NFHS Jewelry

[Guest Fan]

NFHS...Was at a high school game the other night and a batter came up to the plate with a necklace on.  The umpire immediately called the batter out and restricted him to the dugout.  Was this the correct call.  Is there a rule in rulebook where he is out?

[noumpere]

Incorrect call.  Warn first (one warning per team), then eject.

 

In most areas, there's plenty of "unofficial warnings" given before the official warning.

[stkjock]

SECTION 3 BENCH AND FIELD CONDUCT

ART. 1 . . . A coach, player, substitute, attendant or other bench personnel shall not:

a. leave the dugout during a live ball for an unauthorized purpose;

b. fake a tag without the ball;

c. carelessly throw a bat;

d. wear jewelry (players participating in the game) or wear bandannas;

e. hit the ball to players on defense after the game has started;

PENALTY: At the end of playing action, the umpire shall issue a warning to the coach of the team involved and the next offender on that team shall be ejected. In (b), it is also obstruction (8-3-2).

[Radwaste50]

Perhaps a warning was already given?

[Replacematt]

8 minutes ago, Radwaste50 said:

Perhaps a warning was already given?

Doesn't justify the out nor the restriction.

[blue23ll]

There is no rule based justification for getting an out here. 

[Nic]

On 5/7/2018 at 9:05 AM, noumpere said:

Incorrect call.  Warn first (one warning per team), then eject.

 

In most areas, there's plenty of "unofficial warnings" given before the official warning.

Doing U10 game last weekend and a team has multiple players wearing big pink and black braided necklaces. I make them take them off. "They represent a mom that just died of breast cancer," they explained. It was Mother's Day, mind you. I called the tournament umpire director and he said they could wear them. 

I think still think I was right, but boy did I look like an ass. Lol.

[Cav]

4 hours ago, Nic said:

I think still think I was right...

You were.  

 

4 hours ago, Nic said:

...but boy did I look like an ass.

Work on your people skills.  

 

4 hours ago, Nic said:

Lol.

That's a big part of why some of us  keep doing this.

[stkjock]

@Nic 10U playing Fed?

[maven]

2 hours ago, stkjock said:

@Nic 10U playing Fed?

Some leagues don't want to bother adding a pile of safety modifications to OBR, so they just adopt FED.

[Richvee]

Tourneys and leagues I do that follow Fed usually want the jewelry and Hybrid rules ignored. 

[Richvee]

Oh--And the defensive conference rule...All want 2 per inning/pitcher...Not the FED 3 per game. 

[MadMax]

... and conferences / mound visits, @Richvee, don’t forget those. 3 freebies, then we start pulling pitchers? Doesn’t jive with time-limited tournament games.

So most TD’s and LD’s adopt Fed Rules as the foundation, bat everyone (or use DH/EH’s with free defensive exchanges), keep the “fake to 3rd is legal” (because most of these kids are used to it anyway), drop the 3 free conferences and adopt OBR’s mound visits scheme (except not doing the 6 limit, yet... how cool would that be for us umpires? Oh please yes! No more F6 asking for time to go pat his F1 on the butt!), institute their own mercy/run rules, and then encourage umpires to be... frugal in calling balks (I’ll explain later). Jewelry is pretty much ignored.

With little kids (12U), I forbid metal. If they have those soft bracelets on, or those breakaway rope necklaces, I just ignore it. If they’re a metal necklace, I ask that that be removed, and kids/coaches/parents readily comply – no reason for warnings or ejections.

One 10-year old here in Phoenix is of a parentage that has some kind of mysticism or alternative belief system – their family wears these incredibly intricate hemp & leather bracelets with charms and stones interwoven in, and I was told by his coach that it represents his spirit life so far (and this is a 10 year old kid!), and that it is nearly impossible to take off without cutting it (the bracelet, not his arm) off. So instead of being all heavy-handed and insistent, I had them locate an arm sleeve and cover it. What we can’t see doesn’t “hurt” us! He borrowed a teammate’s for that game, and next week, he had his own. I remember the mom mouthing “thank you” to the coach and to me when we developed the solution.

Even in NFHS High School games, we can be a little more tolerant, or at least not be so draconian, heavy-handed, obtuse and quick to be all-officious. There’s something in place on our side, working for us – we’re (supposed) to ask “Are all (your) players properly and legally equipped?” of the coaches. If they answer affirmatively (nearly all do, no matter now naively or ignorantly), then we’re off the hook! We no longer make it an umpires-versus-everybody situation when you remind the leadoff batter he can’t wear a sterling silver bicycle chain draped around his neck, and certainly not outside his uniform! Am I going to stop the game, formally warn, and possibly eject the player because I spy the hint of a necklace peeking out the neckline of a uniform’s undershirt? Certainly not!... but, I know heavy-handed colleagues who would. If I need to, I’ll appeal to the coach with, “Rob, we need #18 to lose the necklace”, and Rob typically complies.

