Field Conditions

[Goobie]

What, if any, responsibility does the umpire staff have in ensuring field safety? Can they stop a game if the conditions are too bad?

Here is the situation. Top level local ASA tournament (16U) and the fields were prepped for the first game and then never again. The hole in front of the pitting rubber was at least 5 feet long and 6-8 inches deep. It had an irregular bottom with lots of bumps, etc. They were pitching at 43' and the mounts for the removable 40' rubber were exposed and showing in the trench. Our pitchers had to step over/around them.

One of coaches talked to the Ump calling the game before first pitch and expressed concern regarding safety issues. The ump said there was nothing he could do since there wasn't a field crew supporting the tournament. He said we had to play it like it was.

Are there any rules in the ASA code that address this?

 

[MTR]

What, if any, responsibility does the umpire staff have in ensuring field safety? Can they stop a game if the conditions are too bad?

Here is the situation. Top level local ASA tournament (16U) and the fields were prepped for the first game and then never again. The hole in front of the pitting rubber was at least 5 feet long and 6-8 inches deep. It had an irregular bottom with lots of bumps, etc. They were pitching at 43' and the mounts for the removable 40' rubber were exposed and showing in the trench. Our pitchers had to step over/around them.

One of coaches talked to the Ump calling the game before first pitch and expressed concern regarding safety issues. The ump said there was nothing he could do since there wasn't a field crew supporting the tournament. He said we had to play it like it was.

Are there any rules in the ASA code that address this?

Yes, the umpire has complete control over whether the field is in playable once he game begins. However, the umpire is not the ground crew nor in control of the ground crew.

S/he can stop the game, but your issue is with whomever is running the tournament, not the umpire. BTW, if an umpire stopped the game every time there was an "issue" with the field, you would never finish an outdoor tournament. I do not know of any umpire who would not allow someone to repair a field if necessary.