I have noticed through the years that certain things seem to crop up consistently. In the course of performing your duties as a Little League umpire, watch for these rules infractions and safety issues.
We all know children sometimes are not the most attentive creatures on the planet. And this is no different on a baseball or softball field. Quite often equipment is left lying on the field in play. The previous batter's bat, the offense's catcher's gear, helmets, balls and more will be left just lying where they were last used. It is your duty as an umpire to call, "Time!", stop the game and have the debris cleared from the field of play before the next pitch. This is a vital safety issue. Consider the following scenario:
A player who has just been put out (for the 2nd out in the inning) left his bat lying near home plate. The batter smacks a pop-up that goes straight up. The catcher removes his/her mask and looks up at the ball sailing 50 - 60 feet in the air. He/she spots the ball, settles underneath, and the ball begins to drop. Just as the catcher is about to make the catch - swoosh! - he/she slips on the bat. The ball falls in foul territory. Not only has the poor catcher broken his/her ankle, but the offensive team has committed interference. The batter is out. The side is retired.
This entire mess could have easily been avoided if the umpire had been attentive enough to see the bat lying in play. I cannot stress enough the importance of keeping Little League safe at all levels. This is one very important way of doing that. Always keep an eye on the "live ball" areas (and other possible danger areas) where equipment can be a waiting hazard to an unsuspecting child. Hold up the game to have the equipment removed and keep your field safe!
2. The mystifying "wiggling bat" syndrome.
If you've been a Little League umpire for any length of time, I'm sure you've seen exactly what I'm talking about. Here's the situation:
3 balls, 0 strikes the count. The pitcher begins his/her wind-up and at the same time the batter squares around into a bunt position. Suddenly, the batter gets a bright idea. (You can almost see the light bulb) He/she begins wiggling the bat up and down through the strike zone in an attempt to distract the pitcher. The batter is hoping for an easy base.
Very simply put, if you see a player doing this - stop them immediately after the pitch! Although the batter is trying to distract the pitcher, he is doing a much better job of distracting the catcher. This is very dangerous. When a catcher can't see the ball coming in from the pitcher, he/she is in great peril. Furthermore, should the aforementioned batter be wiggling his bat while a runner is stealing, the batter should be charged with interference if the runner reaches his/her destination.
3. The traditional batting donut.
This one goes for all divisions of Little League Baseball (all the way through Senior League and Big League) and Softball. The batting donut has been banned for use in Little League. The constant proliferation of injuries throughout the years has caused this ban. From broken ankles to head injuries, batting donuts have caused a great amount of damage in youth league sports. The kids just love to bang the handle of their bat down, force the donut to slide to the handle end, and then flip their bat causing the donut to sail through the air. The only problem is, they generally have no idea where the donut will land. It may land shortly after smacking into someone's noggin and causing a concussion, or worse. Additionally, this donut invariably ends up in the grass somewhere, where an unsuspecting player can twist an ankle on it. The batting donut is illegal. When you see one, warn the team that if you see the donut again the manager will be immediately ejected. Which brings us to our next "thing to watch for..."
4. On-deck batters.
The on-deck position in Little League Baseball and Softball is illegal. (Therefore there's absolutely NO reason for any one of these teams to even possess a donut) Pay particular attention to possible infractions of this rule. No player, other than the current batter, should even have a bat in his/her hands. If they do, stop the game and warn the offending bench. Anyone else caught with a bat in their hands will be ejected. Put an end to the needless injuries suffered because someone is swinging a bat when and where they shouldn't be.
5. Head first slides.
Sliding head first while advancing to a base (a' la Pete Rose before the gambling problem) is illegal in Little League Baseball and Softball. The only time a runner can dive head first is when he/she is returning to a base. If you see a runner sliding head first while advancing, he/she is out. Regardless of the outcome of any plays. Stop the damage Pete Rose did years ago and end the unnecessary injuries from head first sliding.
6. Jewelry.
Pins are very popular Little League momentos. And the kids love to display their new gifts right on their hat. So what's wrong with this? Well, besides being illegal per Little League rules, these players have VERY sharp VERY pointy metal objects near their heads while they run around, dive for the ball and slide into bases. Potential for injury is great. Furthermore, any other jewelry is banned as well. Did you know that one player in Massachusetts lost part of a finger due to a runner's necklace? And another player in Florida lost his earlobe when his new earring got caught on a glove? These stories are enough for me to take the time and have these players remove their jewelry. Please do the same. Keep in mind though that you should not make a player remove a medical alert bracelet. For obvious reasons, these are allowed.
Hopefully if you follow the simple guidelines above you are well on your way to providing a safe environment for children to play ball. There is no excuse for the types of needless injuries described above to occur. As an umpire, your first duty is to the safety of the children. Never forget that. You are in charge of their very lives.
