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YOU MAKE THE CALL.....

1. This one was strange to say the least and one I had not seen in 50 years of fastpitch. It happened during the final of a Midget tournament in the bottom of the 4th inning. The host team for the tournament was in the field and were down by a score of 7-2 and the coach decided it was time to switch pitchers. She went to the mound to make the change and the new pitcher was the right fielder so she was called towards the dugout to get ready to pitch.

The coach delayed the proceedings on the mound and directed her new pitcher, and a catcher from the dugout, to warm-up on the sidelines between the first base line and the dugout. The pitcher proceeded to throw pitches and the umpire left the mound to notify the scorekeeper of the change. The coach delayed the umpire’s notification to the scorekeeper by calling him back towards the mound to go over the impending change.

Finally the change was done and the new pitcher stopped throwing to the spare catcher on the sidelines and moved to the pitching mound. This brought an immediate complaint from the coach of the batting team. After a few items of protest about the rightfielder warming up as a pitcher on the playing field, and then moving to the mound for 5 more warm-up pitches, the umpire tossed the coach from the game. I won’t elaborate on what was said or done, but fair to say it was a legitimate ejection as far as the umpire was concerned.

The umpire allowed the new pitcher to throw the customary five pitches to warm up, and then the game continued.

SO WHAT IS THE CALL? Can the new pitcher throw warm-up pitches on the playing field during the called conference, then enter the game as a new pitcher and get another five pitches to warm up?

Rule 6 Sec 8: In the first inning (or when a pitcher replaces another), not more than one minute may be used to deliver not more than 5 pitches to the catcher or other teammate.

I think everyone involved in the game knows this rule of 5 pitches as it has been in the rule book for a long time. Each additional pitch should result in a ball to the batter as stated in the rule book.

What I see happens in many instances when a team or coach displays a total lack of respect for the rules, the opponent is the one who is deemed the jerk. They of course protest which most often falls on deaf ears of an official who is being played like a puppet by the instigating coach. The protesting team cannot understand how such a flagrant violation of the rules and etiquette of the game can be upheld by an umpire. This often results in the team or coach being penalized by the umpire.

Now I don’t condone a coach protesting to a degree where they use language and words vulgar enough for the umpire to eject them from the game, but in most cases, this coach is caught between a rock and a hard place. Your choices are to let the offending team get away with the disrespectful offence or protest. In both cases you probably lose.

I spoke to a few people at the game and NOT ONE person had ever seen this stunt pulled off before. In my personal opinion, any coach who displays this total lack of respect for the game, for the opponent and for the officiating should not be coaching young athletes at any level. This particular coach has much experience and knows the rules. She has coached at the elite level for years. The Calgary All-star Girls Softball program should take a serious look at her actions to decide if that is what they want their young athletes to learn. Winning at all costs may apply to some programs but hopefully not in our sport of softball.

I have coached men’s, women’s and minor fastpitch teams at every level and have never been ejected from a ballgame. The most disturbing fact about the above situation is that I would have been the coach ejected that day if this would have happened to my team. Watching the scene unfold from the bleachers gives a person an objective point of view, which one would not have if they were one of the two teams involved.

2. This next scenario fits with the above example and actually happened at the same tournament. Like in the previous point, you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t. If you do stand up for your rights, you will be made out to be the bad guy in all situations like this.

The tournament rules were published and given to all the teams, which certainly helps eliminate confusion. Our team went to our scheduled diamond for a playoff game knowing we were the visiting team and by the rules were obliged to take the 1st base dugout. When we showed up at the diamond, the home team had moved all their equipment into our dugout and were on the field warming up.

I went out to the head coach who was in right field hitting balls and ask him if he was not going to be home team. He said he was home team and the girls just took the dugout without knowing it was wrong.

The strange facts of the case make me wonder? The weather was cloudy and raining off and on. The wind was quite cold and was blowing directing into the 3rd base dugout making it very uncomfortable for the home team while the visiting team was blocked from the wind in the 1st base dugout.

WHAT DO I DO?

Like in the example of the previous scenario, it’s a lose, lose situation and the opposing coach knows this. If I ask his team to move, all his team think we are the bad guys for being so inconsiderate. After all, they have their equipment in the dugout and it would be a great inconvenience to move it. If I let it stand, my players face an obstacle they should not have to face making the game more difficult. Like I say, it’s lose, lose for us.

This type of coach shows a lack of respect. He knew the rules of the tournament as we all did. The rules were well published and his team was actually part of the hosting organization. ‘Home team will be the highest ranked team after roundrobin. In all games, roundrobin and playoff, the home team will take the 3rd base dugout and visiting team the 1st base dugout.’

The coach can use whatever logic he wishes to alleviate any feelings of guilt but I am sure he taught his young athletes the wrong message. Yes, sport is sport but it is still a way of life.

3. The pitcher for the opposing team is taking her warm up pitches and she has a 6 inch sweatband on her pitching wrist. Just before the game begins, our coach goes to the home plate umpire and questions the sweatband. YOU MAKE THE CALL...

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED: The umpire is ready to declare the sweatband illegal but the coach of the Calgary 90 TNT states that the rule has been changed this year and in fact, the sweatband is legal. The young umpire isn't sure what to do and eventually succumbs to the statements of the Calgary coach and the pitcher is allowed to pitch with the white sweatband. The other pitcher on this team also wore a white sweatband while pitching.

THE RULES: In fact, on page 120, rule 6 - 6 in the 2003/2004 Softball Canada rule book covers this incident. It states, "The pitcher shall not wear a sweatband, bracelet or similar type item on the wrist or forearm of the pitching arm." It appears that the Calgary coach got away with one here. In minor ball, it should be imperative that coaches and parents of the young athletes follow the rules of the game so as not to teach cheating to our young players.

4. The baserunner from the opposing team leaves third base after the pitch and stands 6 to 8 feet off the base. The ball is returned to the pitcher who is standing in the 8 foot circle and the pitcher looks directly at the runner. Both the pitcher and baserunner remain motionless for 3 to 4 seconds, then the pitcher asks the plate umpire for a call on the runner. YOU MAKE THE CALL...

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED: The plate umpire called the baserunner out for not returning to her base immediately after the ball was returned to the pitcher. The Red Deer coach immediately (this was faster than her runner moved) flew into a rage and beset upon the young plate umpire. After some abuse, the umpire did change his mind and declared the baserunner safe. A win at all costs type of attitude was shown by the Red Deer coach and she may have helped her team, but at what cost?

THE RULES: In the Softball Canada rule book for 2003/2004, the rule is on page 138, rule 8 "A RUNNER IS OUT" section 8 number "u". It states near the end of 'u', "after the pitch or the result of a batter completing his turn at bat while the pitcher has the ball within the 2.5m radius of the pitcher's plate, he must immediately attempt to advance to the next base or immediately return to his base." The Red Deer runner, stood motionless for a period longer than immediate (a few seconds) and looked at the pitcher who did not make any motion on the runner. The umpire made the correct call but was intimidated by a coach to change the decision.

Coaches and parents should show proper respect to the officials of the game which in turn will instill respect in the young players. There should be zero tolerance to any abuse towards umpires.