Propose your FED rules changes/ modifications here

[Umpire in Chief]

We all gripe about the way FED ruled are written, unclear, contradictory, missing items, or just back assward.

What rules suggestions, modifications, deletions would you recommend?

[BrianC14]

We all gripe about the way FED ruled are written, unclear, contradictory, missing items, or just back assward.

What rules suggestions, modifications, deletions would you recommend?

Just one:

[LMSANS]

Evidently the concensus is that the Fed should copy the OBR or NCAA rules since they are perfect...except for the 200+ that Evans likes to talk about.

So let's change the whole thing and eliminate one book.

I'm so pissy this week:kissass:

[jjb]

Thanks Brian, just cost me a keyboard....

[HokieUmp]

So let's change the whole thing and eliminate one book.

I'd vote for that. I'll take it one step farther - let's also toss the NCAA rulebook out, and use OBR as the basis for all rulesets in the US. Mods can be made for age/safety related issues, but make OBR the foundation.

When I worked games in Australia, you got one rulebook, and that was that, regardless of age. It was more based on the IBA (IBF? IB-something) rules, but as near as my eyes could tell, those international rules were OBR with a different cover.

It was freakin' sweet.

[BrianC14]

I'd vote for that. I'll take it one step farther - let's also toss the NCAA rulebook out, and use OBR as the basis for all rulesets in the US. Mods can be made for age/safety related issues, but make OBR the foundation.

When I worked games in Australia, you got one rulebook, and that was that, regardless of age. It was more based on the IBA (IBF? IB-something) rules, but as near as my eyes could tell, those international rules were OBR with a different cover.

It was freakin' sweet.

And wood bats. :2cents:

[mw94]

I think the wood bats may come back due to lawsuits , over safety, or at least non wood bats that act like wood

[kwiggie]

I would love to see them get rid of the "mind numbing" way they abbriviate runners on the base path... R1 is on 3rd, R2 is on second, and R3 is on first. Or R1 is on third, R2 is on first... etc, etc. Can't R1 be on first? R2 be on second, and R3 be on third like in obr? I have been called out many times by you guys for using fed terms... and I don't blame you it is ridiculous!

[mstaylor]

Get rid of the pitching restrictions the way they are and use the pro rule. Go to the type A/type B obstruction and use two visits an inning instead of a total of three a game.

[kcfan102]

This is something that I agree with completly. FED just sucks. I'm not sure why they decided to change the rules? I don't mind the Fed basketball rules but baseball has a devine set of rules, why change it?

[mstaylor]

Many times Fed seem capricious in their rules. The problem is Fed is looking for three things in their student atheletes, sportsmanship, participation and safety. While there some I don't like if you look at it from their veiwpoint most make sense. The other thing that they do is make rules to the lowest common denominator and that is where they have problems.

Examples:

Participation: CRs for pitcher/catchers not being the same and DHing for anybody.

Safety: FPSR

Sportsmanship: Always giving a base on obstruction. They want it to be more punitive than the pro rules.

LCD: Dead ball appeals. They wanted appeals but wanted to make as easy as possible so it is almost impossible to screw up.

[yawetag]

The other thing that they do is make rules to the lowest common denominator and that is where they have problems.

Then explain the catcher's interference (obstruction) penalties. That's certainly not LCD.

[mstaylor]

I'm not sure what you mean, it's pretty much the same as pro except they actually instruct you to inform the coach of the option.

[blue32]

Get rid of the pitching restrictions the way they are and use the pro rule. Go to the type A/type B obstruction and use two visits an inning instead of a total of three a game.

100% agree. Also, make a balk a delayed dead ball like OBR. Why take the bat out of the hitters hands when the pitcher screws up?

[mstaylor]

Then explain the catcher's interference (obstruction) penalties. That's certainly not LCD.

Catcher's obstruction is one of three possibilities:

1. Ball isn't hit, batter gets first.

2.Ball is hit and all runners advance a base and BR makes first, ignore CO.

3.Ball is hit and all runners don't advance a base or the BR doesn't make first, then the coach has the option of taking the play or enforcing the penalty.

I don't really see a difference between this and pro. The only difference is stealing runners don't get to advance unless forced if you enforce the penalty. In pro if the runner is stealing he gets to advance, nonstealing do not.

[Aging_Arbiter]

Here's my proposal........USE OBR!

[mstaylor]

OBR is not without it's problems. What I really like about Fed is it's casebook.

[carolinablue]

Any coach that cries balk and ain't even close, the other team gets a run. That would fit well in both rule sets.

[Umpire in Chief]

I'd like to see a speed up rule in place where after six the visitors are ahead, the home team would bat first in the seventh. If tied after that inning the order would remain inverted until which time the home team pulls ahead and the visitors would bet to bat first again in the following inning. There could be like a 3 min break for the pitcher. When he'd have to pitch 2 sequential half innings.

OR

In cases when you have a powerhouse team visiting a sub par team the umpires have the authority to have the home team bat first.

[mstaylor]

That is the USSSA flipflop rule. Say the visiters are up big at the end of four, the home team bats again. If they close the gap enough they continue in that order until the score forces another flop or the game ends.

[Umpire in Chief]

See I knew that was a good idea.

[yawetag]

See I knew that was a good idea.

How hard is it to walk through doorways with a head that big? :clap:

[Umpire in Chief]

Don't worry, my wife puts me in check very quickly.

[DirtyDawg]

Rule #1

The umpire is always right

Rule #2

If the umpire should ever be wrong, refer to rule #1

[Rich Ives]

Rule #1

The umpire is always right

Rule #2

If the umpire should ever be wrong, refer to rule #1

Rule 2: If the umpire is wrong refer to the protest rule(s).