Comp wrote:In asa the players must actually make the appeal and it can be either a live ball appeal or a red ball appeal. Live ball they can either tag the runner or the base and tell the umpire they are appealing the runner missing 3rd. Or they can just call time when play is done and tell the umpire they are appealing the runner missing 3rd.
To expand, not disagree.
Live ball appeals must be made by a player with the ball touching the base (missed or left early on fly ball) or tagging the affected runner; this can be any player, your outfielder can run in with the ball and do it. If understood what she is appealing (like after a caught fly ball they throw back to the base left), that is sufficient; if unclear, like several runners passed 3rd, so you have to know which one, there may need to be some verbal explanation. No "accidental" appeals by accidentally touching a missed base, it has to be a request.
Dead ball appeals can be made by any infielder, including pitcher and catcher, with or without the ball, simply telling the umpire what is being appealed. This cannot happen until all play has ended, runners stopped on a base, and ball in the pitcher's possession in the circle. If a dead ball because the ball went out of play, all runners must be allowed to complete any running responsibilities before an appeal can be considered (so parents/coaches need to keep quiet and not tell the other team they need to return and retouch!!). The only appeal a coach can make in ASA is batting out of order; in high school, coaches can make any dead ball appeal.
The one appeal that MUST be done live is the batter-runner missing first base who then comes back to first; if she returns to first and the ball is then made dead, her return already remedied the miss, so no dead ball appeal can be honored there. The one appeal that must be done dead ball style is batting out of order; all play must end.
If you as a coach force your pitcher to get back on the pitching plate and try to duplicate the baseball version, dollars to donuts she will commit an illegal pitch; ball on the batter, all runners get a base, and you lose the ability to appeal. Learn the dead ball appeal process; it is simple. Even better, you only need to teach it to your smartest player (usually your catcher), since any ONE infielder can handle all of your appeals.