One ump and leaving early

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Apr 20, 2018
4,581
113
SoCal
Even 3 seconds is pretty fast 20 yard dash for a 12 year old

Another question on stealing:

Should the runner start with 1 foot behind the base and time the pitchers arm to gain momentum or just start like a runner out of the block?

I just think it is low budget to teach girls to cheat. Just flat wrong.
Hey blue, what about my idea of giving coaches a warning pregame that you will be watching for it. Even if you cant. Plant the seed that you dont like cheaters.
 
Apr 20, 2018
4,581
113
SoCal
Even 3 seconds is pretty fast 20 yard dash for a 12 year old

Another question on stealing:

Should the runner start with 1 foot behind the base and time the pitchers arm to gain momentum or just start like a runner out of the block?

I just think it is low budget to teach girls to cheat. Just flat wrong.
Hey blue, what about my idea of giving coaches a warning pregame that you will be watching for it. Even if you cant. Plant the seed that you dont like cheaters.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
Our HC teaches to use the pitcher's arm motion to time so that as the ball is released the back foot is leaving the bag. A lot of coaches will accuse them of leaving early, but they are not. Their back foot is in contact with the bag, they're just already in motion. The umpires don't call it, but they never do around here. There's one team that is blatant. It's clearly taught. We can't ever, ever get an umpire to call it though. It's ridiculous. We almost always have 2 umpires when we play.
 
I teach 1 foot behind base and mimic the pitcher when she rocks back you rock back when she explodes forward you explode forward. If runner time is with pitcher it’s so close ump would need slow motion to see if she left early. We used to teach to go when the ball was straight up but dd was always really late leaving so I guess some players react differently to different cues. Never teach a child to cheat.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
We played a couple Teams that had their 1st sit right on the baseline until pitcher throws the ball then they stepped forward.

I thought it was pretty clever.

Hate clever people.
 
Jun 11, 2013
2,619
113
I'm pretty sure the point of the post is questioning the ethics of changing how you play because there is only 1 ump. I agree with OP, it's just cheating.
 
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
We played a couple Teams that had their 1st sit right on the baseline until pitcher throws the ball then they stepped forward.

I thought it was pretty clever.

Hate clever people.

Until the other team bunts the heck out of her because she is playing so far back. Too many coaches underestimate the importance of being able to bunt well. All it takes is for one or two good ones to be put down and it can put a lesser defense on their heels.
 
Apr 20, 2018
4,581
113
SoCal
We played a couple Teams that had their 1st sit right on the baseline until pitcher throws the ball then they stepped forward.

I thought it was pretty clever.

Hate clever people.

So is cheating (purposely obstructing) to stop cheating (leaving early) OK? How about having the 1st baseman stand right in the base path and step forward as the pitcher releases? I think I like it.
 
May 6, 2015
2,397
113
So is cheating (purposely obstructing) to stop cheating (leaving early) OK? How about having the 1st baseman stand right in the base path and step forward as the pitcher releases? I think I like it.

standing in basepath, but moving out of it as pitch is released is not obstructing. you cannot obstruct someone before the pitch is released. DD old team taught that as well, except entire team moved with P on defense, everyone taking one step forward. If worried about bunting, they can take two big strides forward (second will probably be as contact is being made, but at least they are already moving and not coming to a stop).

to me this is a great tactic to impede leaving early.
 
Sep 14, 2011
768
18
Glendale, AZ
Two issues here....

First of all, any FP softball above 8U should never be a single umpire. There is too much going on for one umpire to watch. Teams should refuse to play in leagues and/or tournaments that use only a single umpire. Yes, It could increase the cost to play, but it should produce a better game experience.

Second, one of the reasons there are more and more single umpire games (besides leagues and TDs trying to keep costs down) is the nationwide shortage of umpires. We need more people around the game to give umpiring a shot. We also need leagues, TDs, and coaches to support umpires and change the behaviors of fans and parents that discourage new umpires.
 

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