upnorth928

My regular season is over. But, I may have a shot at a spot in the 9-10 LL State Tourney next month! If I don't get that opp, I'll be there watching and learning anyway. Thanks to everyone at UE, I learned tons on this site and am a better umpire today than when I started. Hopefully, I can pick up some fall ball or travel ball scrimmages over the late summer and fall to keep improving my skills, then back at it next year. Another umpire who was working the same complex asked me if I wanted to start going to their, I'm assuming association, meetings after the season wraps up and start doing HS with them next year. I'm not sure if my work schedule will allow me to do early afternoon games but I'm going to go to the meeting anyway. There will be something to learn from these guys, I'm sure.

It's only a piece of gum off!

As another FNG, I say welcome to the jungle!

LL Majors softball. Starting bottom 4 HT had a 6 run lead. I confirmed with HT scorekeeper while the VT was warming up. Bang, bang; first two players out. I'm PU thinking 'oh geeze, their going to make me stay here for another inning'. Next hitter gets on, error, circus music, score, repeat. The HT keeps hitting the ball and now I'm thinking is 'score 4 and it's mercy rule time'. R1, R2, R2 two out. The batter gets in the box and I notice that it is a girl who had already hit in the inning, I couldn't remember when she came up, just that she had hit this inning. I started doing the math in my head and was sure at least 4 runs had scored. Count goes to 3-1 then the HT scorekeeper hollers "That's game Blue. We're up by 11". I call "ball game" and leave the field with a batter at the plate. As I was walking off I was thinking if this was the right thing to do. I told myself that if I would have allowed the game to continue after I knew it was over by way of mercy rule then if someone was injured I would have created a real mess for the league. I have two questions: 1) Should I have asked for the score, during the inning, when I thought it may be a 10 run lead? 2) Should I have let the batter complete the at bat before ending the game?

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Outside the dugout? In the stands or sitting on a bucket on the field? In LL the manager and coaches may not be outside of the dugout while team is on defense. They may coach bases when team is batting, but one adult must remain inside the dugout. The book may be kept in the stands. The book may be kept in the stands. Agreed. As long as the manager/coach doesn't need to reference it because they aren't to leave the dugout or mingle with spectators during the game. Correct? Good question. As long as it is not the tournament the manager/coach is okay to confer with the book in the stands.

Outside the dugout? In the stands or sitting on a bucket on the field? In LL the manager and coaches may not be outside of the dugout while team is on defense. They may coach bases when team is batting, but one adult must remain inside the dugout. The book may be kept in the stands.

Thanks for the proper rule # Catman.

LL (softball) is 1.11 (a)(3) not sure if BB is same number: ..."a pitcher man not wear any items on his/her hands, wrists or arms which may be distracting to the batter." I actually used this on last night with a pitcher that had yellow, same color as the ball, on her batting glove under her leather.

I wouldn't be helping, or working anymore games with, "Richard Cranium". Who needs enemy's if this is a friend?

That is interesting. Instead of making them come to you, you go to them. Thanks Dannytheman, this could be the better way to do it.

I've only been using this site for a couple of weeks but I'm already addicted! The knowledge base here is amazing and I appreciate those with more experience sharing their experiences with us 'newbies'. The atmosphere is respectful with a good amount of well meaning mocking at appropriate times. Yes, I'm an addict!

Educating the coaches would really help to speed up the game and lessen arguments or stupid questions. One would need support of the league to do this. I've read on this site that many leagues hold a rules clinic hosted by the UIC prior to the season. I'm going to suggest this to our league before we start playing next year. The league would have to make it mandatory for coaches to attend or else the event won't have teeth.

I'm not a fan of leagues making rules outside of what is covered, in great detail, in the rule book.... I agree with what Stan W has to say regarding rules and a motion for next year. The OP said "In my game last night", were you a coach on one of the teams or the PU/BU? What do you mean by "my game"?

Good toss! Exactly!

I wish I had a moving story as to why. Here's my why: I umpire LL Softball . IMHO the girls playing the game deserve much umpires that what they have had. Simple as that. Case in point; last night at my daughters Jr Division game. BU looks good; uniform, creased slacks, cap etc. No problem with this umpire. PU ump shows up a few minutes late and in sweat pants and a t-shirt. She has no idea of the rule book i.e. dropped K3, slide or avoid rule, ball hits dirt then hits batter....you guessed it no HBP. Basic LL rule book mythology applied in many situations. This wasn't a volunteer, she was compensated to do this job. Yes, it is LL. Yes, it is daddy-ball. But these girls who are trying to learn and play a game, and have fun, should have umpires who may not know it 'all' but take pride in umpiring.

Thanks all. I really appreciate this site!

Hi, I'm Stan. Fairly new to umpiring and new to this site. I will be doing LL fastpitch & baseball this year. The cool thing is that I'll be working with my 13 year old daughter. Our local league is in drastic need of umpires for the younger (12 and down) girls and my daughter thought that she would help her league and make a few extra dollars. The only way I will let her do this is if I work with her during her first few games and she learns proper mechanics and positioning when she is BU. She and I are using this site, along with the manual, and attending games to watch the more experienced umpires to help her learn proper mechanics. She's doing a pretty good job so far and I'm having a ball spending time with my little girl.