C77fastpitch wrote:Slapperdad- Your not clever, funny or interesting, and I wouldn't want an endorsement from Hinky. Your paragraph about others who break the rules are like everything else you say, have nothing to do with the subject. Rules are made for a reason, and SHOULD be followed by everyone. Otherwise they're not rules now are they? My daughter recently played in a tournament in Southern California, and she did very well. However, the crow hopping and cheat stepping was outrageous. If cheat stepping and crow-hopping are allowed, fine, then put it in the rule-book.
Hinky- in response to you slanderous post. Your suggestion that I'm humorous is nothing less than a slight on my intelligence. I wish I were as smart as you, your so logical and intelligent. Your post aren't silly and stupid like mine. My post are to be ridiculed by your know- it- all professionlism. How dare me think that your words, like humorous, entertaining, are but catch phrases to try to make me feel foolish. So now Slapperdad as enter the fray, and you find support for your demeaning thoughts and words. I don't care if you agree with me or not, but your type of degrading language will never work. I'm done talking or sharing thoughts with either one of you, and would appreciate you both staying off my posts and Ill stay off yours. .
I will try, ONE more time. Keep in mind here, I'm not questioning anyone's education, MENSA status, or intelligence. This is where I don't think you have an understanding of rules, their application, and what is referred to as "spirit of the rules". Admittedly spirit of the rules is not a term that's used a lot in Softball, but it exists none the less.
Assuming C77's post is aimed at younger pitchers, lets look at this from a couple of different angles.
1. What is the goal of younger age groups? I would maintain it's learning the game, honing your skills, having some fun, and keep them coming back next year?
2. With my goal in mind, if a pitcher is replanting a few inches, which is the better way of handling it as an official.
A) Talk to the coach, let them know what's going on, they should know best how to deal with it. If you (the official) don't deem it making an impact on the game what's the point in calling it?
B) Call it every time you see it, because that's the rule. I'm sure after the first couple of times, she's probably going to freak out, tears are always a possibility, as are irate coaches and parents.
Which tact is better serving to my state goal? I maintain no matter what your goal, making this call all day er'day with younger ages is detrimental to the game itself. Now if we're in the 18 Gold championship, the "spirit of the rules" takes on a whole other meaning.
3. What is the purpose of not allowing replanting in the women's game when it's allowed in the men's game? I can honestly say, I have no idea. To me, it clearly gives an advantage to the pitcher and should not be allowed. However there is a reason why there are different rules from one gender to another as well as from one organization to another. Each different level has different purposes and focus. The easiest analogy I can draw is Football, NFHS makes rules based on education based sports, their focus is on safety and fair play. NCAA is a mix, loosely an education based athletics, with some degree of safety involved, but moving more into the entertainment realm. NFL is purely entertainment based athletics. Safety takes a backseat, with the exception of recent head trauma issues.
4. I have no idea what sanctioned body you're playing under, but the higher up the ladder you move, the more regulated the officials are. To be certain, regardless of the level, they are receiving some degree of input from their sanctioning body as to how games are called. Don't take my word for any of this, if this is that big of an issue in your mind, go talk to the UIC at your next tournament, ask what their take on this is. Ask if it's a POE, as if officials are being told to call it?
5. Lastly and I know this isn't what anyone wants to hear, perhaps the officials just missed it. Replanting would typically be called by the BU, maybe he's not watching? Or maybe it's a lower priority than watching the lead runner, then moving to the batter?
And in closing, I think the word you're looking for C77 is "libelous". If Hinky were to tell me C77 is brilliant that would be slander. But if Hinky writes that C77 is brilliant that's libel. I would have thought they'd have covered that in the Ivy League, I guess not.