How do you handle an umpire who disregards certain rules?

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Jul 19, 2021
630
93
While I understand what you are saying your example of the strike zone is still a "judgement call" rule. An umpire sees what he sees based on his frame of reference. Coaches and parents and players see what they see based on their frame of reference. Ultimately the umps frame of reference is the only one that matters 🤷‍♀️ A pitcher clearly violating the rules by not coming together once on the rubber is not a judgement call. I mean - there are some who bring their hands close to the glove in front of the body but not quite together - yeah that's judgement - but a pitcher who doesn't at all is blatantly not following the rules and, I'm sorry, that needs to be enforced - or at least addressed. That's not a judgement call - that's a violation of a rule.

We all think there are rules we shouldn't need to follow because something "isn't" happening - until it does happen. My old job wouldn't let us into a certain section of the building without proper PPE including closed toe shoes. Not even to walk in the prescribed pathway where no equipment ever was to get to the closest bathroom to my desk. Seems silly but the rule is there IN CASE something does happen. We didn't get to just say - but it doesn't impact us since we are in the walkway away from everything. We had to follow the rule. Softball should be no different - we don't get to decide which rules to follow. Seems like a bad life lesson to me. Ultimately that's what we really want to teach with sports isn't it? How to be a better person? Letting the uncontrollables roll off is a good lesson too though and I would probably deal with it because going postal is also a bad life lesson, hahahaha. Sounds like the OP managed well after that bump.
Ok. Agree to disagree. It's just girls softball to me. A game. Not necessary for me to see every single rule violation called if no advantage is being gained. Life's too short. Others feel differently. If it is a rule it needs to be called. I get that. Just not my thing.
 
Oct 14, 2019
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If a rule is in place to prevent a certain something from happening, and the rule is being violated but that "certain something", in this case quick pitching, is NOT happening, is it really a rule violation? No one is being impacted negatively.


"The rules" state the the strike zone is from the armpit/chest/letters to the knee and nowadays nothing gets called up there so are you going to approach the umpire before the game to show him the strike zone in rule book? There are all sorts of rules that never get called so my line of thinking is this. If you spend your time worrying about them while you're coaching, you're thinking about the wrong stuff. Hence my original message to the OP. Worry about the controllable. Your girls. Stop wasting time worrying about the uncontrollable. The umpires.
I’ve never seen a coach complain about a pitcher not starting with their hands together. I have seen an umpire make the call. I’ve seen pitchers quick pitch but it had nothing to do with their hands not coming together. But that’s mainly up to the batter. If you step in the box be ready to hit. Just holding up your back hand doesn’t mean the ump has to grant you time.
 
Jul 31, 2015
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I had to go back and look at the original post -

We're debating about a 14U game where the pitcher was not bringing her hands together at the start of every pitch. But she was also not quick pitching, therefore violating the letter of the rule, but not it's intent.

The OP, who was the opposing coach, pointed out the rule violation to the home plate umpire before the start of the game. The ump agreed it was wrong but said he wouldn't be calling the violation.

But then the umpire made some calls that didn't go the OP/opposing teams' way and they lost. OP writes in to say he feels slighted because some of the calls against his team were obvious and thinks his team received unequal treatment, although he didn't say so to the players or umps afterward. It was semifinal game.

In summary, the OP/opposing coach was trying to bully/control the game from the outset, wasn't able to, lost, and is now upset.
 
Jul 19, 2021
630
93
I had to go back and look at the original post -

We're debating about a 14U game where the pitcher was not bringing her hands together at the start of every pitch. But she was also not quick pitching, therefore violating the letter of the rule, but not it's intent.

The OP, who was the opposing coach, pointed out the rule violation to the home plate umpire before the start of the game. The ump agreed it was wrong but said he wouldn't be calling the violation.

But then the umpire made some calls that didn't go the OP/opposing teams' way and they lost. OP writes in to say he feels slighted because some of the calls against his team were obvious and thinks his team received unequal treatment, although he didn't say so to the players or umps afterward. It was semifinal game.

In summary, the OP/opposing coach was trying to bully/control the game from the outset, wasn't able to, lost, and is now upset.
Bingo
 
May 12, 2021
27
3
I had to go back and look at the original post -

We're debating about a 14U game where the pitcher was not bringing her hands together at the start of every pitch. But she was also not quick pitching, therefore violating the letter of the rule, but not it's intent.

The OP, who was the opposing coach, pointed out the rule violation to the home plate umpire before the start of the game. The ump agreed it was wrong but said he wouldn't be calling the violation.

But then the umpire made some calls that didn't go the OP/opposing teams' way and they lost. OP writes in to say he feels slighted because some of the calls against his team were obvious and thinks his team received unequal treatment, although he didn't say so to the players or umps afterward. It was semifinal game.

In summary, the OP/opposing coach was trying to bully/control the game from the outset, wasn't able to, lost, and is now upset.
Wrong. Again, I'm going to reiterate the reason for my post. How do coaches handle their message to their team when the players are frustrated with calls being made during the game? I made no mention of quick pitching or how they had an unfair advantage, in fact, went on to say it was a moot point. The reason they won is they simply outplayed us. Would the game outcome have changed if we got some of those close calls, yes, but what competitive game wouldn't? I do however fall in the camp of playing within the rulebook and as a coach, if you're not using the rules to your advantage you're not using every tool to help your girl succeed. Show me a coach that wouldn't try to call out an illegal pitch motion of an opposing team's #1 and I'll show you a liar. Whether perceived or not, any player, coach, fan (anyone invested in the outcome of the game) has, at least, in their head debated a call. That can ultimately change the outcome of the game. Being resilient is a common message with our team, but sometimes we fall short.
 
Jul 19, 2021
630
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I'm going to reiterate the reason for my post. How do coaches handle their message to their team when the players are frustrated with calls being made during the game?
Simple. Tell them to only concern themselves with the controllable. Themselves. Then ask them what they could they have done to make the outcome different. Hit better. Field better. Run bases better. Throw better. Lets work on these things at the next practice. End of subject. Dwelling on the uncontrollable builds a player looking for excuses instead of looking at themselves.
 
Jul 14, 2018
982
93
It is because you just made my job harder. And because the coach is doing it to try to create some advantage. If you REALLY want to have this discussion, pre-game plate meeting is the time to do it with both coaches present, instead of some side conversation hoping to get your team a call.

Thanks, as always, for your perspective marriard. I didn’t consider how having a side conversation might look to the other team. Honestly, the home plate confab to go over ground rules was what I had in mind when I posted my question. But I can also see where the ump wouldn’t want things to get contentious between coaches before the game even starts.

Still, is it really me that’s making your job harder and trying to gain an unfair advantage when the other coach is the one putting a pitcher in the circle whose delivery is clearly illegal?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Nov 26, 2010
4,784
113
Michigan
But the OP didn't say she was quick pitching, therefore, it had zero effect on his hitters. We aren't talking about what COULD happen, we're talking about what DID happen. I agree that is the spirit of the rule but she didn't quick pitch them so again, who cares.
No by not bringing your hands together as the rule states. It’s a quick pitch. I don’t care if the pitcher is on the rubber for 10 seconds, going directly into your motion without bringing your hands together is a quick pitch. It’s not about the “spirit” of the rule, it’s the actual rule.
 
Nov 26, 2010
4,784
113
Michigan
Ok. Agree to disagree. It's just girls softball to me. A game. Not necessary for me to see every single rule violation called if no advantage is being gained. Life's too short. Others feel differently. If it is a rule it needs to be called. I get that. Just not my thing.
Would you have a different opinion of it was boys baseball?
 

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