White pop-up tent and a vehicle with windshield glare in the batter's eye

[SeeingEyeDog]

My partner and I are taking the field for a 13U travel fall, regular season game. (This is not a tournament or showcase of any kind.) We have a temporary E-Z Up tent with a white canopy and a parked vehicle shooting hideous glare towards the plate, both in the batter's eye. Absent a TD or other authority, I determined which team the person was a fan of and spoke to that coach and he took care of it. I emphasized to the coach specifically WHY I was asking...beyond me "making about myself", of course.

On the odd chance the vehicle and tent are not moved or we cannot determine any connection with one of the teams...a wayward picnicking family, perhaps? Am I allowing this game to be played? I say no...what say you, brothers?

~Dawg

[Coach Carl]

I would have no problem with you suspending the game until it can be resolved.  If the tent and/or vehicle is not connected with either team, I am sure both teams can commandeer plenty of help to ask around until the offenders are located.  Between coaches, players and their familes there must be at least 50 people available.   It shouldn't take too long.

[agdz59]

On 8/24/2025 at 5:11 PM, SeeingEyeDog said:

My partner and I are taking the field for a 13U travel fall, regular season game. (This is not a tournament or showcase of any kind.) We have a temporary E-Z Up tent with a white canopy and a parked vehicle shooting hideous glare towards the plate, both in the batter's eye. Absent a TD or other authority, I determined which team the person was a fan of and spoke to that coach and he took care of it. I emphasized to the coach specifically WHY I was asking...beyond me "making about myself", of course.

On the odd chance the vehicle and tent are not moved or we cannot determine any connection with one of the teams...a wayward picnicking family, perhaps? Am I allowing this game to be played? I say no...what say you, brothers?

~Dawg

Absolutely with you - I've done this myself.  Thankfully it was an easy fix but there was no way I was going to allow a pitch when none of the three of us at the plate could see through the glare.

[BigBlue4u]

On 8/24/2025 at 5:11 PM, SeeingEyeDog said:

On the odd chance the vehicle and tent are not moved or we cannot determine any connection with one of the teams...a wayward picnicking family, perhaps? Am I allowing this game to be played? I say no...what say you, brothers?

Try to find the car owner and kindly request that the car be moved. Do the same with the owner of the tent (if not also the car owner).   If you can't find the owner or the owner refuses to move the car/tent, ask yourself this:  If a batter gets hit with a pitch and is seriously injured, whom do you think the lawyers are coming after?

If the car/tent is not moved, suspend play until the sun is no longer an issue.

[SeeingEyeDog]

2 hours ago, BigBlue4u said:

...ask yourself this:  If a batter gets hit with a pitch and is seriously injured, whom do you think the lawyers are coming after?

Ding, ding, ding and...duh-DING! Yes...I strongly dislike that we have to think like this but, you are absolutely correct. There is doing the right thing, there is the rule book and then there are the potential legal implications of our actions or mis-actions.

Absent cup checks, AND PROVIDED we ask and audibly confirm "legally and properly equipped" and a youth F2 sustains a groin related injury because they weren't wearing a cup? That's the coach's or parent/guardian's responsibility. It's nearly impossible for an umpire to 100% confirm if a player is wearing a cup or not.

A huge white tent and a car with glare in the batter's eye in straightaway CF and someone gets hurt? They are laying that on the umpires. "Did you NOT SEE the tent AND the vehicle in centerfield, Mr. Umpire?"

~Dawg