Rules of the game.....how best to learn?

[Guest Jay S.]

This might sound strange....but I am not a book smart kind of guy. However, if you show me something once I guarantee I will remember it for life. Ok....where is this going?  I really want to learn more about the rules of baseball. I have lurked on this site for a long time and love to read the different rulings that you guys so graicioulsy help us all understand. I have really learned a lot. However, when I try and just read the rules nothing really sticks and most of them seem complicated and just jumble around in my brain.

 

Here is my question - are there practical clinics or something that a guy can take where things really get explained? Again...if something is explained I get it. If I have to read it from a rule book forget it. Does that make sense? I am hoping to help coach my sons team next year and really, really want to know the rules a lot better. I played in H.S. but behind the basic rules, I am a novice.

 

Thanks guys.

 

Jay

[Tksjewelry]

My local association guys say @MidAmUmp has a great clinic. If you check out his profile, you'll see links to his Web page.

Check with your local umpire associations, they may have smaller local clinics you can attend or meeting that go over rules. Our local association has rules/mechanics meetings from January thru March.

What age are you coaching and what rule set will you be playing under? (LL, USSSA, FED, OBR)

[Guest Guest]

12 year olds. He is going to be moving from a community based team to a more organized travel team.

[BuckeyeMike]

At the risk of sounding hokie......there's always Youtube.   You could look up specific plays involving the questions you have.   Worth a shot if you haven't done that already.    There are numerous clinics out there......from 1 or 2 day clinics on up to the full blown 5 week deal.      And, I believe there are numerous resources for "coaches", both online and clinic-wise.   Maybe talk to your local high school Varsity coach and get some ideas.

[Larry in TN]

Don't skip over Rule 2.00 - Definitions of Terms.  There's a lot of important information in there without which the rest of the rules don't make sense.

[LRZ]

Would it help you if the rules were primarily illustrated? I don't know about LL, but for OBR and NFHS, there are resources.

 

For pro rules, Dennis Goodman, a member here, has published RuleGraphics: http://www.amazon.com/RuleGraphics-Professional-Baseball-Dennis-Goodman/dp/099611050X

 

For school ball, NFHS publishes a rulebook "simplified and illustrated": https://www.nfhs.com/p-888-2016-baseball-simplified-illustrated.aspx

[Thunderheads]

Would it help you if the rules were primarily illustrated? I don't know about LL, but for OBR and NFHS, there are resources.

 

For pro rules, Dennis Goodman, a member here, has published RuleGraphics: http://www.amazon.com/RuleGraphics-Professional-Baseball-Dennis-Goodman/dp/099611050X

 

For school ball, NFHS publishes a rulebook "simplified and illustrated": https://www.nfhs.com/p-888-2016-baseball-simplified-illustrated.aspx

^^^^^^^^^ THIS!!!!!

[basejester]

Definitely first find out which ruleset(s) you'll be playing under.

Baseball Rules Illustrated is good book for OBR.  A clinic was a good suggestion.

[Mick]

Having a Rule Book without a Case Book isn't enough to learn the game.  Study the Case Book, and reference the Rule Book.

[johnnyg08]

For pro rules, I would suggest @goody14 Dennis Goodman's book:  Rule Graphics as a start.  Buy it here at:  http://www.amazon.co...n/dp/099611050X

 

I would spend time around Rule 2.00, read through these definitions several times.  Pay special attention to:  Appeal, Force, Interference, Obstruction the differences between an infield fly and intentional drop.  

 

Unfortunately there is no substitute for spending time in the rule book.

 

Clinics are good.  They will teach you the mechanics and some game management strategies.  

 

The biggest flaw I see in new umpires are the guys who have played baseball, who think that they don't need to spend time in the rule book because they played.

 

"You have to get the player out of you"  - Ted Barrett

[Majordave]

Yes. Mick is right. Rules. Then cases. If you want to try and understand the three main differing rule sets there is a book written by an umpire, Carl Childress, called Baseball Rules Differences. It does not cover all rules. Only the ones that differ between the rulesets. However, the sections also include multiple case plays, advisory opinions, accepted rulings, example plays and discussions by the author. Plus it has recommendations on how to call or handle certain situations and rules. Helped me tremendously. Www.brd.com. Or on Amazon.

[Guest Jay S.]

This is awseom stuff. Thank you guys very much!

[johnpatrick]

If it's an OBR based rules set (sounds like it probably will be) the 2015 Minor League Baseball Umpire Manual (http://tinyurl.com/PBUC-Manual) is a great resource for understanding and interpreting the rules.

[Guest Jay S.]

Would it help you if the rules were primarily illustrated? I don't know about LL, but for OBR and NFHS, there are resources.

 

For pro rules, Dennis Goodman, a member here, has published RuleGraphics: http://www.amazon.com/RuleGraphics-Professional-Baseball-Dennis-Goodman/dp/099611050X

 

For school ball, NFHS publishes a rulebook "simplified and illustrated": https://www.nfhs.com/p-888-2016-baseball-simplified-illustrated.aspx

This is good stuff. I am going to order the case book and the rule book. The case book looks like a winner. Thank you again so much. One more thing. We are going to be in a Pony League. I assume they use HS rules?

