aaluck

Allstar system 7 is another great option. I have both and prefer the allstar, in fact gave the WV to my son, 16, that started umping. The fit/design is completely different. The AS basically “hooks” over (sits on top of) the shoulder and the straps just hold it tight to your chest. Very unique design that I find much better to any other design. It allows you to adjust the tightness of the chest as you like without ever pushing the protector up. It never, ever, moves down. It is kind of like shoulder pads that only extend to the shoulder blade Another great innovation is the sternum from the neck to the belly is a channel about 3-4 inches wide and an inch away from the body which allows airflow to help cool off The ease of removing all the pads (Velcro attached) and putting them in the washer is a great option. I also have a second set of pads and can change them out between hot Alabama summer games. The harness of the system 7 is also far superior. The chest protector does not budge regardless of the movement. I don’t think you can go wrong with either but just throwing out a very good option. The only negative I can point out on the AS is if you throw a ball to the pitcher your arm movement is a bit restricted because of the great shoulder protection. BTW I found mine a couple years ago on a year-end clearance for under $100 shipped. Best $ I spent on gear (nutty buddy excluded!!!)

He was tagged out before he reached the bag to which he was forced. Keep it simple. If this happened at 1st on the batter/runner I bet he would have made the right call. Overthinking and not understanding the rules makes for a bad combination.

Nothing here changes what is expected of you.

Again. No should is present. Really? please look at the above in bold and underline. Not to get into a grammar lesson but, the most important thing to remember about colons is that you only use them after statements that are complete sentences. That makes the above two complete sentences that ARE tied together. The should used (and mentioned in your post and others) is completely taken out of context

Not sure why folks are calling this a suggestion.... From the trusty internet dictionary, expected.....to decide that (something) is requisite or necessary; require: the bossexpects us to work late today What is expected of you is clearly stated. If you are told that you are expected to be at the field 30 minutes prior to the game, does that mean you can be there 20 minutes before and you have met the expectations. What if your expected to have a pre-game conference but decide not to have one...was that just a suggestion. If you tell your teenage daughter she is expected to be home by 11 pm is 1 am actually fine. NO Again, I think the action (not having his hand over his heart) in the OP is acceptable as a Marine and a citizen. But I do not believe it is what is expected of him by the association. Would I make a big deal of it..no. If he stands with his hat off and hands behind his back that's fine with me. During the anthem at an all-star game last year I had two coaches (9-10 year-old kids) laughing and cutting up during the whole anthem. After the anthem I went to the dugout and pulled them out and told them the example they set was unacceptable. That was it, I didn't take it any further. I just wanted them to know kids are watching how we adults behave, not only during the anthem, but at all times.

Conduct during playing of the National Anthem: When the flag is displayed, you are expected to face the flag, stand at attention with your right hand over your heart. If you are wearing a hat, the hat should be removed, held in your right hand, and placed near your left shoulder so that your hand is over your heart. If the Flag is not displayed, you should face the music and act in the same manner as if the flag was displayed. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans may render the military salute in the manner provided as if they were in military uniform. This is a clear directive. Not sure what legal action you are afraid of, but here the rules are clear and the conduct of the official is clear. He is in violation of the rules. Good luck to him with legal action--especially in Texas. Than being said, standing with your hat off and hands behind your back doesn't seem like a protest (although against the directive). When not umpiring I often stand with my hands at my side, (hands, not arms) crossed in front of, or behind my body. I was in the Marines and do not believe I am showing any disrespect to the flag in any of these positions. To me hat off, face the flag and don't talk, leave it at that. I find it far more offensive to see coaches laughing with each other during the NA than an umpire in that position.

I would always make a call under this circumstance. If a tag was attempted, obviously it was close enough to give a signal (I'm assuming they weren't 10 feet apart). Why wouldn't you clarify the situation right then? A safe/out signal would have eliminated all confusion. Failure to make a call creates unnecessary confusion that could be completely avoided.

