Going for help pt. 2

[BT_Blue]

I need your guys help.

At the through out the day at the NCAA clinic in San Diego guys kept bringing up the seven times we can as for help. I either didnt get the chance or was just to scared to ask but what are they?

Can you guys help me with figuring out what these three seven times are?

[UmpJM]

BT_Blue,

I believe they are:

1) Deciding if a home run is fair or foul.

2) Deciding whether a batted ball left the playing field for a home run

or ground-rule double.

3) Cases in which a foul tip is dropped or trapped by the catcher.

4) Cases in which a foul fly ball is caught or not caught.

5) Cases when an umpire clearly errs in judgment because he did not

see a ball dropped or juggled after making a tag or force.

6) Spectator interference plays.

7) Balks called by an umpire who clearly did not realize the pitcher's

foot was off the rubber.

They can be found on pp. 138-139 of the 2009/2010 NCAA Rule book.

JM

[BrianC14]

BT_Blue,

I believe they are:

They can be found on pp. 138-139 of the 2009/2010 NCAA Rule book.

JM

Important paragraphs from the NCAA book with respect to getting help:

D) Umpires are not to seek help on plays on which they are 100 percent

confident in their judgment and view of the play. Head coaches are

not entitled to a second opinion when the calling umpire is certain his

decision is correct. On the other hand, and contrary to past practice,

umpires are not to “die with a call” in cases in which a) the calling

umpire is not 100 percent certain he is right; and B) another umpire has

additional information which could lead to a proper ruling. Both NCAA

philosophy and umpire integrity - consistent with NCAA rules - dictate

that calls are reversed in this situation.

E) When an umpire seeks help, he should do so shortly after making his

original call. He should not have a lengthy discussion with the head

coach or others and then ask for help. If the calling umpire seeks

help, he should include other umpire(s) who would likely have the best

position to see the elements of the play. This conversation must take

place away from players or coaches. If a crew chief deems it necessary,

he can, at his discretion, bring together the entire crew. All umpires

involved should meet at once; multiple meetings unnecessarily delay the

game. Crew chiefs can conduct conferences and are expected to ensure

that NCAA philosophies are given priority over any single umpire's

pride.

F) Judgment calls, which have traditionally not been subject to reversal,

include: steal and other tag plays (except if the ball is dropped without

the umpire's knowledge, as discussed above); force plays (when the

ball is not dropped and foot is not pulled); balls and strikes (other than

check swings). This practice shall continue. Also, some calls cannot be

reversed without creating larger problems. An example is a “catch/no

catch” with multiple runners.

Overall, umpires are urged to seek help on reversible plays in which they

may have erred by not seeing a crucial element of a play. Such meetings, while

necessary, should be infrequent and not become a substitute for umpires seeking

proper angles, exercising sound judgment and having the conviction to stay with

a call that an umpire believes was properly made.

Edited January 19, 2009 by BrianC14

[Umpire in Chief]

...

Overall, umpires are urged to seek help on reversible plays in which they

may have erred by not seeing a crucial element of a play. Such meetings, while

necessary, should be infrequent and not become a substitute for umpires seeking

proper angles, exercising sound judgment and having the conviction to stay with

a call that an umpire believes was properly made.

I don't do college level, yet so was not aware of this, but I like it.

[DonInKansas]

Sounds like something that should be in every umpire manual, not just the NCAA.

[BT_Blue]

So in NCAA do we have to ask for help on a check swing or can we say "we got it" when we know the kid didnt offer? I have heard before that we are REQUIRED to ask.

[mstaylor]

You are required. The only place you aren't is HS and I suggest you go there too. What's the worse that's going to happen? You get an unexpected strike or you keep the ball you called and it makes the coach happy.