anyone else getting this

[lhjjj]

We had our little league meeting for umpires last night. Basic stuff in the beginning of the meeting, then we got down to the absurd. We were told that every play at the plate is "must slide". This came from the district administrator. The next "rule" for us to follow was no customized air brushed helmets. Both were listed as a safety issue. I asked if the "must slide" is a new rule. The district administrator said this was coming down from Bristol (I am in the New England region and Bristol, CT is where the regionals are held) As far as the helmets, they claim you cannot see if cracks have formed in the helmets. But if they have a note from LL, the custom helmet is OK (what?)

I find it hard to believe LL would start screwing with their own rules like some group of smittys enforcing made up rules, but I have to believe the district administrator knows what he is talking about. Has anyone else experienced this scenario, or have our local guys gone off the reservation?

[ExCop]

The more I read about it, the more certain I am I will never agree to umpire a LL game. I am told they have LL up here in my area, but I have never heard of one or seen one.

They really should just hire three officials per game:

1. Plate Umpire
2. Base Umpire
3. Nanny (to enforce all those other rules that have nothing to do with baseball)

[Rich_Ives]

We had our little league meeting for umpires last night. Basic stuff in the beginning of the meeting, then we got down to the absurd. We were told that every play at the plate is "must slide". This came from the district administrator. The next "rule" for us to follow was no customized air brushed helmets. Both were listed as a safety issue. I asked if the "must slide" is a new rule. The district administrator said this was coming down from Bristol (I am in the New England region and Bristol, CT is where the regionals are held) As far as the helmets, they claim you cannot see if cracks have formed in the helmets. But if they have a note from LL, the custom helmet is OK (what?)

I find it hard to believe LL would start screwing with their own rules like some group of smittys enforcing made up rules, but I have to believe the district administrator knows what he is talking about. Has anyone else experienced this scenario, or have our local guys gone off the reservation?

The DA is blowing smoke.

There is no "must slide" in LL and they are adamant that no one can change it.

Painted helmets are OK if the manufacturer or authorized dealer approves. We have a letter from All-Star that says it's OK.

[dack]

We had our little league meeting for umpires last night. Basic stuff in the beginning of the meeting, then we got down to the absurd. We were told that every play at the plate is "must slide". This came from the district administrator. The next "rule" for us to follow was no customized air brushed helmets. Both were listed as a safety issue. I asked if the "must slide" is a new rule. The district administrator said this was coming down from Bristol (I am in the New England region and Bristol, CT is where the regionals are held) As far as the helmets, they claim you cannot see if cracks have formed in the helmets. But if they have a note from LL, the custom helmet is OK (what?)

I find it hard to believe LL would start screwing with their own rules like some group of smittys enforcing made up rules, but I have to believe the district administrator knows what he is talking about. Has anyone else experienced this scenario, or have our local guys gone off the reservation?

There is no must slide rule for LL. It is one of those myths that won't die. I would sure like to know what the folks in Bristol are on. I would hate to have to call them on rules interpritation or forfeit issue. Lord only know what you will get during the tournament.

We have the same instructions on the helmets as you do. I work out of the central region. I don't think it is truly a safety issue, but we do have one team that did get their letter so they are good to go. They are using a sticker on each helmet instead of paint. Just one more thing to check and worry about as officials.

[Pete_Booth]

[QUOTE=lhjjj;88634]We had our little league meeting for umpires last night. Basic stuff in the beginning of the meeting, then we got down to the absurd. We were told that every play at the plate is "must slide".

if you had an umpires meeting I am assuming (hate to do that) that someone had a rule book. Also, someone should have had the LL RIM otherwise why have an umpires meeting if you do not have rule books to reference.

When the DA said that every play at the plate is "must slide". Someone should have questioned them on it.

Using the LL rule book and the LL RIM as a reference someone should have took the DA to task on that absurd statement.

If the DA said We got it from Bristol. Then ask them who in Bristol because if you make a ruling on the field and site the DA's rule of every play at the plate is "must slide". Bristol is going to get called anyway because the next sentence from the coach will be I protest and then the chain starts.

Pete Booth

[Pete_Booth]

[QUOTE=ExCop;88636]The more I read about it, the more certain I am I will never agree to umpire a LL game.

Ex if you umpire with guys you know it's fun.

I am donating 2 games this year to my local LL where I first started umpiring. However, I am doing the games with HS buddies of mine.

I would not do the games with guys / gals I did not know.

Pete Booth

[heyblue26]

[QUOTE]

Ex if you umpire with guys you know it's fun.

