NEW USFA RULE CHANGE

[USFA]

Mark, USFA rules state you can have 1 time out per 1/2 inning to use as you see fit. If that time out is used in the last 5 mins. of a game the clock will be stopped.

This rule wassuggested to us as a result of our email asking what can we do to be better. I was tried out by a couple of tournament directors and MOST team love the rule it stops the stalling by the coaches that use that tactic to win games. most UMPIRES HATE the rule for 2 reasons it makes them keep up witht the time better and they have to stay out an exrta min. if someone calls time out.

[Phantomz27]

Bobby, so if there is 5 minutes or less left on the clock, I cannot call time out and go talk to my pitcher even if I have not used a time out that inning? I see some problem's cropping up over that one?? Will the umpire be allowed to determine if I am trying to stall or if I really need to talk to my pitcher?? Seems as though the umpires have enough to worry about to put them in that situation would not be fair to them or to the coach that has a legal timeout left?? Of course, I have seen some umpires run a game smoothly and keep it going to where this would not be his problem. It is those umpires that want to stand there and chat for 2 or 3 minutes between innings and if the coach tells them to lets go we are ready, they get upset at the coach... Crap, got off on a different subject, sorry about that...

Mark

I think you need to reread his post. As I read it you can call a timeout, but the game clock stops so you don't burn game time with stalling tactics in the last 5 mins.

I realize that but why should the clock stop on a timeout if I am not doing anything wrong. How does the umpire determine if I am stalling or not... The rule book gives you that timeout but now you should not take it because the clock will stop??

[Phantomz27]

Mark, USFA rules state you can have 1 time out per 1/2 inning to use as you see fit. If that time out is used in the last 5 mins. of a game the clock will be stopped.

This rule wassuggested to us as a result of our email asking what can we do to be better. I was tried out by a couple of tournament directors and MOST team love the rule it stops the stalling by the coaches that use that tactic to win games. most UMPIRES HATE the rule for 2 reasons it makes them keep up witht the time better and they have to stay out an exrta min. if someone calls time out.

Exactly that, the umpire is now upset at me for calling timeout. I have been threatened by an umpire in Sugarland that if I do not get the game over (by stalling) that he would take it out on me the next game he umpires my game. I know not all umpires are like that but there has been an amazing increase in umpires suggesting you better stall so they do not have to be out there any longer than they should.

I understand the rule and will abide by it, just giving my opinion... Again..

Mark

[Underdog]

Mark, USFA rules state you can have 1 time out per 1/2 inning to use as you see fit. If that time out is used in the last 5 mins. of a game the clock will be stopped.

This rule wassuggested to us as a result of our email asking what can we do to be better. I was tried out by a couple of tournament directors and MOST team love the rule it stops the stalling by the coaches that use that tactic to win games. most UMPIRES HATE the rule for 2 reasons it makes them keep up witht the time better and they have to stay out an exrta min. if someone calls time out.

This is an interesting rule change . I commend USFA (and Bobby ) for always trying to improve things . I do however think this change has some drawbacks . First of all nobody ever won a game by stalling . They were winning in the first place . They simply reduced the other teams opportunities by using their timeouts . Now , if your talking about teams that start tying shoes , changing bats ,calling multiple time outs in a row, changing catchers and things of that nature then sure I understand . I always thought a coach should use whatever legal means necesary to win a ballgame for his team . To not be able to run a minute off of the clock with your first timout of the game (possibly) doesnt seem right . Conversely , it gives the losing team the ability to call timout to slow down the tempo or even change pitchers while the clock stops.A definite rule advantage to the team that is behind . Also , say there is 12 minutes left ,a new inning just started you are winning and you are the home team .With 6 ,7,8 minutes left you are still able to burn up time with timeouts so the rule is not effective at that time anyway.I guess I just think that this rule change might encounter some resistance.

[USFA]

We have had some complaints about this new rule. As I said umpires don’t like it and teams that use stall tactics don’t like it. They are the only ones that have complained and after we used the rule neither complained about it. Just no one called time out to stall in the last 5 mins. of the game.

Umpires that tell teams to stall or else if I get thier names and proof of it. Will be banned from calling USFA games. The game is not about the Umpires it is about the opportunity for the girls to play and decide the game on the field.

[NUTJOBFASTPITCHDAD]

Bobby, thanks for clarifying this for me. I really appreciate the work USFA puts in on behalf of the girls.

[Phantomz27]

Yes, thanks Bobby.

[Realist]

In order to prevent stalling the best "rule change" would be to have a shorter time limit on the game and when the time limit is up you play one more complete inning. That way no matter if you stall or not the other team still has a chance to play and win the game. And if I am not mistaken playing the game is the object, not giving coaches an opportunity to change the game by stalling.

[Coach11]

In order to prevent stalling the best "rule change" would be to have a shorter time limit on the game and when the time limit is up you play one more complete inning. That way no matter if you stall or not the other team still has a chance to play and win the game. And if I am not mistaken playing the game is the object, not giving coaches an opportunity to change the game by stalling.

Better yet.....get rid of time limits altogether.

Make it a 5 inning game. (I'd bet that's about the average number of innings played in an hour twenty/hour and a half timed game.)

Blowout rules keep the games that get out of hand in check time wise.

[USFA]

For those of you that don't know me my pet peave with umpires is emding games early just ask any umpire that has every called for me.

I have tried both of these solutions. there are problem with both of them as there are problems without them.

Shorten time how much I did 5 mins and games lasted over an hour and a half. Shorten time much more than that and it isn't enough time to play more than 2 or 3 innings before the final one. And after you shorten the time the coach just stalls during the shortened time and still ends up "cheating" the other team out of a chance to win.

5 inning games are a nightmare from 2 prespectives

1) very good teams can play 7 innings in less than an hour my team did it many times most of these games were won 1 to nothing.

2) I have seen games end up 22 to 18 in 3 innings and they took over 2 hours to play. 2 more innings the score would be 35 to 30 and take over 3 and 1/2 hours to play. talk about getting behind with just the 2 hour games.

Two average teams playing against each other will get about 5 innings in 1 hour and 15 min games.