Wristbands On The Belt

[BillKen]

Can someone give me a rule reference that prohibits this or allows it?

[maven]

I'm assuming that you're asking about restrictions concerning how F2 wears his equipment, specifically his wrist card with pitching codes. If that's incorrect, please ask your question more precisely.

No rule prohibits it.

What is not prohibited is, within reason, allowed.

[BuckeyeMike]

For FED

Official Interp 577-573: HOPKINS: A batter wearing a wristband placard at the waist of his uniform pants is not entitled to HBP if the pitch touches the placard: "it is designed to be worn on the wrist/forearm of the player." (8.1.1q)

FED Casebook

8.1.1 Q, Comment: The armband placard is not designed to be worn on the waistband of the uniform pants. It was intended to be properly worn on the wrist/forearm of the player.

All of this to say.....NO, it's not prohibited. 

Not prohibited in NCAA/OBR either.

[jkumpire]

For FED

Official Interp 577-573: HOPKINS: A batter wearing a wristband placard at the waist of his uniform pants is not entitled to HBP if the pitch touches the placard: "it is designed to be worn on the wrist/forearm of the player." (8.1.1q)

FED Casebook

8.1.1 Q, Comment: The armband placard is not designed to be worn on the waistband of the uniform pants. It was intended to be properly worn on the wrist/forearm of the player.

All of this to say.....NO, it's not prohibited. 

Not prohibited in NCAA/OBR either.

​With respect Buckeye Mike it is prohibited, at least in Ohio HS baseball. I also believe there is a FED interpretation from years ago that in essence says "all equipment shall be worn as the maker intended it to be worn." The last two OHSAA directors of umpiring have said that wristbands must be worn on the wrist multiple times. In 2013 as part of the materials to rule interpreters in Ohio this was emphasized. And I've used the casebook play to justify keeping the wristbands off anything but the wrists. I've personally had to put up with a lot of flack for enforcing this rule/interpretation, but in OHIO it is illegal. 

As an aside I had a discussion with a fellow umpire who worked a D3 game recently. The umpire told me his partner, the PU in the game, saw the 1 hole with the band around his belt, told the batter to put it on right and ordered everyone else on the bench to put it on right. The team's HC came over to the PU between innings and supposedly said: "I have waited all year to see when someone would make the players wear them legally. You are the first one to do it, in game 32."

I know of no prohibition in NCAA or OBR as you have said, but frankly there should be. 

 

 

Edited May 9, 2015 by jkumpire

[BillKen]

Thanks for the replies.  I was referring to batters specifically...but either is potentially problematic.  I love this site because I can come on here for great answers in a timely fashion.  You guys are awesome!

[BuckeyeMike]

‌@jkumpire, that's awesome that OH       IO   !!!!       has come down with a ruling on this.   I'll have to ask how Iowa interprets this.   Great info, thanks!

[Tksjewelry]

Why on earth would they wear them on their belts? Isnt it easier to look at them on the wrist? 

I see lots of them in kid ball but I've never seen one worn on the belt.

[ricka56]

Can someone give me a rule reference that prohibits this or allows it?

​I wasn't there but I was told that Jay Evans talked about it at the TASO state meeting and said that we weren't to allow them on their belt. I brought it up at one of our chapter meetings a few years ago when I first noticed the practice. We were instructed not to allow them. I prohibited them once in a game and then found out that no else was doing so, so I stopped. Instead we use the option of keeping the batter in the box on a HBP at the belt buckle. The choice was to be an OOO before the game/every game or appearing to be an OOO when the pitch hit the wrong placed wristband.

[OHUMP]

​With respect Buckeye Mike it is prohibited, at least in Ohio HS baseball. I also believe there is a FED interpretation from years ago that in essence says "all equipment shall be worn as the maker intended it to be worn." The last two OHSAA directors of umpiring have said that wristbands must be worn on the wrist multiple times. In 2013 as part of the materials to rule interpreters in Ohio this was emphasized. And I've used the casebook play to justify keeping the wristbands off anything but the wrists. I've personally had to put up with a lot of flack for enforcing this rule/interpretation, but in OHIO it is illegal. 

As an aside I had a discussion with a fellow umpire who worked a D3 game recently. The umpire told me his partner, the PU in the game, saw the 1 hole with the band around his belt, told the batter to put it on right and ordered everyone else on the bench to put it on right. The team's HC came over to the PU between innings and supposedly said: "I have waited all year to see when someone would make the players wear them legally. You are the first one to do it, in game 32."

I know of no prohibition in NCAA or OBR as you have said, but frankly there should be. 

 

 

​This is not true.  In the baseball bulletin the state sent out on April 30th it just said if they put them on the waist where it is tougher for batters to read the plate umpire must make sure to enforce the batter keeping one foot in the box.  This came directly from the director of baseball officials development.

 

Edit:  Now on the May 10th update they say they must be on the wrist only I had not read the update yet.

Edited May 11, 2015 by OHUMP

[maven]

​This is not true.  In the baseball bulletin the state sent out on April 30th it just said if they put them on the waist where it is tougher for batters to read the plate umpire must make sure to enforce the batter keeping one foot in the box.  This came directly from the director of baseball officials development.

​In the bulletin dated May 10, 2015, Dan wrote the following:

"Wrist bands are to be worn on the wrists. Not the belt.  Period."

AFAIK, this restriction/requirement applies only to Ohio.

[OHUMP]

Yeah Maven I was just reading that new update when I posted the previous.  Wish they would not send out conflicting directions at different times in the year.

[maven]

Yeah Maven I was just reading that new update when I posted the previous.  Wish they would not send out conflicting directions at different times in the year.

​Meh, Dan's a rookie. He'll figure it out.

[jkumpire]

Ohio Umpires on the thread,

Kyle said this for at least the last two years he was here in Ohio, and had a slide in his Local Rules Interpreter's power point in 2013 (or maybe 2012). Dan discussed this at least twice in his e-mails this season.

Wearing these bands anywhere but on your wrist has been illegal in Ohio for several years now, but the message has not really gotten out for some reason.  

 

Edited May 11, 2015 by jkumpire