Rules the kids should know

[MrUmpireSir]

I'm not a coach, but after a decade or so of umpiring at all levels, I've noticed a consistent gap in rules knowledge that can cause no end of trouble. For all the coaches out there, I'm just going to put this out there for whatever consideration, if any, you may wish to give it:

Infield Fly Rule:
The ball is live on an infield fly, and runners may be tagged off their bases for outs. Too often, base runners behave as if the ball is dead when an umpire calls “Infield fly, batter’s out!” Also, a bunted ball that pops way up high right back to the mound cannot, by rule, be called an infield fly. So, yes, the pitcher could allow it to fall untouched to the ground to create a DP. Oh well, should have bunted better, etc.

Appeal Plays:
Players need to learn how to make them properly. Granted, in many cases the appeal is obvious but players should really learn how to do it properly: Obtain secure possession of the ball and tag the base or runner being appealed, then state the appeal clearly to the correct umpire. Examples: “I’m appealing that the lead runner missed this base” or “I’m appealing that the runner on third left early on the caught fly ball” or “I’m appealing that the batter-runner failed to immediately return after overrunning first base.” If a player makes an appeal, but the umpire just stands there staring without responding, they should consider the possibility that the appeal, as stated, was incomplete (it could also be that no appeal may be made - intervening play, etc.).

Live ball/dead ball:
Know when the ball is live and when it is dead. We often see pitchers attempt pick offs, or see runners try to steal, before the umpire has put the ball back in play (after a foul ball, for example). Likewise, sometimes runners and batters think they have the power to “call” time (batter signals time, and immediately steps out of the box only to have a pitched ball called a strike, or a runner holds one hand up after sliding into to base, then leaps up to dust himself off and is tagged out off the base). Only an umpire can call time; players may request it. Also, there is no need to “request time” when the ball is already dead! (e.g., after a foul ball, etc.).

Timing Plays:
Most timing plays are NOT force plays, yet defensive players often act as if they are. Example: R1, R3, 1 out. F3 is playing off the bag 6-8 feet, and R1 is off on the pitch. Batter lines out sharply to F3, who casually jogs over to first to “double off” R1. R3 scores before F3 reaches first base for the third out. The run scores – this is a timing play, not a force play. Now, if R3 also took off with the pitch, the defence could make another appeal at third for an “advantageous fourth out” and nullify the run. But they have to know to do it.

[scorekeeper]

I'm not a coach, but after a decade or so of umpiring at all levels, I've noticed a consistent gap in rules knowledge that can cause no end of trouble. For all the coaches out there, I'm just going to put this out there for whatever consideration, if any, you may wish to give it:…

I concur 100%, but I’m afraid you’re asking the right group of people to do something increasingly foreign to them because they seem to feel its unimportant. Plus, you’d be surprised at how many coaches, generally at the before HSV level would be lucky to get 2 of the 4 situation you noted correct. When that happens and the coach tries to teach players what to do, all they do is create more ignorance!

This happened just yesterday at a Jr legion tournament. Head coach has been coaching over 30 years, and is an ex-HSV coach. There was a play at 2nd where the runner was called out for interference on an illegal slide. One of the team coaches is just a dad helping out, and he went ballistic when the boy was called out.

The head coach told him that we were playing by HS rules, and in HS rules a popup slide is illegal. The other coach said he didn’t know that, and proceeded to lecture the team right there and then, stating emphatically that anytime they got caught using a popup slide, they’d be called out for interference, so they should quit doing that on those doubles and triples, even if there was no fielder around the base.

Well, I got out my trusty NFHS rulebook and underlined where it said popup slides were illegal.

2-32-2 .. a slide is illegal if:
a. the runner uses a rolling, cross-body or pop-up slide into the fielder; …

Those last 3 words in the sentence makes on heck of a lot of difference. In fact, in the case book it shows that not only does it make a difference if there’s a fielder present, it also makes a difference where that fielder is at. But those little things make the difference. I can just see next season, that helpful dad raising all kinds of Cain at a game because some ump didn’t call some player out for doing what the rule book says is perfectly legal.

That’s exactly why coaches at the very lowest levels should begin teaching the rules of the game, and not to just the players, but the parents too! Most umpire associations will gladly send an umpire to conduct that kind of thing, but more often than not, coaches say they don’t have the time.

