WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW THE RULE
By: Merle Butler    

Several years ago I was in England providing an umpire clinic at a military base. After the first rules session, the Sports Director approached me and asked, “Where in the rule book does it state, ‘When in doubt, call them out’?”

This caught me a little off guard and my immediate reaction was where had he heard those remarks. Apparently the previous year a clinician had made the statement in jest, however one of the rookie officials in attendance had a call early in the season while officiating a fast pitch game. A runner was stealing second base with the ball and the runner arriving at the same time. The ‘rookie’ hesitated for a considerable period, and then called the runner out. Because of the delay and because the offensive team felt the runner had slid in safely, a confrontation occurred between the new official, the player, and eventually, the manager.

The umpire’s comment to the coach followed the instructions of the clinician, “I was in doubt, so I called him out.” Needless to say, the manager protested the call.

The sports director informed the manager that a protest had to be based on a rule interpretation and couldn’t be made on judgment, therefore denied the protest. This was the only decision the Director could possibly reach, even though he was not sure if the comment was in the rules or was an approved mechanic. Now for his own clarification, he was asking me to explain the ruling and to provide a reference. Knowing the rules fairly well, I felt confident enough to inform him there was no such reference.

What to do then, when you don’t know the rule. I’m sure we’ve all been in this position at one time or another in our careers.

USE COMMON SENSE: The fundamental aim of umpiring is to allow the game to progress smoothly within the rules. If not familiar with all rules, then the best suggestion to be offered is to apply common sense to your decision.

If a pitched ball hits the batter, the ball is dead, therefore common sense will tell you the ball is dead even when a batter swings at a pitch and it hits the hands, with the ball rolling into fair territory. A strike and a dead ball should be ruled because the batter swung at the pitched ball, and the hands are not a part of the bat.

BE CONVINCING: Whatever decision you arrive at, when you make the call – sell it! Be poised. Use good timing! Be convincing! Whether right or wrong, remember one thing, the manager, coach, or players probably won’t know the ruling either. Should a confrontation take place based on a ruling, if you sell the call and are convincing in your reply, chances are the decision will be accepted.

GOOD HUMAN RELATIONS: Building good human relations with players and managers goes a long way in controlling the game and in gaining the respect of those involved in the game. Not calling anything shows a lack of knowledge and a lack of confidence.

INTEGRITY: Don’t be influenced by the score, the reaction of players, coaches or spectators; or by a previous decision. Use integrity when rendering a decision. An umpire should never try to even a decision. If you called a strike a ball, you can’t call the next pitch a strike in order to even it up, or if you missed an out call on the bases, you can’t call the next runner safe in order to even your calls. If the umpire missed a call and knows it, that umpire should bear down and concentrate harder on the game at hand. And above all, don’t be intimidated by a previous discussion with a player or coach. Many coaches feel this is a way to influence calls their way. Call the game as you see it.

ALLOW THE GAME TO PROGRESS SMOOTHLY: The fundamental aim is to allow the game to progress smoothly. Make sure the offending team doesn’t gain an advantage. A player who commits a violation of the rules and places an opponent at a disadvantage, should be penalized. If they get away with one violation, they may continue doing illegal acts and some could be unsportsmanlike and even create the potential of injury.

I would like to add, even if these points are followed and you are successfully moving ahead in your officiating career, this is no reason not to study the rules. You will gain added confidence knowing you are prepared to handle any situation.

Have a good season!

Merle Butler is the ISF’s Director of Umpires and a member of the ISF Hall of Fame.

(This article appeared in the Jan.-Apr. 2003 edition of World Softball magazine, Volume 31, Number 1)

Photo by Allsport

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