JonnyCat

Agreed. I've been know to pontificate about that exact point when discussing rules. Coaches and umpires alike many times say "it's deceiving the runner" when wanting a balk called or when calling a balk. You can deceive the runner all you want. You just have to do it legally.

I use this. It takes a little longer to write the changes, but the penmanship is exquisite!

LL has vacillated on this procedure for years. It also depends on which instructor you talk to. I don't agree with LL's policy on this one. I personally follow Maven's advice of taking it to the coach right away. It's as simple as, "Hey (Skip), you want the results of the play or the penalty?" It will solve a lot of potential problems by being proactive, rather than the coach finding out there was an option and now he thinks the umpire is a Jackass. Taking it to the coach is way better game management. Something LL needs to teach better.

Spot on analysis, Maven! 100%, take the option to the coach.

Too funny!

Is that what Tumpane and Estabrooks are wearing in the pictures? Does anyone know if those helmets are in fact the Rawlings Coolflo base coach helmets? Just curious if there is consensus on this.

When done properly, starting in the normal B position works well. As they taught us in pro school, "starting position is critical." If you're not starting in the right position pre-pitch, and you don't do the proper footwork, then everything else, such as positioning to get the right angles, doesn't work. I find that the MiLB mechanics work very well for the amateur umpire. On the 90' field with R1 only, the BU should start in the "B" position, "50/50" point, midway between the back edge of the pitchers mound and 2B cutout. Also standing on the "tangent", the imaginary line from plate through edge of pitchers mound. (Interestingly enough, in 2015 when I attended MiLB umpire school, they did not refer to BU positioning as "A, B, and C." It was "starting position with no runners on, on the 1B side of the working area, or on the 2B side of the working area." Not sure if that's changed. Lest I digress.) Anyway, to take a steal at 2B, start in the proper position, when you feel a steal, stand up. Then take a drop step with your right foot, but keep your eye on the catcher. As the throw comes from the catcher, turn with the throw and take 2-3 steps towards the right corner of the 2B cutout. Your first drop step is crucial. You don't want to move directly towards 2B. Instead you want to move towards the right corner of the 2B cutout. The first drop step will take you in the direction of where you want to go. You have to open that gate wide to move into the proper position. Too shallow of an initial drop step will take you towards the bag, or even worse, towards the left side of the cutout. I can't emphasize enough the importance of the first drop step. It takes some practice to get a feel for it. I see too many umpires not open the gate enough on the initial drop step, and they end up moving into the wrong position to take the play. Take a wide drop step. Your right foot should be pointing towards the base-path, rather than 2B. After that initial step, you can take 2-3 more steps, and even take a read step at the end to adjust depending on where the tag goes. What I also see with base umpires in the 2 man system, is they often don't start in the proper "B" or "C" positioning. If you're not starting in the correct spot, pre-pitch, then you can't move into the right position to get the proper angles on any play. Anyway, I hope I'm explaining it properly. It does work very well, IMO. No need to start in "deep B" or anywhere else. Start in the proper "B" position and do the right footwork, and it all comes together.

But that would happen no matter what, whether that was a regulation game, or a non-"official" one. In LL, umpires are required to check gear, so they would naturally be the first ones accused of negligence. (One reason why I don't like that requirement to check gear in LL. It's just a CYA for LL and a way to deflect blame unto the umpire). Umpires are subject to liability working any game, but the liability does not change for an "official" game vs a scrimmage game.

Double post

Just because Andy Konyar said it, doesn't make it true. If a team doesn't have enough players for a regulation game, it can now become a practice or scrimmage game, and umpires can work those games without increased liability. There is no more or less liability working an "official" game vs a scrimmage game. It happens all the time across may different organizations. If there was increased liability, then it would stand to reason that those organizations, (LL, PONY, HS) would expressly prohibit working scrimmage, practice, or inter-squad games. Just because LL insurance doesn't cover you, does not mean that liability has increased and rests solely on the shoulders of an umpire. At worst, LL insurance won't cover you if you are injured (and this is debatable because you can work practice games), but your liability if someone should get injured does not increase or decrease. An umpire can be liable for all sorts of things in any game. But that liability doesn't change in a non-"official" game. It is a myth. But if someone can provide me with definitive proof that liability is increased, I will admit I'm wrong. I'll need to see some official (pun intended) statements from some of these organizations, some case law, or some instances of actual litigation.

Yes, that is true. But LL allows you to work practice or scrimmage games with borrowed players without increased liability. Just because the game isn't "official" and can't count in the standings, doesn't mean the kids can't still play, nor does it mean the umpire can't work that game either. The umpire can still work the game, the liability does not increase or decrease.

This is a myth. There is no more or less liability for working an "official" game, versus a practice or scrimmage game. As an umpire, you are free to leave the field or work the game. There is no increased liability for working a "modified" game. Working practice or scrimmage games is done at all levels that I know about and work or have worked, from LL, travel-ball, HS, Low level college summer ball, and D1 inter-squad games. All of those practice or scrimmage games I've worked have modified the rules in some way. In fact, many "official" games I have worked have used modified rules, as well. Am I in danger of increased liability for working those games? I don't know where this myth came from, nor why it continues to be perpetuated. Unless someone can cite me some examples, or case law, of someone getting sued over working a "non- official" game, I'll continue to call it what it is. A myth.

And that is perfectly fine. If it was in the contract, so be it. However, that was not my point. My point was, you can work a game that's not "official" without liability. You can chose to work those games as long as both sides agree it is a practice or scrimmage game. You're not forcing them to play. And odds are, they want to play are are more upset that the umpires walked away with pay and no game. Your contract says not to work games that aren't "official." Fine, but officials can work games that aren't "official" if they want to, in almost any instance. There's no more or less liability in an "official" or "non-official" game.

True, it cannot be an official game and count in the standings. However, it can be a practice or scrimmage game, and you can work that game, collect a check, and not be liable for any injuries. No where does it state in the LL rule book or Operations Manual that scrimmage games are not allowed. Nor does it prohibit umpires from working scrimmage or practice games.

Make your choice all you want, I don't care, do whatever you want. But you are perpetuating a myth. You're not liable because it's not an "official" game. You can work practice games, scrimmage games, pickup games, or whatever game you want. You've entered a contract with whomever to work a game. It doesn't matter if the game is played under the "official" rules of whatever organization. LL, and every other organization let's practice or scrimmage games happen without adhering to the rule-set 100%. It's simply not true that you are liable if someone gets hurt during a "non-official" game. Never in the history of ever has someone been liable for umpiring a "non-official" game. Please cite me some examples to disprove my statement.