Had to delay for 30 minutes every day. Sun was directly behind pitcher. Catcher, batter and umpire all blind. They finally moved the games on that field after sun went down, only.

Oh boy... not this again....

In youth ball 12 years this stretch, one coach. In high school ball for the past 5 years no coaches, one player. Like others have stated I probably SHOULD have ejected several more coaches. Also, like others have stated in HS ball the penalties are stiff so most coaches will stop once you give them a stern verbal warning, or a written warning. At the youth level I shut it down quickly and if I have a guy that is a known problem I go to the commissioner and let him know. We are very fortunate in that at all 4 parks we cover the commissioners always back us, even when we are not 100% right. In HS I do my absolute best to set a tone of approachability to both coaches, but let them know that I will listen to their "opinion" (expressed calmly), give an explanation (seek help if necessary) and then WE are moving on past that. Sometimes they need a gentle reminder of my "policy", but usually I find they just want to vent at someone for their players bad play that creates most of the problems. Obviously I use ejection as a last resort. I have found that an explanation of what I saw or my rule application usually satisfies most coaches, even if they disagree.

I agree. I have often said they should hand out rule books at the games with paid admission. I long for the days I don't have to hear someone screaming at the top of their lungs at me "it cannot be an infield fly there is no one on 3rd" or "both of his feet were "out of bounds" when he picked the ball up in FAIR territory".

+1. Having a catcher set up inside and a batter on the plate makes things a bit more difficult. I try to get as high as I can over the top of the catchers helmet. At least in this position you can see down at the ball. Trying to get into the slot is pointless as you really cannot see anything.

You might think so (relative) but I really just find this ridiculous at a youth level. I have no problem with a IBB in a year end tournament (still not over 700% of the time) or All-stars. But the OP claims this kid has been walked 5 times in 7 at bats in the FIRST 2 games of the regular season. I struggle with that at a youth level. Apparently its just me and the OP, but my kid, and those I coached, would be irate if I didn't give him a chance to pitch to the "best" hitter. If he clears the fence by 100 feet I'll tip my cap.

Look... My experience is no better than anyone else and I have no issue with walking Barry Bonds or Josh Hamilton, they are professional baseball players, being paid to play and the managers are being paid to win, and get fired if they don't. But I don't understand what that has to do with youth baseball. My only point is this is YOUTH baseball, kids are not paid, nor are the managers, so far as our area anyway. I simply believe that youth baseball is to develop skills. No skills are developed by walking a kid 714% of his at bats--not for the pitchers, batter or fielders. Also, lets not take ourselves too seriously. Individual match-ups? At 11 years old? I really, really, want to come watch youth baseball in your area. I'd imagine its hard to find a seat with all of the pro scouts in attendance, hinged on the individual match-up of two 11 year olds. Holy cow!

Actually yes, about 20 years of coaching and 30 years of umping baseball and 7 in softball when my daughter played. In that 20+ years I COACHED (took time to improve them) kids to hit, pitch and field so I didn't have to be lazy and walk 8 year olds on purpose. If their best hitter hit a home run we needed to score 2 runs to get ahead. However, usually he would ground or fly out because we could field and throw. And great statistic...apparently in your mind LL and MLB are the same level of play. I'd also say that static is ridiculous, I'd bet my house .300 of the .650 LL average are probably errors, not hits.

Seriously?? Strategy?? With all due respect, idiots like you (and young parents) are the problem with youth baseball. Youth baseball is to DEVELOP SKILL, learn to win, lose and have fun--yes, they are kids, have fun. Walking a player to load the bases so you have a force out at any bag IS strategy. Walking a player so you can have a lefty/lefty matchup IS strategy (at an upper level). Walking a kid that has taken the time and effort to become a great hitter is chicken #@$%. Not sure what baseball your watching to call this strategy, but I watch a lot of pro and college baseball and all of them pitch to the 4-hole-hitters 99.9% of the time...not walk them 5 out of 7 plate appearances as a "strategy". Your 3-4 PROFESSIONAL baseball examples have NO application in 11-year-old baseball.