[basejester]

 

Would it help you if the rules were primarily illustrated? I don't know about LL, but for OBR and NFHS, there are resources.

 

For pro rules, Dennis Goodman, a member here, has published RuleGraphics: http://www.amazon.com/RuleGraphics-Professional-Baseball-Dennis-Goodman/dp/099611050X

 

For school ball, NFHS publishes a rulebook "simplified and illustrated": https://www.nfhs.com/p-888-2016-baseball-simplified-illustrated.aspx

This is good stuff. I am going to order the case book and the rule book. The case book looks like a winner. Thank you again so much. One more thing. We are going to be in a Pony League. I assume they use HS rules?

 

No, Pony is OBR with exceptions.

 

http://www.pony.org/Assets/Corporate+Assets/Forms+and+Assets/Rulebooks/2015+PONY+Baseball+Rulebook.pdf

[Stan W.]

 

Would it help you if the rules were primarily illustrated? I don't know about LL, but for OBR and NFHS, there are resources.

 

For pro rules, Dennis Goodman, a member here, has published RuleGraphics: http://www.amazon.com/RuleGraphics-Professional-Baseball-Dennis-Goodman/dp/099611050X

 

For school ball, NFHS publishes a rulebook "simplified and illustrated": https://www.nfhs.com/p-888-2016-baseball-simplified-illustrated.aspx

^^^^^^^^^ THIS!!!!!

 

I have a copy of which, I would be happy to send it to the OP free.........

[Guest Jay S.]

Just curious - why would Pony use Major League Baseball Rules instead of HS rules. The kids are going to be in HS long before they would ever conceivably be in the majors. So if I get this right, I should be looking at OBR rules with Pony excepctions.

[Majordave]

Because they want to play, as close as possible, REAL baseball.  

 

NFHS (FED) is an artificial ruleset overly concerned with safety, fairness, participation and has dumbed down most "controversial" or "hard to interpret/apply" rules in an attempt to simplify officiating of the game.  In reality these changes makes it very hard to consistently apply the rules and even harder to explain the reason for the ruling/call.  Most of their problems are when their rules differ from OBR and everyone associated with the game gets confused and misapplies the OBR vs FED version of a rule.  Notable areas of inconsistency and stupidity are balks, any contact between players-interference and obstruction, substitutions.

 

Edit:  for an example, go to the High School Forum in Levels area near bottom of forums list and look at test question discussion about calling penalty strike for stepping out of the box and another for delaying the game. Ridiculous rules.  

 

My .02........

[basejester]

I agree with Dave.  The question is, why did the high schools decide to invent their own ruleset?  It seems that they thought they could make it easier, which it may be in itself, but the confusion factor with other (similar, but subtlety different) rules is very high.

[johnnyg08]

I agree with Dave.  The question is, why did the high schools decide to invent their own ruleset?  It seems that they thought they could make it easier, which it may be in itself, but the confusion factor with other (similar, but subtlety different) rules is very high.

Job security and lawyers

[goody14]

Thanks all who mentioned our book. It was designed exactly for this...someone who wants to learn the rules but gets stuck reading through dense material.

 

I also dabble with a blog (https://betterrulebook.wordpress.com/). It is not nearly as formal as the book, but I try to link to situations and then explain them. This seems like the sort of thing the OP would be interested in.

 

I will also echo the thoughts of others - the BRD is great. The Fed illustrated guide is good for FED rules (even though some of their examples are there only to add pages).

 

I have not seen anyone mention this book - http://www.amazon.com/Baseball-Field-Guide--Depth-Illustrated/dp/0306816539/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1428592476&sr=8-3&keywords=baseball+rules

 

While not my favorite in the space  I think it does a good job of covering basics.

 

This David Nemec book (someone already mentioned the other) http://www.amazon.com/Rules-Baseball-David-Nemec/dp/1558212809/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1428592775&sr=8-8&keywords=david+nemec is also good.

 

Other than that, just ask tons of questions. As evidenced by my history here, there are no dumb ones (and if there are, people are very tolerant as long as you are willing to learn). Good luck!

[Majordave]

Hey Dennis!  I forgot to mention your book but I want to echo the others.  His book is VERY GOOD for beginners and seasoned veterans.  Pictures/drawings are great and it is organized in a common sense manner.  Worth the $$ I assure you.

[MadMax]

... and Guest Jay S.? Why don't you take off your Guest Jacket and create a profile here so we include you in the discussions all proper-like, among fellow umpires (even novice ones)?

@Majordave, I'm _shocked_ you didn't suggest that earlier!

[Majordave]

Sure. Why not? Jay is a new(ish) coach I'm guessing but he might just get the unpiring bug after he digests all these rules and situations. Join Jay. You won't regret it. And it's free.