Called game situation

[Moe]

Just did a game that was scheduled to start at 9. It was an 18+ league at my local association. They are having their annual tournament this weekend and have a strict time limit. Our league rules say that if they don't have 7 players at the start of the game, we wait 15 minutes before calling a forfeit. I arrived at the field at 8:20 to do the plate in the semi-final, my partner got there around 8:45. We arrived at the field 10 minutes before 9. I spoke to the organizer of the tournament who is also the convener of that division and he said that we don't have the 15 minute grace period because of the tournament. One team had 4 players and were certain that another 4 were on their way. I did a plate meeting giving them the usual rules; jewelry ( I know, it's a city rule) no running the catcher, everybody in full uniform, etc...  9 o'clock came and the convener came on the field and said that the game if forfeit. The players went ballistic. They were yelling at the convener and us. I originally told my partner that I had no problem playing a scrimmage game after the forfeit, but after everybody started yelling and carrying on, I told my partner that we're leaving. On our way to our changing room, a few players from the team were getting out of their cars and they started yelling at us. "I hope you're proud of yourself!" "This league is SH*#!" "You suck you fat c*nt!" I just ignored them and went to the change room to get changed and I was going to go home, but I remembered that I had to drop the balls off at the shack and I got more SH*# from the field asking why I'm not doing the game, even for a scrimmage. I spoke to the convener and said that I have no problem getting flak from people on the field, within reason or course, but to get yelled at and whatnot when the game gets forfeited and I'm walking to the change room is bullSH*#. 

 

On a lighter note' I still have the championships later today for a three man game, won't lie, I'm kinda excited, this will be the third time I do a three man game, 

 

Thoughts?

[JHSump]

I am sure others will give you their thoughts on many things you brought up in your story.

 

Here is the one I will mention: Don't suggest that you will officiate a scrimmage when an official game is suspended/canceled/forfeited  If someone gets hurt in the scrimmage, you could be held responsible. If a manager, or the tournament director, asks you to officiate a scrimmage in such a situation, politely tell him you are sorry but you cannot, for legal reasons. That will end the discussion and nobody will give you grief about it.

[immaculate1976]

I refuse to umpire a forfeit game. I get paid to umpire baseball games and when it is a forfeit it becomes a scrimmage not a baseball game. 

 

- Legal reasons 

- I am not going to take a chance getting hurt for nothing

- Already get yelled at enough dont need it in a game that does not even count

 

Had a coach get mad at me one time over this and I told him "Coach I think you should take your anger out on the kids that did not show up not the umpire who will not ump your practice game"

[MooseLoop]

Don't suggest that you will officiate a scrimmage when an official game is suspended/canceled/forfeited  If someone gets hurt in the scrimmage, you could be held responsible. If a manager, or the tournament director, asks you to officiate a scrimmage in such a situation, politely tell him you are sorry but you cannot, for legal reasons. 

 

Is this not a myth?  Can anyone cite a statute or case opinion from any state that says you are more exposed to liability for umping a scrimmage than a "real" game?

 

I view this as a convenient excuse for not wanting to ump a scrimmage.  Yes, a jury can do unpredictable things, and legal fees and costs usually are not recoverable even if you win, but your actual liability is minuscule whether it is a scrimmage or a scheduled game.  In California (and I would assume most other states), participants in a sporting activity assume the risk of injury resulting from that participation.

[DVA7130]

I'be been guilty in the past of working games with not enough kids or past mercy rule in rec games where they just wanted to play. Situations where I only have one evening game and I kinda looked toward to working :shrug:

[Replacematt]

I won't do it because a) if it was that important, it wouldn't have been a forfeit, and b) I'd be screwing over the guys that came after me in similar situations. They don't need the pressure of being told the last guy did it and making them look like jackasses when they refuse. If teams want to do a scrimmage with umpires, they can schedule it. Our association does it all the time, to let guys get practice in non-game situations.

[ALStripes17]

They booked me for the forfeited game. Liability ends when that game/circumstance is officially over.

If they want umps for the scrimmage instead, they can pay me for the intersquad scrimmage separately.

World is too litigious now to take the risk

[JHSump]

 

Don't suggest that you will officiate a scrimmage when an official game is suspended/canceled/forfeited  If someone gets hurt in the scrimmage, you could be held responsible. If a manager, or the tournament director, asks you to officiate a scrimmage in such a situation, politely tell him you are sorry but you cannot, for legal reasons. 

 

Is this not a myth?  Can anyone cite a statute or case opinion from any state that says you are more exposed to liability for umping a scrimmage than a "real" game?

 

I view this as a convenient excuse for not wanting to ump a scrimmage.  Yes, a jury can do unpredictable things, and legal fees and costs usually are not recoverable even if you win, but your actual liability is minuscule whether it is a scrimmage or a scheduled game.  In California (and I would assume most other states), participants in a sporting activity assume the risk of injury resulting from that participation.

