Is this Normal, Bush, or Illegal?

[ziggymom]

We played a team in the championship game this weekend that would start to bang softballs on the dugout beams and fence, as well as issue high pitched screams (no cheering, no words, just screams) when our pitcher was about to step onto the pitching plate and continue until the pitch was done. Our pitcher wasn't really affected, but our catcher was younger and it shook her up a bit, which I realize is something that our team has to work on/deal with. My question is, however, is this something that other teams see on a regular basis? Is it bush league? Or, is it actually illegal? We've never encountered anything like this before...cheers, yes, but not just screaming and banging on the dugout through the pitch. (This is ASA, by the way.)

Thanks for any feedback.

[Tucson]

Just beat them and let them bang all they want.

The catcher will probably learn from it and it won't effect her, either.

[jofus]

Normal? Sadly, it's not extremely uncommon.

Bush? Yes.

Illegal? IMHO, yes, but I've never seen it called.

[wadeintothem]

Normal, no.. but i have seen it. Usually lower levels.


Illegal, IMO, no.

Bush league? Dunno, in many cases I've seen this, bush league would be a promotion.

[NM FP Ump]

It's normal with some teams, but the pitcher and catcher should learn to "have fun with it" and not be distracted. Had the same situation this weekend, one team with the "ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, choooooo" cheer when the pitcher came to the pitcher's plate. Didn't bother the pitcher at all!!! In fact, I saw her wipe her nose with her non-existent sleeve when she stuck out a batter. I had to laugh, no just smile.....

[slider201]

Class is always in fashion. Your opponent acts low rent because they have low self esteem. Pity the fools.

[behindtheplate]

Check your rule book, there is verbal obstruction and I have seen it enforced a few times. Try that in Oklahoma and you will see Blue call it every time. Not usually called (like the illegal pitch) but could be if Blue wants to push it.

[FPDD_cabbie]

We had this problem in our REC League a few years back when my daughter played 10U. This one team would do their cheers when they were batting but once the opposing pitcher made her step toward the plate they would yell, scream, howler as loud as they could. The increase in noise would rattle most pitchers so I asked this one umpire about it, pointed out when they screamed the loudest was on the pitch delivery. The umpire said it was fine unless the teams' cheers/yells were directed at an opposing player with the purpose to distract her during a play/pitch. Next time we played that team that same umpire was the Plate Ump and halfway though the 1st inning their dugout was warned not to yell at the opposing pitchers.

Not sure if all umpires would view it the same way but maybe he had enough that season that he put a stop to it.

My DD has played Travel Ball for one & half years and we have not seen it done in TB yet.

[NM FP Ump]

If you are playing under USSSA rules, and the screaming and screaching causes the pitcher to commit an illegal pitch, as an umpire I can eject the offending player. Considering most, if not all, of the players in the dugout are causing the commotion, I could, by rule, eject the entire team. But that would be overkill, so I would probably warn the coach that the next time the pitcher pitches illegally, and I judge that it was caused by his team's screaming and screaching, he would be sitting out this game, and the next.

[Sam]

Just let the opposing coach know that your pitcher gets very wild when teams do this....hit the first three batters....enjoy the silence for the remainder of the game.