|
Historically, Pioneer Valley Youth Baseball League games have been umpired only by members of the Massachusetts Baseball Umpires Association. The MBUA is a member group of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, the body that organizes all interscholastic athletic activity in this state. The MIAA established the MBUA to train and regulate the umpires who officiate scholastic baseball games.
MBUA STANDARDS
Relatedly, MBUA members are expected generally to observe the standards of their association and the MIAA. That is, they should be attired always in an MBUA uniform. That uniform consists of a blue hat with an MBUA logo, a dark blue shirt with an MBUA logo of the left breast pocket, gray trousers, black belt, black socks, and black shoes. Also, they should be familiar with and enforce The Rules of Major League Baseball, which are used in MIAA contests, and special MIAA rules. Finally, they should observe MBUA methods of officiating. For example, if an MBUA umpire officiates a game by himself, he will do so from behind the plate, the traditional position of the Umpire-in-Chief of a game.
LEAGUE CUSTOMS
Customarily, of course, there are exceptions to each of these MBUA protocols. Most notably, a Pioneer Valley Youth Baseball League umpire may wear a light blue shirt, rather than the official dark blue shirt of the MBUA, on very sunny and hot occasions.
Also, the umpiring crew should observe the customary post-game handshake of the teams. Typically, all members of both teams will shake hands at home plate after a PVYBL game. The umpires should observe that ceremony from the vicinity of the pitcher's mound and, of course, shake hands with players, if they approach the crew.
LEAGUE RULES
PVYBL umpires shall observe not only The Rules of the National Federation of High Schools, but also, several PVYBL rules. League rules are codified on the Game Rules and Procedures page of this site.
INTERFERENCE RULES
Also, the umpires of the PVYBL are advised to concentrate on the enforcement of the NFHS rules concerning interference and player safety.
In addition to the definition of Interference in NFHS Rule 2.21, the interference rules are cited in Rule 8.4.
A batter is out when a preceding runner interferes with a fielder who is attempting to catch a thrown ball or to throw a ball in an attempt to complete any play. That is, for example, if a runner on first base disturbs effectively either a catch at second base to produce a force out or a throw to first base to cause an out there, both the runner and the batter are to be declared out.
Interference may be called and the batter/runner declared out, too, if the runner from first base hinders a throw to first base by 1) failing to slide or by sliding into the pivot man, or 2) by standing or running in the likely path of the throw to first base when 30’ or 40’ from the second base bag.
Specifically, a runner who slides beyond second base into a pivot man should be called out for interference. Certainly, too, a runner should be declared guilty of interference, if he spikes the pivot man or begins his slide atop the second base bag. Similarly, a player who begins a late slide beside the same side of second base as the pivot man should be called out for interference. Finally, a sliding runner who "pops up" into the pivot man and interferes with a throw to retire another runner should cause the other runner to be declared out for the interference of the sliding runner.
Furthermore, a runner need not be struck with a thrown ball to interfere with a play! The presence of a retired runner in a throwing lane or the base line shall be sufficient basis for declaring Interference, if a throw is attempted or the throwing action is begun by the pivot man.
Finally, of course, interference may be called due to a collision caused by the runner. Generally, the key issue in the determination of interference is whether a defensive play has been hindered, impeded, or prevented.
SAFETY RULES
Similarly, three Major League Baseball Rules provide the means for the enforcement of player safety. A pitcher shall not intentionally pitch at the batter. If, in the umpire’s judgement, such a violation occurs, the umpire may disqualify the pitcher from further participation in the game.
Importantly, the NFHS rules consider violent and potentially injurious acts, like throwing at a batter, to be unsportsmanlike conduct. Secondly, disqualification should be enforced immediately and unequivocally in such cases.
That is, if a runner collides violently, injuriously, and/or flagrantly with a fielder, he should be disqualified without hesitation.
Generally, a "flagrant"collision is one in which the runner leaves the baseline to collide with a fielder, lowers his shoulders to contct the fielder, strikes the fielder with his forearm, and/or extends his arms to push to fielder. Also, a runner may be judged to collide flagrantly if he does so at full speed when he obviously will be retired.
Similarly, if a runner spikes a fielder above knee height when sliding or kicks the gloved hand of a fielder attempting to make a tag, he should be disqualified. That is, any act by a runner that may injure a fielder should be punished by disqualification.
SPORTSMANSHIP
Usually, Pioneer Valley Youth Baseball League games are contested in very healthy and sporting fashion. Our coaches and players enjoy the spirited competition of the league and, in turn, congratulate their opponents and umpires much more frequently than they criticize them. Occasionally, however, league umpires must address misconduct by ejecting a coach or disqualifying a player.
Specifically, a participant or a spectator shall not denigrate or insult a player, coach, or spectator. A player shall not be the object of offensive, embarrassing, or insulting remarks or behavior. Any remark or act intended to humiliate a player should be addressed immediately by the Umpire-in-Chief.