I am donating 2 games this year to my local LL where I first started umpiring. However, I am doing the games with HS buddies of mine.

I would not do the games with guys / gals I did not know.

Pete Booth

Pete You're right it was fun and can be fun. But for someone it is not but thats there call right.

[SocalBlue1]

The custom painted helmets thing is a safety issue. Unless approved by the manufacturer, there is no way to know with any degree of accuracy what the materials may do to the helmet, resulting in the withdrawal of the NOCSE rating.

Certain solvent based paints common to custom painters in the auto & banner industries can & will cause structural damage to the shell over time. I have seen first hand the result of wrong paint & sun. Shell becomes either soft & deforms or brittle & cracks VERY easily. In either case it no longer will provide any level of protection.

Stickers - normally a PITA but hide cracks & the glue is often solvent based (See above).

[heyblue26]

The custom painted helmets thing is a safety issue. Unless approved by the manufacturer, there is no way to know with any degree of accuracy what the materials may do to the helmet, resulting in the withdrawal of the NOCSE rating.

Certain solvent based paints common to custom painters in the auto & banner industries can & will cause structural damage to the shell over time. I have seen first hand the result of wrong paint & sun. Shell becomes either soft & deforms or brittle & cracks VERY easily. In either case it no longer will provide any level of protection.

Stickers - normally a PITA but hide cracks & the glue is often solvent based (See above).

Socalblue: Very good point addressed here I after reading the post again and what you have said I can say that I see what the inportantance is to purchase only those helmets that have the NOCSE ratings and do not perform anything to that protective gear that would cause it to become unsafe. I will be looking much more closely at all helmets next season since I had my eye surgey and done for this season. Thanks for the post and information.

[willv28]

Yeah, there is no must slide rule. I've mentioned it before, but some people in our league believed the exact opposite that there was a NO slide rule at any base in the minors...

As for helmets, yeah, if the manufacturer says it's ok, it's fine. They're probably just trying to avoid the issue all together. I guess that could be viewed as their poragative. But I also see it as something they're responsible for enforcing if they want to do it like that.

We do look at helmets very closely before games. Not only are we looking for cracked ones, but one that show signs that they won't do their job. The stresses are pretty easy to see, usually they're at the corner between the visor and ear flaps. You'll see the discoloration and possibly stress lines, too far and we have the helmet taken out.

[lhjjj]

I did question the "must slide rule" asked them to show it to me, I even asked if this was new? (fully knowing the answer) I know it does not exist, it frustrates me that I am now hearing it quoted from umpires and not just coaches and parents. They said "just call it", which I will still call the way it is in the book anyway. I want to see this new interpretation in writing with someone's name on it.

The helmet thing just causes an issue, I feel, if you are checking equipment and tell little Johnny no on his, and then let Frankie on the other side wear his because he has a note. I would rather say NO to everyone to avoid the sh#$storm that will happen. Every call in a game like that will be volatile. "You're more worried about a helmet than the game." What if Johnny and Frankie both have the exact same style helmet and only Frankie has the note? Again, more aggravation than it is worth.

I think I may pass on the all stars this year. I will just go and do some Connie Mack or Legion ball and not worry that I am screwing over some 12 year old.

[Rich_Ives]

What if Johnny and Frankie both have the exact same style helmet and only Frankie has the note?

If Frankie has a note from the manufacturer that says paint is OK then apply if to Johnny's helmet also.

Do you really think a manufacturere would issue an "OK" to one individual helmet or would their OK apply to helmets they made. The manufacturer will OK their product (or not), not one particular individual helmet.

[lhjjj]

Rich, I agree. Although, they told us each helmet's owner needs their own documentation. Someone could make their own letter, I wouldn't know the difference. I think this is all BS to begin with.

If safety was an ultimate issue for Little League, why not require face guards like most of the youth softball does? Same size diamond for 12u as softball, only with a ball that is much more likely to do serious damage.

[nopachunts]

I have been told that LL doesn't require face guards because of a neck injury case many years ago. FWIW.

[SocalBlue1]

Rich, I agree. Although, they told us each helmet's owner needs their own documentation. Someone could make their own letter, I wouldn't know the difference. I think this is all BS to begin with.

If safety was an ultimate issue for Little League, why not require face guards like most of the youth softball does? Same size diamond for 12u as softball, only with a ball that is much more likely to do serious damage.

There are MANY more instances of a batter being hit in the face in softball than baseball. Underhand pitching results in ball rising & easily fouled back into the face. The size & relative softness of the ball seems to make a difference too - a SB tends to react in a different manner than a BB when just touched by the bat.