hits123

I wait to see if the umpire is going to call it (which they should), AND/Or if the other pitcher is gaining a competitive edge. Am I going to start complaining on the first pitch in the first inning, and wind up getting tossed out due to repeated complaining? No, that does not help my team either. I have been told by several umpires, one more word and you are gone, which tied my hands later in the game when I had a legitimate appeal. I refer back to my earlier posts, not in one instance did any umpire call this, in the many, many times I questioned this infraction. On more than one occasion, I went to the tournament director DURING our game, because I thought it was so blatantly obvious. One director came down, watched one pitch, shook his head at me, and walked off. Again, I think the associations should make the umpires call this, or take the rule out of the books!!!

I think the "field" reference may be related to tagging on slide plays. Some infielders have either been taught or have learned to always put their leg down in front of the base on a tag play, to block the runner from the bag. With the use of metal cleats, this needs to change to straddling the bag and using the sweep tag as the baseball players do. If not, many softball players are going to have scars on their legs, and I think that is very unfortunate.

I am not going to sit back for sportsmanship reasons, and let the other team win by illegal means.

In the past, our HS team competed in Ooltewah's tournament that was held at Warner Park in Chattanooga. I was told that Warner Park was being totally re-worked and upgraded to a VERY NICE park. Was Ooltewah able to play their tournament at Warner this year, or was it not complete in time?

Congratulations to the Wilson Central team for bringing the big trophy to TN!!!!

FIRST, I beleive if the umpire starts the game by calling pitches illegal, it gives the pitcher an opportunity to adjust for the rest of the game, and it could/should become a non issue. But most do not. SECOND, depending on the game time limits in place for the particular tournament, AND if a opposing pitcher was pitching illegal in some manner, AND my team was not hitting well against her, sometimes I would wait until the 3rd or 4th inning, or with runners in scoring position, to complain. To hopefully disrupt the pitcher in some way. Maybe someone would think this is wrong for a coach to do, but I beleive it is my responsibility as the coach, to know the rules, and insure they are applied, so my team is NOT at a competitive dis-advantage, due to the umpire not applying the rules correctly.

That is an outstanding aid to the umpires.....just wish more of them would watch and apply to the games they call.

That's a GREAT picture!!!! This is EXACTLY my concern, and why I started this topic.

I thought the pitcher for Arizona was stepping outside the pitching rubber on her screwball, last year against UT in the College World Series. I don't recall it being called, but thought it should have....maybe UT would have won.

The most blantant IMO, are the ones when they push off from the rubber, with their throwing hand inside their glove, and leap toward the plate. Their push of foot lands on the ground, BEFORE their throwing hand leaves the glove to start the windmill. After an inning or two, you can clearly see in the dirt, where they are landing and pushing off with the re-plant

This is just a pet peeve of mine, so I thought I would throw this out for discussion and opinions.... I have seen many of the softball pitchers replanting their push off foot about 6-12 inches in front of the rubber. I call this crow hopping. In several of the rule books from 4-5 years ago when I was coaching, this was listed as an illegal pitch, and if called, any base runners would move up one base. I pointed this out to umpires many times. In most if not all instances, they replied, "As long as the push off foot points to the ground before or when pitch is released, it is not crow hopping". I know this topic falls under the gray area of umpire judgement, but I believe this is overlooked. Some pitchers do this on every pitch, while other only do it when they want to get a little "extra" on their fastball. I beleive this should be called period......or just stricken from the rule books. Opinions?

I agree....if the field belongs to the school, and the team/booster club can make changes, a little effort can go a long way. It does not ALL have to be accomplished in one year, just someone having a vision/plan, and sticking to the plan. However, if the owner of the facility will not allow the school team or booster club to make changes, then they are limited on making improvements.

Some more established (older) schools may be landlocked, and do not have vacant land available for a ball field. Therefore, they've had to cut a deal with the city or county for use of their facilities.

Even with the ball getting there first, as a former third baseman with a scar on my ankle from metal cleats, softball players are going to have similar scars, if they do not change this learned behavior.

FYI.....the team at # 6 is spelled Siegel

From what I have been told....It depends upon if the school is a member of TMSSA, which basically adopted the TSSAA rules.

I like that rule. I have seen too many batters doing one or more of the following between each pitch: walking half way down 3B line to get signals, taking 3-4 practice swings, adjusting batting gloves, walk back toward box, pick up some dirt, put up hand to ask for time, step in box, digging in, then twirling their bat.

I stand corrected. Also, when does the 10 second count begin for hitter and pitcher?

What a recipe for injuries....changing the blocking rule and allowing metal cleats in the same year. I would think for safety reasons, the blocking rule should have been changed one year, and allow the player's to adjust, then allow metal cleats the following year! JMO

My GUESS would be....defensive interference, with runner being awarded first base, if thrown out. However, by your post, I assume your runner was called out due to umpire's judgement, the batter/runner tried to avoid the tag. What was called?

Does the blocking without play rule also apply to the bases?

Coach T....why is my post listed on message board 3 times???

I thought the softball rule on when a catcher can and can not block the plate, when a player is attempting to slide in home, was changed a couple of years ago. However, in most of the games I have seen this year, the catcher's are again putting their left leg in front of the plate, BEFORE they have control of the throw. Was the rule changed back to the old way, or are the umpires just not enforcing the rule? Opinions????

One more thought on this subject. I believe the parents should keep a close eye and communicate clearly with the HS coach and the travel team coach,to insure their son/daughter's arm is not overworked, and jeopardize the HS coach's plans for that player. I believe when HS team is playing, it should get 1st priority, and when travel ball starts, it should get 1st priority. Just my opinion.

OK...but I would suggest a player and/or parents check with their HS coach first.