field. The runner from second touches third and is obstructed advancing to home. The obstructed runner then interferes with the catcher attempting to make a play on the runner from first advancing to third base. RULING: The penalties are enforced in the order in which the infractions occurred. The runner advancing from second is awarded home. Following the enforcement for the obstruction, the interference is penalized. The runner from first is declared out and the batter-runner is returned to the base he legally occupied at the time of the interference. Had the interference been malicious in nature, the obstructed runner would be declared out in addition to the out on the runner from first. (2-22-1, 2-21-1a, 3-3-1n Penalty, 8-4-2e, 8-4-2g)

I might have a problem... I've spent a lot of time tinkering with all of these CP's. I had a few days of free time trying to clean up the house and discovered I had a large surplus of parts from past projects that never came to fruition. So I spent the last couple days finishing all of those projects I've had going on. I don't have time at the moment but I'd like to offer some break downs on all of these and what changes I made. For now I'll offer a quick breakdown. Starting at the top is the newest addition and the only stock CP I have in my collection. The GD Enduro. Below the GD, leaning on the back of the couch, are my two +POS Cobra V1's with reconfigured shoulders. To the left (on top of the chaise portion of the couch are my 3 F3 V1 frankensteins. 1 of the is a full plate swap from the retired WV Charcoal. The other two use the chest plates from an ADAM XV an some hodgepogded shoulder pauldrons. Back to the middle, on the seat of the couch are my 3 retrofits. On the left is another WV Charcoal. On the right is a Small WV gold. These two were retrofitted by Ump Guard. In the middle is my Team Wendy retrofitted Riddell Power. Down at the bottom propped against the front of the couch are my 3 Adams/WV gold frankenstiens. Not sure what to do with all of these long-term. I'll probably be posting a handful of them for sale. It's just going to be a matter of which ones. Before listing anything for sale I would like to do some more detailed breakdowns of all of them with pictures showing what they all look like in full gear.

There are still coaches who believe they "call" time, rather than "request" time. And then by extension, players and parents. This needs to be better trained at all levels/opportunities: Any national/state/provincial certified coach training curriculum The season-beginning coach/league meeting Listed in the league bi-laws somewhere before ejection penalties Listed in the tournament rules somewhere before mercy limits and tiebreaker scenarios Part of the "code of conduct" document given to parents and players Hung on the backstop of every ball diamond ever constructed in perpetuity If you can't stand up without taking your hand/foot off a base or can't throw the ball 15 feet without missing by ten feet, your coach sucks.

My qualified opinion is that instead of implementing an elaborate ABS challenge & imaging system, there’s something far, far more fundamental that will change everything in the college game, and push it more towards the Minor Leagues, which is ultimately what all TPTB in MLB want. This one thing will change hitting, it’ll change pitching, it will emphasize fielding, it will make scoring more collaborative and competitive. No need for expensive, calibrated technology that is, or can feasibly be, implemented selectively. Guess what it is? Wood bats, or at least wood composite. #EndMetalAlready

Under Objectives of the Game (OBR Rule 1): 1.02 The offensive team’s objective is to have its batter become a runner, and its runners advance. 1.03 The defensive team’s objective is to prevent offensive players from becoming runners, and to prevent their advance around the bases. Getting the umpires to help you fulfill one of the objects of the game is a no-no and umpires should not succumb to it. Stop them yourself. Younger ages have rules in place to account for differences from the adult game. One of them is no leading off on 60 foot basepaths (or stealing would be pretty much a non-competitive play). There is no reason for an umpire to call time for the defense to stop runners when the rules proscribe a specific way to do it. This problem takes care of itself as the kids get older. Play on larger diamonds makes it a much riskier play for the offense to test the defense in close quarters.

There are 3 essential components to the equation to solve this problem; we (umpires) have control over 2 of them. The third is under the control of gentlemen like @beerguy55 and @Coach Carl, but I concede, it is highly variable. The first element, and most immediate and direct, is to not call Time. Stop. Deny (the request, the urge, the temptation, etc.). Resist. Hold fast. Stick to it. Respond to the “requests” with: “No.” ”Nope” ”(You) don’t need it.” ”Nah” ”No need” ”Noppity noppity nooooo.” In 94% of cases, our granting of Time is a concession, not a compulsion. In the professional game, the protocol – note, not codified rule – is to call Time, not only to change the baseball (cuz they gots plenty), but because the slightest twitch can result in an Out or an Advanced base, “needlessly”. That’s not part of the “professional game”. This isn’t the case of amateurs, especially of single-digit-age tots. They should be able to throw a ball 10-15 feet, they should be able to catch said ball, they should be able to get themselves up to their feet from a on-butt or on-knees position, and if you say, “but they’re still learning!”, then I’ll immediately counter with, “And experience is the best way to learn!” The second element is we need Tournament Directors / Site Supervisors / League Admin who will reinforce us and this perspective, rather than kowtow to the bleating, “outraged” coaches, and sabotage us. Games are snappier, with more action, and more experiential learning, than being halted every. two. seconds. because. we. need. time. called. to. give. two. thousand. frenzied. signs. to. an. infield. who. doesn’t. know. exactly. what. to. “do”. anyway. Coach, you and I, and everyone here know it’s going to be R2-&-R3 in one pitch, regardless of if you have “a play” on or not. Heck, it’ll likely be R2, with a run scored cuz that pitch… vooooop! <clink> … just went over my head clean to the backstop. Didn’t have that play “on”, didja? But truly, we need TDs and admins to hold the line, and reply, “That’s the way it is.”, not with, “I’ll talk to him (the umpire)”, or, “Yeah, he’s a stickler about that.”, or, “He won’t be doing your games in the future.” Those replies tolerate and coddle those coaches. Which attribute directly to the third element… Which is, coaches must stop coaching this (the granting of time) as an entitlement, an expectation, and as a counter-tactic (to aggressive base running). It is not benefitting their charges (kids), nor is it benefitting the game.