hotcorner wrote:This is the first time I've ever heard of this. DD hits ball and hurts player on other team who then has to be taken out of game due to injury (Maybe even to the hospital). In umpires judgement he can decide to confiscate bat to be tested to see if bat has been altered in any way. DD eventually gets bat back but maybe not for 14 days. My question to the tourney director was (1) does the bat in any way get damaged as a result of this testing? and (2) will we receive a replacement bat to use while our $260 bat is being tested? Their answer was "no" to both questions but I am kind of leary about what will happen to DD's bat during this testing period. Not to mention DD's confidence level when she can not swing the bat she is having such great success with.
If it was an NSA tournament it is a requirement. Below is a memo that was sent to NSA umpires back in 2006:
Subject: Injury reports
Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 10:40:02 -0400
Hey folks,
This is a friendly reminder to our umpires about injuries in NSA sanctioned >play. We have gotten a few this year and for the most part we have done a >pretty good job of doing what we are supposed to do concerning injuries. >But, some of us have either forgot the protocol or haven't been to a clinic >or convention when this was discussed. So in brief I'll go over the >procedure of what we are to do when we have an injury on the field >concerning the equipment.
1st - someone secure the bat and the ball and never lose sight of it, lock >them both in a room, car or somewhere secure.
2nd - Issue the owner of the bat and ball a receipt for the bat and ball
I know that this may sound a little non-feeling towards the injured player >but we have directors, fellow teammates, park directors, uic's or our >partner on the field to tend to the injured player while waiting on medical >personnel to arrive.
3rd - Ship the bat to me here at the NSA National Office @ 101 NSA Way, >Nicholasville, Ky 40356.
What will happen to the bat and ball then is this. I will compression >check the bat. If the bat compression is lower than what would be normal >break in level for that model we will either send the bat to NY university >for bpf testing or sent to the mfg if the bat looks to be tampered with.
We have one bat at a mfg now from an injury that looked altered to me when >it arrived and I immediately sent it off to the mfg to see what their >findings were.
If the player refuses to give the bat or ball up, then we refer to the >altered bat and ball rule in the Official NSA Rule Book in Rule 3; >Equipment.
Lastly, we HAVE TO HAVE a injury report on file. Even if the injury looks >minor, it could escalate to something more serious and we have to have the >report on file. This is to protect you as an umpire if the case goes to >court, and it gives NSA, and our insurance company firm ground to stand on; >that we have done everything in our power to protect our players well >being. If we cover all the bases, we are all protected; but it starts with >you the umpire, the uic, the director, the zone VP.
Make sure that this is sent to all of your uic's, umpires, directors, state >directors, parks, leagues, etc.
Eddie Ray Cantrell
NSA/BPA Executive VP & National Director of Umpires
playnsa.com
Next thing you know...they be taking your gun away...
