LRZ

Where is the "vicinity" principle in OBR? The rulebook, manual or interpretation? Is it an inference drawn from 5.06(c)(5), about uncaught foul balls? I'm not disputing this, just asking for a citation.

I would start with the definitions. Get them down, as they provide the base for the rules and interpretations.

Please get your attribution correct. This was not my question, but someone else's, to which I replied, "I never ask for help just to appease a coach. NEVER. Coaches have to learn when it's appropriate for us to ask for help and when not. Appeasement does not teach this lesson."

This line usually works to break up the mound visit: "Candlesticks always make a nice wedding gift."

I am familiar with Bucks and Montgomery counties, but if York is anything like them, there is indeed a need caused by not enough umpires and an aging crew, at that. If York is similar to Bucks/Montgomery, school ball is a weekday/afternoon affair, so your work schedule would be an obstacle. But you might consider umpiring summertime junior American Legion, which, again assuming it's the same, involves evenings and weekends.

Will you be getting PIAA-certified?

Because you might not match your partner, if one of you is swarthy and the other fair.

Sorry, Sam, I don't do surveys or polls, but I offer the following, so you don't re-invent the proverbial wheel: https://umpire-empire.com/topic/73998-how-to-use-plate-pro-umpire-shirt-stays/?tab=comments#comment-378463 https://umpire-empire.com/topic/70630-official-2-minute-review-neat-tucks-active-thigh-wrap-shirt-holder-stays-with-locking-clamps/?tab=comments#comment-350964 https://umpire-empire.com/topic/69313-best-band-to-keep-your-shirt-tucked-in/?tab=comments#comment-340543 https://umpire-empire.com/topic/61996-keeping-shirt-tucked-in/page/2/?tab=comments#comment-365703

Does this help? https://zoom.us/pricing

This is the most important advice. Otherwise, you hear people eating, dogs barking, kids talking, all kinds of distracting noises. It's helpful if the program allows the host to mute everyone, with participants having to unmute themselves individually.

My soccer chapter used GoToMeeting and my basketball chapter uses Zoom; no problems with either one. Neither a password nor admittance by the host (I think) was required: we are sent an email with a link, which, when clicked on, gets you in. Correction: no password required, but we are admitted by the host. In addition, when you open Zoom's chat feature, it obscures much of the full screen. If someone is presenting and screen-sharing, the chat window will prevent you from seeing all of the screen.

I'm not concerned about half-innings, but about a score reverting back, where, for example, the visitors go ahead in the top of an inning, then see their lead erased because the home team can't complete their at-bats. "Far better" is a matter of opinion. I'm not discrediting your approach, but I've never had any problem with mine. A classic YMMV: do what works for you.

There is no single, simple, right answer. Reasonable folks can disagree, Matt, as we do here. In any scenario, there is potential risk. I'm talking about situations where darkness is imminent--like obscenity, we know that moment when we see it, right? Eg, HT up by 1, with VT coming to bat; VT scores 2; will there be enough daylight for HT to come to bat and score 3 runs? If you have to stop the inning before HT scores 2, the VT will be unhappy. If the game continues and it really gets dangerous to play because of the dark, and the HTS scores because of VT miscues, the VT will be unhappy that they couldn't see well enough. How about if VT scores 6 times, and you know, without a doubt, that there is not enough time for HT to score 7 runs, then what? To me, there is no easy solution. It's situational, essentially a combination of issues like how big is the lead, when is sunset, how well the remaining light illuminates the field, and the age of the players (safety).

It's not exactly an answer to the OP, but don't start an inning that you probably can't finish. That is, exercise your judgment and discretion in the circumstances. Let's say the home team is ahead by three, the visitors are coming to bat, and daylight is fading. If the visitors score four (or more), it would likely to be too dark to play the bottom of the inning, and the score would revert back. So why start the inning in the first place? Like so many things we umpires do, someone will be unhappy, whatever we decide.

Agreed. The problem, if there is one, is not the fan, but the conduct of the home team. A fan/parent calling out the other team to display good sportsmanship? Not a problem in my book. "You gonna just keep letting them run coach?" A couple minutes go by with another pass ball and same voice says something along the lines of "Have some class, tell your guys to stop running." The parent was not "ragging on" you but addressing the opposing coach. If it does get personal--"Hey, blue, do something."--that's a different story. HokieUmp offered good advice about talking to the home team coach in a calm, positive way.

How does Hernandez, who I think is unfairly maligned, come in third in both the Most Improved and Most Disappointing Season? Seems odd.

If the BU felt, for whatever reason, he had a bad look or was blocked, he could have come to you immediately. He did not, so we can assume either (1) he felt comfortable with his call, or (2) he was not sure, "out" was his default call, and he would have welcomed a challenge so he could go to you. I agree with Mike and Jeff, but I would add that there are ways to "invite" your partner to ask for your help. Some people pre-game a confidential signal to indicate, "Hey, I've got some information, if you ask." When a situation arises, you look at your partner to establish eye contact, so he can see your signal. If he does, he either acts on it or not--his call, his decision. But if no one--a coach, player, your partner--challenges the call, maybe he got it right and you were mistaken.

Jimurray, there is a "Common Acronyms" sub-forum in the Free For All forum: https://umpire-empire.com/topic/4391-common-acronyms/

If we assume the PU punched out the batter ("Batter is called out on strikes"), the OC must have, should have also known the batter was out, yet let him come to bat again. Matt, remember the term "equitable estoppel"?

I never ask for help just to appease a coach. NEVER. Coaches have to learn when it's appropriate for us to ask for help and when not. Appeasement does not teach this lesson.

At one point in my life, I had to know three sets of soccer rules (NFHS, NISOA and FIFA), two sets of baseball rules (NFHS and MLB), and one set of basketball rules (NFHS). "Where am I today? What day is it?"

At the MLB level, I often wondered why a pitcher or catcher would ask for the new ball, as I couldn't see Gaylord Perry or Joe Niekro ever giving up that edge intentionally. My guess--and it's just a guess--is that modern-day pitchers don't know how to throw a doctored ball, so they don't want to risk a wild pitch.

HS basketball and soccer. Each has its challenges, particularly about where to draw the line for permissible contact, and coverage of off-the-ball play by "outnumbered" officials. Both sports require a lot of running and physical conditioning, but we here are faced with an aging officiating population, too many officials hanging on, and good, younger officials moving into the college ranks. Imo, you can work baseball decently (angle over proximity) past your prime, when you should have long retired from basketball and soccer. But if everyone who should retire did so, we would not have enough officials to cover our schedules.

In the Free For All forum, there is a thread called Common Acronyms: https://umpire-empire.com/topic/4391-common-acronyms/

"TSSAA has always granted exceptions to any student that wishes to participate with head wear, or other articles of clothing, due to religious reasons. The rule book states that an exception may be granted if requested by the administration of the school to the state association." I've never understood the point of a perfunctory, pro forma requirement: (1) if the school requests it; (2) the state grants it. If requests are always granted, why make students/teams/schools jump through this additional--and unnecessary--hoop?