RULE 10-UMPIRES

Failure of umpires to adhere to Rule 10 shall not be grounds for protest. These are guidelines for umpires.

Section 1. POWER AND DUTIES

The umpires are the representative of the league or organization by which they have been assigned to a particular game and, as such, are authorized and required to enforce each section of these rules. They have the power to order a player, coach, captain or manager to carry out or to omit any act which, in their judgment is necessary to give force and effect to one or all of these rules, and to inflict penalties as herein prescribed. The plate umpire shall have the authority to make decisions on any situations not specifically covered in the rules. The following is the general information for umpires.

A. The umpire shall not be a member of either team (i.e., player, coach, manager, officer, scorer or sponsor).

B. The umpire should be sure of the date, time, and place of the game and should arrive at the playing field 20 to 30 minutes ahead of time, start the game at the designated time, and leave the field when the game is over. The umpire’s jurisdiction begins when entering the field to check the bats and ends when leaving the field following the completion of the game.

C. The male and female umpire shall wear an approved uniform shirt, dark navy blur or black socks, gray pants and an approved uniform cap. Shoes and belt must be black for both male and female umpires. A T-shirt is optional to wear under the shirt; however, if one is worn, it must be white. The plate umpire must wear a black mask, with black or tan padding and a black throat protector.

D. The umpires should introduce themselves to the captains, managers and scorers.

E. The umpires should inspect the playing field boundaries and equipment and clarify all ground rules for the representatives of both teams.

F. Each umpire will have the power to make decisions on violations committed during playing time or during suspension of play.

G. No umpire has the authority to set aside or question decisions made by another umpire within the limits of the respective duties as outlined in these rules.

H. An umpire may consult the other umpire(s) at any time; however, the final decision will rest with the umpire whose exclusive authority it is to make the decision and who requests the opinion of the other umpire(s).

I. In order to define respective duties, the umpire whose primary responsibility is the judging of balls and strikes will be designated as the PLATE UMPIRE, while the umpire whose primary responsibility is the rendering of base decisions will be designated as the BASE UMPIRE.

J. The plate umpire and base umpire will have equal authority to:

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            1. Call a runner out for leaving a base to soon.

            2. Call TIME for suspension of play.

3. eject or disqualify a player, coach, manager or other team member from the game for violation of rules of flagrant misconduct.

            4. Call all illegal pitches.

            5. Forfeit any game.

K. the umpire will declare the batter or runner out, without waiting for an appeal for such decision, in all cases where such player is retired in accordance with these rules. Unless appealed to, the umpire will not call a player out for failure to touch a base, for leaving a base too soon on a caught fly ball, for batting out of order, or for making an attempt to go to second after reaching first base as provided in these rules.

L. The umpire will not penalize a team for any infraction of a rule when imposing the penalty would be an advantage to the offending team.

Section 2. SUSPENSION OF PLAY

A. Umpires may suspend play when, in their judgment, conditions justify such action.

B. Play will be suspended whenever the plate umpire leaves the umpires position to brush the plate or to perform other duties not directly connected with the calling of plays.

C. the umpire will suspend play whenever a batter or pitcher steps out of position for a legitimate reason.

D. An umpire will suspend play if a fair batted ball hits the umpire prior to passing an infielder. EFFECT: the batter-runner is awarded a base hit. No runners are advanced unless forces to advance.

E. An umpire will not call time while any play is in progress, including when a thrown ball hits an umpire.

            F. An umpire will not call time after the pitcher has started her delivery.

G. In case of injury, time will not be called until all plays in progress have been completed or each runner has been held at her base.

H. Umpires will not suspend play at the request of players, coaches or managers until all action in progress has been completed.

Section 3. VIOLATION AND PENALTIES

A. Players, coaches, managers or other team members will not make disparaging or insulting remarks to or about opposing player, officials or spectators or commit other acts that could be considered unsportsmanlike conduct.

B. There will be no more than two coaches for each team to give words or signals of assistance and direction to the members of their team while at bat. One should be stationed near first base and the other near third base. Each coach must remain in the coach’s box.

C. The penalty for violations by a player is prompt ejection of the offender from the game. For the first offense, a coach or manager may be warned, but for the second offense the coach or manager is ejected from the game. The offender may remain on the bench. If the act is flagrant or if continued unsportsmanlike conduct comes from the ejected player on the bench, the offender should go directly to the dressing room or leave the grounds for the remainder of the game. Failure to do so will warrant a forfeiture of the game.