Umpire Guidelines for Covid Softball

[radness]

6 feet behind the catcher is a bad foul ball zone.

Set up 1 or 2 camaras on the back stop,
with live streaming .
Ump goes behind the backstop and wing it. (Ohhh do your best!)

Maybe flip a coin on close ones.

 

[Flexmike18]

Everything sounds like will be the same in are neck of the woods from meeting last week they said 6 feet back just wont work.

 

[The Man In Blue]

Nope. If it isn't safe enough to do what we do, it isn't safe enough to do.

No way am I standing six feet behind the catcher. Even in gear, that is more dangerous than standing behind the pitcher. There are reasons we position where we position. The line of fire is one of them. That is far more dangerous than standing behind the pitcher, even in gear. It also gives a far worse look at the pitch than standing behind the pitcher.

We should be sitting in a lounge chair behind the fence ... parents know that is the best view. Or I like @RADcatcher 's plan of letting us call games from home!

 

[radness]

Air Conditioned Hazmat Approved
"The Blue"

 

[Big Daddy Michigan]

I doubt an average height ump would not be able to see any of the strike zone.

Maybe- the plate is 18 inches and the average girl's shoulders are wider than that so it seems that being directly behind her but not directly over her would create a blocked view.

Nope. If it isn't safe enough to do what we do, it isn't safe enough to do.

No way am I standing six feet behind the catcher. Even in gear, that is more dangerous than standing behind the pitcher. There are reasons we position where we position. The line of fire is one of them. That is far more dangerous than standing behind the pitcher, even in gear. It also gives a far worse look at the pitch than standing behind the pitcher.

We should be sitting in a lounge chair behind the fence ... parents know that is the best view. Or I like @RADcatcher 's plan of letting us call games from home!

I was going to post that yesterday & forgot.

 

[texasheat]

Some real world images from a round robin this past Tuesday night in Houston. I think the ump being 6 ft behind the catcher is fine. So they may not have as good of a view and miss a few. BIG DEAL. It ain't the College World Series. Get over it. Let's play ball and quit waiting for the perfect solution in an imperfect world.

 

[radness]

They may be able to be 6' behind.
However it is more dangerous for them to be more exposed on foul balls !!!

 

[flash277]

They may be able to be 6' behind.
However it is more dangerous for them to be more exposed on foul balls !!!

Right, that's my main worry. Our TD said he spoke to coaches about this, and that they understand the situation about balls and strikes, so I'm not worried about calling pitches, I'm more worried about getting beat up on foul balls. I'll still give it a go see how it works.

 

[radness]

Right, that's my main worry. Our TD said he spoke to coaches about this, and that they understand the situation about balls and strikes, so I'm not worried about calling pitches, I'm more worried about getting beat up on foul balls. I'll still give it a go see how it works.

Would rather be out on the field in full gear with a glove!!!

Atleast seriously consider wearing a helmet back there too!!

Good Luck Umpires!!!

 

[texasheat]

However it is more dangerous for them to be more exposed on foul balls !!!

Explain this concept to me like I'm 8.

Looking at angles and such, to me there is a "cone of safety" behind the catcher that gets larger as you move further back. I'm probably missing something.