[MrUmpireSir]

I concur 100%, but I’m afraid you’re asking the right group of people to do something increasingly foreign to them because they seem to feel its unimportant. Plus, you’d be surprised at how many coaches, generally at the before HSV level would be lucky to get 2 of the 4 situation you noted correct. When that happens and the coach tries to teach players what to do, all they do is create more ignorance!

I see it both ways. On the one hand, often there's nobody willing to step up to the plate (if you'll excuse the expression) except parents and gym teachers (especially in Tier 2 HS). Without these people, there would be no baseball. So, in that way, we should all be grateful to them.

OTOH, when these otherwise good folks think that by virtue of their newfound positions, they know all the rules they need to know from listening to announcers on TV, trouble (and ejections) usually follow.

Like everyone else, they should try to learn over time, and not immediately assume the umpire is wrong when (from their perspective) something wonky happens.

[scorekeeper]

I see it both ways. On the one hand, often there's nobody willing to step up to the plate (if you'll excuse the expression) except parents and gym teachers (especially in Tier 2 HS). Without these people, there would be no baseball. So, in that way, we should all be grateful to them.

I hope you don’t think I ever take them for granted or am ungrateful, because I’m not.

OTOH, when these otherwise good folks think that by virtue of their newfound positions, they know all the rules they need to know from listening to announcers on TV, trouble (and ejections) usually follow.

Like everyone else, they should try to learn over time, and not immediately assume the umpire is wrong when (from their perspective) something wonky happens.

You’ve hit it pretty much on the head with the announcers, but I’ll throw in listening to baseball dogma as a source of ignorance also.

I’ll also come to their defense in that what we’re discussing is just a symptom of the times. More and more, its normal for people to want to skip the details in favor of time. People go to work and its often so fast paced, if they stop to scrutinize the details of a project or take too much time in reading a memo or a report, they get run over!

That kind of thinking has overflowed the office, and into the private lives of folks, and therefore into the private lives of their kids too. So many people are bound and determined to have little Johnny play as well as a MLB player not just before they’re physically prepared, but mentally prepared too, its screwing up everything.

This seems to be the bottom line. Coaches are under so much pressure to produce the next crop of HOF players, they have to choose between an hour of hitting or fielding practice or an hour of studying the rules, and we all know which one will be chosen.

[Jake Patterson]

I'm not a coach, but after a decade or so of umpiring at all levels, I've noticed a consistent gap in rules knowledge that can cause no end of trouble. For all the coaches out there, I'm just going to put this out there for whatever consideration, if any, you may wish to give it:

Infield Fly Rule:
The ball is live on an infield fly, and runners may be tagged off their bases for outs. Too often, base runners behave as if the ball is dead when an umpire calls “Infield fly, batter’s out!” Also, a bunted ball that pops way up high right back to the mound cannot, by rule, be called an infield fly. So, yes, the pitcher could allow it to fall untouched to the ground to create a DP. Oh well, should have bunted better, etc.

Appeal Plays:
Players need to learn how to make them properly. Granted, in many cases the appeal is obvious but players should really learn how to do it properly: Obtain secure possession of the ball and tag the base or runner being appealed, then state the appeal clearly to the correct umpire. Examples: “I’m appealing that the lead runner missed this base” or “I’m appealing that the runner on third left early on the caught fly ball” or “I’m appealing that the batter-runner failed to immediately return after overrunning first base.” If a player makes an appeal, but the umpire just stands there staring without responding, they should consider the possibility that the appeal, as stated, was incomplete (it could also be that no appeal may be made - intervening play, etc.).

Live ball/dead ball:
Know when the ball is live and when it is dead. We often see pitchers attempt pick offs, or see runners try to steal, before the umpire has put the ball back in play (after a foul ball, for example). Likewise, sometimes runners and batters think they have the power to “call” time (batter signals time, and immediately steps out of the box only to have a pitched ball called a strike, or a runner holds one hand up after sliding into to base, then leaps up to dust himself off and is tagged out off the base). Only an umpire can call time; players may request it. Also, there is no need to “request time” when the ball is already dead! (e.g., after a foul ball, etc.).

Timing Plays:
Most timing plays are NOT force plays, yet defensive players often act as if they are. Example: R1, R3, 1 out. F3 is playing off the bag 6-8 feet, and R1 is off on the pitch. Batter lines out sharply to F3, who casually jogs over to first to “double off” R1. R3 scores before F3 reaches first base for the third out. The run scores – this is a timing play, not a force play. Now, if R3 also took off with the pitch, the defence could make another appeal at third for an “advantageous fourth out” and nullify the run. But they have to know to do it.

Good post....