Is this bad sportsmanship?

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

May 15, 2016
926
18
With a runner on first and less than two outs and the catcher drops strike three, the coach of the batting team yells run to the batter. The coach is not mistaking the dropped third strike rule. The coach is hoping the catcher will react as if it is a legit drop third strike, and either will get so caught up trying to tag the batter or the catcher will make a bad throw to first and the base runner can safely advance.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
I wouldn't think so. I'd think our catcher should know how many outs we have and how the rule works.
 
Jun 11, 2013
2,619
113
The catcher need to know the rules, but yes it's bad sportsmanship assuming he really knows the rule, which it seems many don't. I'd have to have Comp weigh in, but I'm pretty sure if the runner were to go and the PU felt it was on purpose to deceive it can lead to an out and/or ejection.

This happened in my son's little league game a couple of years ago. PU threw out HC on a team for this exact reason. I assure you the coach knew what he was doing. I'm not sure it was legal, but he did have to leave.
 
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
Over half the time it is honestly ignorance of the rule, especially when it comes from the stands. If it is on purpose just typical bush league stuff we all have to put up with.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
For rec. we have 5 different catcher's, yes they should know the rules but I dislike clever coaches.

It happens by mistake all the time but if I thought a coach was doing it on purpose I would say something to them.
 
Apr 24, 2017
203
28
Georgia
14u TB parent here. If you swing at a pitch that is dropped, you run down to first. Period. If the catcher goes to throw the ball, all runners advance. The catcher HAS to know the situation and the rule. If 1st is occupied, then just throw the ball back to the pitcher and move on. This happens sometimes, although catchers drop the ball less these days. We see it nearly every weekend. I DO think that coach should not be yelling RUN! That's where I think this is bad sportsmanship. Especially with the stated intention of confusing the players of the opposing team.

In rec, this is absolutely unacceptable to do. Younger TB ages, I still think it is wrong. Older TB though, coach shouldn't yell it. Girls should do it automatically. Just my two cents!
 

2br02b

Trabant swing
Jul 25, 2017
303
43
In this situation I've seen umpires loudly call the batter out if she starts up the line before the catcher has a chance to react...

As a coach, I want the girls to be in the habit of running - once they have established that they will run on a dropped 3rd, then I want them to start knowing when to run.
 
Jun 11, 2013
2,619
113
14u TB parent here. If you swing at a pitch that is dropped, you run down to first. Period. If the catcher goes to throw the ball, all runners advance. The catcher HAS to know the situation and the rule. If 1st is occupied, then just throw the ball back to the pitcher and move on. This happens sometimes, although catchers drop the ball less these days. We see it nearly every weekend. I DO think that coach should not be yelling RUN! That's where I think this is bad sportsmanship. Especially with the stated intention of confusing the players of the opposing team.

In rec, this is absolutely unacceptable to do. Younger TB ages, I still think it is wrong. Older TB though, coach shouldn't yell it. Girls should do it automatically. Just my two cents!

I disagree. Teach the kids the rules. At 14U TB you should know it even if none of the parents screaming run know the rule.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
It probably is not knowing the rule as often as not. We had a girl run to 1B on a dropped third. 1B was occupied and only one out. She ran on her own, our runner at 1 advanced to 2, the catcher threw to 1B but our runner made it. She was out anyway of course and some of our parents were like, what!? Why is she out!? They just didn't know the details of the rule and I think that happens to coaches plenty too. I like to try to give the benefit of the doubt. To me bad sportsmanship is more like the 1B coach that yelled BOO at our 1B when she tried to make a play, or the parents heckling our pitchers. Having the girls run to 1B on a third strike no matter what isn't poor sportsmanship to me, and it's part of how the girls learn. After the game in the huddle the coach can explain where they went wrong and next time they know.
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,481
Members
21,445
Latest member
Bmac81802
Top