 

I disagree that the risk is the same for an umpire doing a scheduled game vs. an umpire volunteering/suggesting to do an unscheduled scrimmage in place of a forfeited game, on the spot, or volunteering to continue officiating a game officially ended by a mercy rule.

 

In the first case, if you just show up at the scheduled time, and follow the rules, you have little risk.  In the second case (1) you have become an *organizer* of a previously unscheduled event, (2) your official-looking appearance lends weight to the event possibly convincing players/parents that they should participate (as they may testify), and (3) you have already violated the rules of the tournament/event/baseball, which say the game has been forfeited/suspended.

 

In the first case, you are barely on the radar.  In the second case, you did the wrong things.  And, you may pay for that.

 

I love baseball.  I love umpiring.  I would rather umpire a game than not.  But I love my family more.  I won't expose myself unnecessarily.  There will be another game the next day.

 

But, you may do what you want.

[Pete Peterson Sr]

 

Don't suggest that you will officiate a scrimmage when an official game is suspended/canceled/forfeited  If someone gets hurt in the scrimmage, you could be held responsible. If a manager, or the tournament director, asks you to officiate a scrimmage in such a situation, politely tell him you are sorry but you cannot, for legal reasons. 

 

Is this not a myth?  Can anyone cite a statute or case opinion from any state that says you are more exposed to liability for umping a scrimmage than a "real" game?

 

I view this as a convenient excuse for not wanting to ump a scrimmage.  Yes, a jury can do unpredictable things, and legal fees and costs usually are not recoverable even if you win, but your actual liability is minuscule whether it is a scrimmage or a scheduled game.  In California (and I would assume most other states), participants in a sporting activity assume the risk of injury resulting from that participation.

 

 

I'm pretty sure that most liability policies cover only "sanctioned" events. A "scrimmage" between two teams immediately following a forfeited game is not a sanctioned event.

[BigUmpire]

"I had no problem playing a scrimmage game after the forfeit"

 

Nothing good happens from this.

Players get goofy and loose.

People get hurt.

When an ejection is warranted what do you do then?

 

“Danger Will Robinsonâ€

 

Our association rules state that only a 3 inning practice game in the preseason will be officiated outside of a normal, legal sanctioned game.

 

After a forfeit our umpires are not to stay and officiate any game.

We put this rule in last year to take the burden off of the umpires after a MESS!

 

“Gentlemen the field is yours†recorded the 7-0 forfeit in the book and LEAVE.

[Stan W.]

 

Don't suggest that you will officiate a scrimmage when an official game is suspended/canceled/forfeited  If someone gets hurt in the scrimmage, you could be held responsible. If a manager, or the tournament director, asks you to officiate a scrimmage in such a situation, politely tell him you are sorry but you cannot, for legal reasons. 

 

Is this not a myth?  Can anyone cite a statute or case opinion from any state that says you are more exposed to liability for umping a scrimmage than a "real" game?

 

I view this as a convenient excuse for not wanting to ump a scrimmage.  Yes, a jury can do unpredictable things, and legal fees and costs usually are not recoverable even if you win, but your actual liability is minuscule whether it is a scrimmage or a scheduled game.  In California (and I would assume most other states), participants in a sporting activity assume the risk of injury resulting from that participation.

 

 

It is perfectly fine for you to take this position for yourself.......

 

.however after this line...".I view this as a convenient excuse for not wanting to ump a scrimmage.  Yes, a jury can do unpredictable things, and legal fees and costs usually are not recoverable even if you win, but your actual liability is minuscule whether it is a scrimmage or a scheduled game"

 

its up to each umpire to decide if the risk is worth it............

 

I choose not to take that risk.............. 

[umpcoachfather]

Heres the statute - If your umpire a game, your're in charge, if someone gets hurt, lawyers look to sue everyone. 

[renegadewolf]

Here in Ontario it's pretty clear cut, and most adult leagues have the same policy

 

2014 OBA INSURANCE PROGRAM APPLICATION FOR NON-MEMBERS

 

 ENROLMENT INCLUDES:  1. LIABILITY AND ACCIDENT COVERAGE UNDER THE OBA POLICY  2. RISK MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY PROGRAMS  3. INSURANCE COVERAGE ONLY FOR OBA-SANCTIONED EVENTS *  *ADDITIONAL FEES MAY BE REQUIRED

 

BASEBALL ONTARIO DOES NOT INSURE NON-MEMBER UMPIRES. TO OBTAIN OBA INSURANCE, UMPIRES MUST ATTEND AN OBA UMPIRE CLINIC ANNUALLY. VISIT WWW.BASEBALLONTARIO.COM/UMPIRES FOR UPCOMING CLINICS.

 

Taken From the OBA "constitution"

10.02 INSURANCE 

 

b) For purposes of insurance coverage only, the OBA sanctions all usual baseball activities including games, 

practices, try-outs, evaluations, tournaments and executive activities conducted by its Affiliated Associations, 

Local Associations, Direct Entries and Associate Members and such other activities of the OBA, its Affiliated 

Associations, Local Associations and Direct Entries as may be approved from time to time by the OBA 

Management Board

 

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