USSSA Plate collision

[RingEmUp]

10u USSSA game. I'm the BU.  Runner on 3rd gets caught trying to steal home and is in a run down.  Play goes back and forth for a couple of throws between F2 and F6.  F1 and F3 did not backup F2, they just watch.  F2 is backpedalling to catch the ball when the runner knocks F2 over and is rulled safe.  F2 never caught the ball.  HT coaches are furious since the catcher took a pretty good hit.  One of the ACs came close to crossing the line and I resisted EJing him.  I felt this was the PUs call for an EJ.  He was a more seasoned umpire than myself and I was learning on the fly from him.  This was a different partner than the one in the Fan EJ post.  He pointed some things out to me that I had not been doing as a PU.   

[Mike Prince]

IMO you are BU here. this is 100% PU's call as it is on the F2 end of the rundown; you should not be involved in anything here (unless he asks for your help, even then he has the best look), even if he does not take care of business.

[SteveJ]

He pointed some things out to me that I had not been doing as a PU.   

And what happened next?

[Rich Ives]

Which one of you called the OBS on F2?

[RingEmUp]

PU called it.  I just found it an interesting situation and wanted to share.   

[maven]

When something goofy like that happens, we teach the following procedure:

 

1. Get coaches out to attend to anyone who might be injured, and otherwise keep the teams off each other and coaches in the dugout.

2. Get with your partner and talk about what you saw. On this play, I can understand ruling OBS on F2, who seems to have been in the basepath without the ball. The contact by the runner might or might not have constituted MC, and the possibility is worth discussing: MC would supersede OBS, the runner would have been out and ejected. BU gives PU info, PU makes a ruling on a play at/near the plate.

3. After the brief discussion, bring both coaches over and have the covering umpire explain the ruling, including both what was and was not called.

4. Answer questions about the applicable rules briefly; do not discuss judgment, do not entertain hypotheticals.

 

Taking a moment to discuss with your partner (or just a moment to relax and process the play, if you're solo) is crucial and makes the conversation with coaches go much more smoothly.

[JaxRolo]

Seems like on your posts there is always something about an ej or possible ej.

Try not to look for this.

When I first started I was an ejection machine.

Over time you will learn game management and how to handle situations.

[BigUmpire]

Wisdom for young umpires here!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RingEmUp]

Seems like on your posts there is always something about an ej or possible ej.

Try not to look for this.

When I first started I was an ejection machine.

Over time you will learn game management and how to handle situations.

 

I try to give my complete train of thought.  I have a fairly short fuse but have learned to keep it in check and walk away most of the time.  I know the AC was mumbling about how the HT was getting all the calls and just because they were HT didn't mean they get the calls.  I paused to see what the PU would do and then just kept walking away as there was no need to get more involved in something that was never my decision to begin with.