That situation is always umpire judgment. Did the umpire believe he was offering at the pitch or flailing his arms in an attempt to get out of the way. In youth ball this happens quite frequently and 99/100 times its not an attempt to strike the ball--its a kid trying to get the heck out of the way, in HS/College its usually a fooled batter swinging at a bad pitch. The key is also "dead ball"--the rule if the ball ever hits the batter. I've had coaches try and argue that it's a "do over" if its the 3rd strike, or they, and all of the "parent umpires", scream run, run. Also, remember that if it hits the bat on the "swing" (before it hits the batter) its a foul ball. Usually this is very hard for the home umpire to see as the hitter's back is facing him so I will ALWAYS check with the field umpire to see if he saw it as a foul ball--while Im out there I also ask him if he saw it as a swing.

This is one rule I have always struggled with and it occurred again last night...... B1 hits the ball to the F6. F6 fields the ball and throws it to F3 in a manner that causes F3 to extend into the baseline and contact the runner (a) BEFORE F3 has possession of the ball, or (b) after the ball has already passed F3 (missed scoop, etc) or (c) F3 is attempting to run to the fence to retrieve the errant throw. In both (a) and (b) runner has stayed in his 45' lane and the contact has occurred in the 45' lane. In (c) both F3 and B1 are in the infield, past first base, runner turning toward second, F3 running toward foul territory. Now, I have always allowed contact that occurs if the ball arrives to the 1st baseman right (very close) to the time of the contact (collision last night) as he is "making a play on the ball". Could someone please cover (a), (b) and (c) above? Thanks again guys.

Under NFHS rules, probably not applicable here, it would be a strike if delivered, and 2 strikes if he was out of the box with both feet. “If the pitcher, with a runner on base, stops or hesitates in his delivery because the batter steps out of the box (a) with one foot or (b) with both feet or (c) holds up his hand to request “Time,” it shall not be a balk. In (a) and (c), there is no penalty on either the batter or the pitcher. The umpire shall call “Time” and begin play anew. In (b), a strike shall be called on the batter for violation of 7-3-1. In (a), (b) and (c), if the pitcher ­legally delivers the ball, it shall be called a strike and the ball remains live. Thus, two strikes are called on the batter in (b). If the umpire judges the batter’s action to be a deliberate attempt to create a balk, he will penalize according to 3-3-1n.” Excerpt From: NFHS. “2018 NFHS Baseball Rules Book.” iBooks. https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/2018-nfhs-baseball-rules-book/id1314997555?mt=11

Thank you for the replies....Starting and then stopping, putting his leg back down, disengaging the rubber. I wouldn't call any of those an illegal pitch, nor have I ever seen those called an illegal pitch. Pitchers fall off the mound all of the time. Start their wind up and slip and fall down, thus disengaging the rubber without throwing the ball, or putting their leg back down, misstep with their front foot, roll their ankle and fall down. Of these examples the only one I think would be illegal is throwing to a base.

We have this problem in Alabama as well. It is not uncommon to see the pivot foot perpendicular or 45* on the pitcher's plate and the non-pivot foot not close to breaking the plane of the rubber, clearly in front by 6 inches to as much as a foot. The problem we have is uniform enforcement. Some umpires just ignore it and others call it. It was addressed at the beginning of the year, but little has been done or changed. Wish we were more proactive. I, myself, as an umpire have no idea what they are doing. Presents a huge problem...does he need to come set? can he make a move to a bag?

This is a follow up to my question regarding the hanging leg in the windup position, no runners aboard. NFHS 6-1-2 states: "After he starts his movement to pitch, he must continue the motion without interruption or alteration.” I believe we covered the interruption with the previous question--Hanging Leg. But that got me to thinking about the second condition, alteration. I have not been able to find a single example in the Case Book dealing with "alteration". We all know that the pitcher cannot, does not, pitch in the exact same manner pitch-after-pitch. I guess I'm trying to understand why this word is in the rule book. Can anyone give me an example of when an illegal pitch would be called because of ALTERATION under 6-1-2?