Moreover, a coach or player shall not criticize the overall judgment, fairness, and honesty of an umpire. Certainly, a coach or player may question or criticize a call within the limits of acceptable dissent. However, if a coach or player says "you are terrible", "your judgment is awful", or "your strike zone is bad", that person should be ejected or disqualified, immediately. Similarly, if a person questions loudly the integrity of an umpire, he should be dismissed. That is, statements like "call them both ways" or "you must be from the home team's town" should not be tolerated. That is, the word "you" is the "magic" one that should beget ejection. More generally, a coach, player, or specatator shall not be allowed to "show up" an umpire.
A player, manager, or spectator who attempts to distract a player or acts with deliberate unsportsmanlike intent toward any game participant shall be ejected. That is, a participant or spectator shall not be permitted to distract an umpire by making repeated and highly notable attempts to influence his decisions. Also, a player, coach, or spectator may not distract an opponent by waving a towel or shouting loudly when an opposing pitcher is delivering a pitch or an opposing batter is at the plate.
Initially, the UIC may wish to instruct the offender and, if the offender is a player, his coach that any further misconduct will beget ejection or disqualification. However, significant unsporting conduct cannot be permitted to problem PVYBL games.
Importantly, the Umpire-in-Chief of a game should address these issues with the offending coach, an offending player, or, in the case of a spectator, the home team coach. If the coach of an offended player notices unsporting conduct, he should not attempt to resolve directly the problem he has observed. Rather, he should note the difficulty to the Umpire-in-chief and allow him to solve the problem behavior.
EJECTION AND DISQUALIFICATION PROTOCOL
When a manager, coach, player, or trainer is ejected, he shall leave the field immediately and he shall leave the park. Importantly, the "park" or "ballpark" means the entire area from which the playing field can be seen. If an ejected manager or coach refuses to leave the field immediately or to depart promptly the park, the Umpire-in-Chief shall forfeit the game to the opposing team.
Importantly, a PVYBL player shall be disqualified, rather than ejected, from a game. Of course, league players are minors. In turn, the coaches of our teams are responsible legally for the supervision of their respective players during games. Consequently, a player who is dismissed from a game by an umpire shall be disqualified: he shall reamin on his team's bench until the completion of the game. During that time, he may not particpate in any way in team activity.
There are two circumstances in which a disqualified player may leave the park before the conclusion of a game. Of course, a disqualified player may be permitted to leave the park with a parent or legal guardian, if he and his parents wish him to do so. Secondly, if the disqualified player dissents notably to the judgments of the umpires, comments unfavorably about opposing players, or participates in game activity, the Umpire-in-Chief shall require that the player leave the park, if a parent or legal guardian may accompany him.
SPECTATOR CONTROL PROCEDURES
Customarily, Pioneer Valley Youth Baseball League games are viewed in very friendly, enthusiastic, and polite fashion. Usually, the spectators of our contests are members of the families of our players. Sometimes, too, the friends and older aquaintenances of our players attend games. That is, nearly all of the fans at our games are interested genuinely in watching an entertaining game in a pleasant park with their friends and family. Consequently, PVYBL games are disturbed very rarely by fan dissent or protest and more seldomly still by unruly spectators. In fact, no significant fan disturbance has marred a PVYBL game during the past ten years and, probably, for a longer time.
However, if a spectator at a PVYBL game does disturb play, our umpires should proceed in systematic fashion to address the problem. Again, the way in which the umpires should proceed is defined in the Rules of the National Federation of High Schools. Generally, the home club and the Umpire-in-Chief are responsible jointly for most elements of crowd control. No person shall be allowed on the playing field during a game, except players and coaches in uniform, managers, news photographers authorized by the home team, officers of the law in uniform, and watchmen or other employees of the home club. That is, the field is to occupied only by game participants and those authorized by the home club to be on the field for definitive purposes.
Moreover, players and spectators be in the proper places. "Players and substitutes shall confine themselves to their respective benches, unless they are particpating in the game. No one, except players, substitutes, managers, coaches, trainers, and batboys shall occupy a bench during a game.
The home team provide police protection sufficient to preserve order. If a person or persons enter the playing field during a game and interfere in any way with play, the visiting team may refuse to play until the field is cleared. Relatedly, if a fan disturbs players, substitutes, coaches, managers, or umpires in any significant way, the home team shall be responsible initially for the cessation of the disturbance. Specifically, during PVYBL games, like scholastic contests, the home team manager shall be expected to address any spectators who disrupt play and, if necessary, arrange the removal of those spectators from the ball park by calling the local police.
Additionally, if necessary, the umpires may exercise direct control over specatators. Each umpire has authority at his discretion to eject from the playing field (1) any person whose duties permit his presence on the field, such as photographers, and (2) any spectator or other person not authorized to be on the playing field. Again, if necessary, the Umpire-in-Chief may advise or command the home team manager to call the local police to affect the removal of a spectator from the park.