During a state playoff game, I had a batter hit a run-scoring single. I was in C to start, then came over to B, and looked over to see the 17-year old kid standing there, receiving instructions from his 1BC, and there’s a big silver necklace hanging out there on his chest, over the uniform. I didn’t call Time, I didn’t make a scene, I didn’t use the word “warning”, I certainly didn’t call him Out (that’s ridiculous)... I simply got their attention, pointed at the necklace, made a “take off” or “put away” motion and said, “I shouldn’t be able to see it”, then turned back to the game and my responsibilities. He complied, because the necklace didn’t make an obvious appearance on him for the rest of the game.

[Nic]

12 hours ago, maven said:

Some leagues don't want to bother adding a pile of safety modifications to OBR, so they just adopt FED.

@maven 10U OBR  

[Nic]

9 hours ago, MadMax said:

 

These necklaces were huge and made of big, thick rope interwoven and braided. Would be devastating if a finger or hand got into that necklace on a play.

Thought it was a reasonable request. Circumstances and all.  Tournament director said they were fine. Explained I was only looking out for the safety. 

[MadMax]

1 hour ago, Nic said:

Tournament director said they were fine.

TDs have to keep teams happy, for sometimes, checks are still being cashed. As long as you the umpire are not being held liable should something happen...

... but the chances of something happening are slim. Most of those rope necklaces are breakaway.

[KCKUMP]

I also do the players properly equipped and ready to play. It clears me from being liable. I had a 10U game the other day (yes sometimes even the UIC has to get dirty lol) catcher in the first inning throws his helmet to chase a passed ball and as soon as he comes back to the plate he has a big old earring. It was 2 outs so I let it go, when third out was made I walked over to his HC and said Andy catcher has a earring could you do me a favor and pop that out before he comes back out and check the rest of the players for any earrings or jewelry. He said no problem but of course assistant coach has to open his mouth and ask why I care. I said if I don’t see it it’s on you if I can see it then it’s on me. 

[Gfoley4]

12 hours ago, MadMax said:

... and conferences / mound visits, @Richvee, don’t forget those. 3 freebies, then we start pulling pitchers? Doesn’t jive with time-limited tournament games.

So most TD’s and LD’s adopt Fed Rules as the foundation, bat everyone (or use DH/EH’s with free defensive exchanges), keep the “fake to 3rd is legal” (because most of these kids are used to it anyway), drop the 3 free conferences and adopt OBR’s mound visits scheme (except not doing the 6 limit, yet... how cool would that be for us umpires? Oh please yes! No more F6 asking for time to go pat his F1 on the butt!), institute their own mercy/run rules, and then encourage umpires to be... frugal in calling balks (I’ll explain later). Jewelry is pretty much ignored.

With little kids (12U), I forbid metal. If they have those soft bracelets on, or those breakaway rope necklaces, I just ignore it. If they’re a metal necklace, I ask that that be removed, and kids/coaches/parents readily comply – no reason for warnings or ejections.

One 10-year old here in Phoenix is of a parentage that has some kind of mysticism or alternative belief system – their family wears these incredibly intricate hemp & leather bracelets with charms and stones interwoven in, and I was told by his coach that it represents his spirit life so far (and this is a 10 year old kid!), and that it is nearly impossible to take off without cutting it (the bracelet, not his arm) off. So instead of being all heavy-handed and insistent, I had them locate an arm sleeve and cover it. What we can’t see doesn’t “hurt” us! He borrowed a teammate’s for that game, and next week, he had his own. I remember the mom mouthing “thank you” to the coach and to me when we developed the solution.

Even in NFHS High School games, we can be a little more tolerant, or at least not be so draconian, heavy-handed, obtuse and quick to be all-officious. There’s something in place on our side, working for us – we’re (supposed) to ask “Are all (your) players properly and legally equipped?” of the coaches. If they answer affirmatively (nearly all do, no matter now naively or ignorantly), then we’re off the hook! We no longer make it an umpires-versus-everybody situation when you remind the leadoff batter he can’t wear a sterling silver bicycle chain draped around his neck, and certainly not outside his uniform! Am I going to stop the game, formally warn, and possibly eject the player because I spy the hint of a necklace peeking out the neckline of a uniform’s undershirt? Certainly not!... but, I know heavy-handed colleagues who would. If I need to, I’ll appeal to the coach with, “Rob, we need #18 to lose the necklace”, and Rob typically complies.

During a state playoff game, I had a batter hit a run-scoring single. I was in C to start, then came over to B, and looked over to see the 17-year old kid standing there, receiving instructions from his 1BC, and there’s a big silver necklace hanging out there on his chest, over the uniform. I didn’t call Time, I didn’t make a scene, I didn’t use the word “warning”, I certainly didn’t call him Out (that’s ridiculous)... I simply got their attention, pointed at the necklace, made a “take off” or “put away” motion and said, “I shouldn’t be able to see it”, then turned back to the game and my responsibilities. He complied, because the necklace didn’t make an obvious appearance on him for the rest of the game.

you didn't explain the frugality of calling balks!