AJtheUMP

Thats all that I could come up with also. So you think this is justifiable by that rule?

^^^^ not true!! My advice is to use it like a beer bong! plug the holes with your fingers, then hold it above your head, remove fingers and enjoy! its like one of those punch fountains at weddings, but portable!

Hell I'd even say the $8 one from Walmart is better then nothing! I use one I got at academy and it has saved me many times including uncaught fastballs straight in. But my next gear purchase will be the nutty buddy as much for comforts sake as anything, according to all I've read on U-E.

What if the game is not a blow out. What if it is happening in the championship game of a tourny (other then FED) and the catcher and/or myself is getting hit bad enough that one of us could sustain a season ending injury? By the rules I cant get an out or really penalize it in any way. But I dont want to allow it to continue. What are my options? Honest question!

I hit 100! this will be 101! Many useless comments on awesome threads! I have learned a lot already!

Hey, at least the coaches had a clue! Where I call they probably wouldn't have noticed. And as far as telling the catcher to give you some time..... ha! Matter of fact I took an uncaught one off my left hand the other night (didn't hurt too bad as my hands were on the side of my knee and just got knocked down). It was a RH batter and my nose was on the inside corner and the coach was griping and wanting a strike!?!

I use some under armor shoes that are actually running shoes. But I also wanted a pair because there is a very good chance I will be coaching HS baseball next year. But we are Blue so red is the only color that wouldn't work, unfortunately.

Does anyone have these? Are they good? This seems like a great deal! Edit: They only have my size in red. too bad.

At the crack of the bat I wouldn't consider F3 to be in the act of fielding. So I have nothing. Maybe on a fast grounder but not on a ball that qualifies for the IFF. Edit: And if hes not fielding then I guess he is obstructing, but it depends alot on what happens. HTBT for the crack of the bat Sitch.

That is why i pregame with my partner. Make sure everyone understands fair/foul responsibility. But if it did happen we would have to get together. One of us would have had to call it prematurely. Thats why I dont call a close ball (or point) until it stops moving or is touched (or goes past the bag). I have seen baseballs do some crazy things with regard to bouncing, backspin and things like that.

Good catch sir.

"IFF batter is out!" ........ "I have interference, runner is out!" easiest double play the defense ever got.

I have one team who will let the pitcher or catcher walk them back, then when they pull up to throw it to F1 or he turns and goes to the mound. They take off a few steps again only to keep repeating it. It doesnt bother me up to a point. At this age the defense needs to learn to not turn their back and to be on their toes. At the same time once it happens 5 or 6 times im calling "Time". Its obvious hes not going to steal, hes just delaying the game.

I would have said "yes he does" but I would have to let the coach give instructions. If he doesn't know then they get no appeal, period. No one can complain if I DONT coach the players... but if you do it may lead to an EJ that you brought about. You have to be very careful with this.

Can you please find a rule citation for this? Nope, cause we (myself and you) both know its not there. Thats just how he does it. I have discussed it with him and am waiting on the day he gets a protest.

I have never had a situation where I would need to do anything other then ask the coach to address it for safety. They usually are just excited and when something is said to them they will do their best to stop. I dont like that my partner gives outs or ejections. I understand why he does it, but the kid hit the ball, I dont want to penalize him for that. Besides, as has been pointed out we have to call by the rules. take my "I dont want to award" to mean "My personal preference is to not award", meaning I dont give outs or ejections. Aren't almost all local rules written by fools? Or is that what you ment? lol. This is a very enlightening conversation for me.

As an addition after reading dumbs comment, I will hold the coach responsible and possibly restrict him if it continues. These are really HTBT situations. I dont want to award an out or even an ejection, but part of my plate meeting is about safety. And to me that is the most important thing, especially at the rec ball level.

My partner gives warnings and then calls them out the next time. (it has never come to that). I dont say anything unless it interferes, but if it keeps happening and is extreme enough then Ill ask the coach to talk to the kids about it. I make it clear that my concern with it is the safety of the catchers, I figure Ill live through a bruise or two myself. I probably used to get excited when I got a good hit and laid down my bat a little "aggressively" too.

UK3 doesnt start until the bases open. There may well be a local rule that negates the IFF. but I dont think its likely. I would ask the league to give me some kind of formal notification. Not just a he said she said situation. Weather its written or not I like it to be formal. the president, or even an assigner to say "yes or no, we do or do not use the IFF rule" Just so I have that to fall back on in a game. No prblem! I am not an expert by any means, but I will always try to help!

All of the Texas dixie I've ever called has 6 (7 at older ages). I dont know why a local league would shorten it, most set a time limit. IFF starts at 10U. Thats part of my partners plate meeting. "do we all understand the in field fly rule?" (I guess Im not nice enough to ask). Most of their eyes get glassy and they just nod. Unless they give you a written local league amendment or something then just call whats in the rule book. Its better then not calling an IFF and having a coach call you on it. If you call it, they just have to protest or not. And in most cases the rule book supersedes any local rule changes in those situations. So chances are they cant protest anyway. I would find out.

YES. I would agree with them learning the rule..... But they still dont know.

Maybe a feedback option on profiles.

I wasn't even going to give you a hard time if he was a friend. If I know someone well enough I will give them friendly advice. In a nonthreatening way, usually "I saw how you did _____. I usually do it _____. How was your look?" so when they tell me the runner was in the way I can say "Well I usually see it pretty well" But as for it being your son, its our job to give our children unsolicited advice. Early this season I went 3BLX instead of 1BLX and got sight lined by the catcher on a close play and I made the same call (out when he went under the tag.). My long time partner told me I was probably right and he MIGHT have been able to brush the toe of his shoe. But a HS umpire I respect was by the fence and said he missed him. It was a fairly close rivalry game. These things never happen to me on the blowouts.

Defiantly usually an easy night. I will see If I can move up by the plate or maybe even call from by the mound. I feel like "A" distances me from the game, even though there are no runners. I do look at it as an easy time to work on my mechanics, but as we all do I want to be at my best for them!

First off let me say Im not a big fan, but they let me work on my base mechanics and the league president at that field cant find any other umpires around here. (Minus a registered child molester. The parents were not amused.) So I help out. The kids get 5 pitches or 3 swings. I do not vocalize or signal at all I just count and let the coach at the machine know when he gets to 4 pitches or 2 swings. I was at another location and saw the umpire doing the standard point for strikes from A,B,C. Of course he was yelling "Strike 1 (2) (3)" also so I didn't give it much thought. Also my Dixie guy says to work outside the diamond in B and C. This is fine, but I have been moving to regular C when I have a runner at 3rd. Because I would rather have him frown then miss a play at the plate. Am I wrong in any of these situations?