The specific grounds for the ejection of a coach or disqualification of a player from a game apply to spectators, too. No participant shall (1) incite, or try to incite, by word or sign a demonstration of spectators, (2) use language that...will reflect unfavorably upon opposing players, an umpire, or any spectator, (3) call "Time" or employ any other word...for the obvious purpose of trying to make the pitcher...balk, or (4) make intentional contact with an umpire or any manager, coache, player, or spectator." Similarly, a player, manager, or spectator who attempts to distract players or acts with deliberate unsportsmanlike intent toward any game participant shall be ejected.
INCIDENT REPORTS
The Umpire-in-Chief shall report fully the ejection of a coach or the disqualification of a player to the Commissioner within 24 hours of the conclusion of a game in which such an incident occurs. This report should be made preliminarily by a telephone call and, conclusively, via e-mail.
Similarly, the Umpire-in-Chief shall report fully any flagrant offense, such as the use of obscene language or an assault upon an umpire, manager, coach, player, or spectator, to the Commissioner within four hours after the conclusion of the game. Again, such an incident should be reported informally by telephone and, then, formally by e-mail.
Finally, the Umpire-in-Chief shall report immediately to the Commisioner any failure of the home team manager to summon the local police to protect players, coaches, umpires, or spectators.
FLY BALL COVERAGE
PVYBL umpires are advised to cover fly balls in an aggressive manner.
Specifically, the PBUC manual advises that an umpire "go out" from Position A when:
(1) a center or right outfielder attempts a running catch,
(2) an infielder attempts catch while running away from home plate,
(3) two or more fielders converge to catch a fly ball,
(4) a ball is hit near the right field foul line,
(5) a ball is hit near an outfield fence,
(6) a ball is likely to roll into a "dead ball" area or a bullpen.
In addition to these instructions, four significant ideas should govern umpring judgements on fly balls from Position A. First, there are few "routine" fly balls in Koufax and Mantle play. Typically, these games are played in the evening, when the sun affects greatly the ability of fielders of all abilities. Also, often, Koufax and Mantle players have not played together and may not have practiced recently.
Secondly, the General Instructions to Umpires in the Rules of Major League Baseball advise an umpire to "Keep your eye everlastingly on the ball while it is in play. It is much more vital to know where fly ball fell...than whether of not a runner missed a base."
Thirdly, PVYBL should observe the instruction of Jim Evans, who operates one of the two schools that train umpires for work in professional baseball. Jim advises his students:"When in doubt, go out." If a fly ball seems initially to be a "trouble ball", but becomes one that is handled easily, the bases umpire and the crew will have lost nothing by going out. Alternatively, if the initial judgement of the bases umpire is that a fly ball will result in a routine catch and, instead, an outfileder attempts a diving catch that may or may not be successful, the bases umpire will have sacrificed the opportunity for a credible call by "coming in" to observe the batter-runner.
Fourthly, if the bases umpire "goes out" to cover a diving catch attempt that fails, the plate umpire can cover easily an play on the bases. The plate umpire should "read" his partner, whenever a ball is hit in the air toward the right side of the field. If the bases umpire "goes out", the plate umpire should move quickly to the pitcher's mound. Subsequently, the plate umpire can and should move toward any base at which a play might be attempted.
The effect of these "coverage rules" should be that the bases umpire in a Mantle game should "go out" to cover all fly balls (and pop flies) hit to the right of straightway center field. Relatedly, Mantle and Mack game crews should agree expressly before a game that the bases umpire will "go out" from Position A on all batted balls, except clean base hits.
Importantly, the use of this procedure should have three effects. First, the mechanic should eliminate the occasions when a "trouble ball" to the right of center is covered by a plate umpire. Secondly, this method will enable to closest umpire to make the call on a fly ball catch, even if the catch is a routine one. Thirdly, the judgments of the umpiring crew should be better and more credible. The calling bases umpire will be much closer to catch attempts than the plate umpire; he will have a better angle from which to view such tries, especially on diving catch or "over the shoulder tries" by the center fielder; the calling umpire will more likely to be stationary when making the call.
COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS
Each umpire shall be paid his fee in cash or bank cheque before the start of a game. Any bank cheque issued shall be one to be drawn on the account of the concerned League Association. Each team shall pay one of the umpires. If an umpire works alone, he shall be paid 150% of a fee, which shall be paid equally by both teams. If one team has fewer than nine players and, hence, must forfeit, that team will pay a full fee to both of the umpires or, if there is only one official, 150% of a fee to that umpire.
The home team manager shall inform the manaager of the visiting team and the Umpire Assignor by telephone or e-mail of the cancellation or postponement of any scheduled game no later than two hours before the scheduled start of that game. The Umpire Assignor shall inform the assigned umpires of the cancellation. If the home team fails to provide such notice and either or both of the assigned umpires appear for such a scheduled game, the home team will pay a full fee to the reporting umpire(s).
If an assigned umpire is not present at the start of the game and does not appear during the first inning of the contest, he shall not officiate that game and shall not be paid.
|
