State and Association Enforcement Policy Guide

January 27.2014

Introduction

The purpose of this guide is to present the professional standard policies and expectations for officials outside the general playing rules of the game. Each umpire is expected to know, understand and follow these policies.

Policies stated herein include a combination of NCHSAA, NFHA and CUA policies.

Umpire Appearance

Shoes

Plate

Base

Pants and Shirts

Pants CHARCOAL ONLY

Shirts Major League blue

with black collar Navy Black Navy or black long

sleeve (plate only)

Jackets

Long sleeve pullover

Short sleeve pullover

Full zipper

Plate coat

Cap

Must be fitted or flex-fit—not adjustable strap. Cap must match the shirt color combination.

Varsity contest will require NCHSAA logo cap. Plate Umpire (PU) and Base Umpire (BU) cap should use a 6 or 8 stitch cap.

CUA plate umpire does not use a 4 stitch cap or beanie.

Examples

Logo cap Short

sleeve shirt

Short sleeve pullover

Charcoal pants

Miscellaneous

Numbers and logo. Numbers are not required. No other association logo.

Stop watch. The BU is required to carry a stop watch—no wrist watch.

Sunglasses. If the BU is wearing sunglasses, they must be black framed.

Participants

Appearance

Jewelry

Coach’s dress code. New 2014 point of emphasis.

Tobacco Products. Participants are not allowed to use within confines of the field (R 3.3.1 p). Penalty is ejection.

Player Undergarments

Compression sleeve Tube sleeve Neoprene sleeves Sleeve logo/trademark Sweatbands/wristbands Undersleeves worn without vest type jersey Undersleeves worn with vest type jersey Rationale for sleeves:

NFHS considers player safety as paramount. If a sleeve medically assists in stabilizing a player’s arm, neither NFHS nor their umpires are medically qualified to contradict these findings.

When the under garment is foreign to the uniform top, it falls outside uniform guidelines.

Eye Black

Eye black in NC is only allowed as one short straight line approximately ½ inch wide placed directly under the eye socket.

Concussion or Injury

Concussions Injury Blood Documentation in game report

Detailed description of event causing injury. Detailed description of injury. Conclusion. Player returned to play or left

game. Be concise with accurate details. Notify

assignor immediately after the game.

Stand-Down

Stand-down is a new occurrence Whereby neither team wishes to bethe first to exit the foul line after playerintroduction/anthem. NC has a sequence of actions in place to prevent.1. PU is to deliver both teams a verbal warning to return to

their respective dugouts.2. If they refuse to move, PU is to announce verbally to press

box and players—“PLAY NOW”.3. PU next informs both HC’s that they are being given a

written warning. Once completely written down, they will be restricted to the dugout for the remainder of the game.

4. Any team’s HC who refused to make his team return to their dugout is now restricted.

5. After the game completion or forfeit, immediately call assignor—no text message.

Home Run Policy/Players Out of Dugout

Home run. NC policy for an “over the fence” home run is to allow offensive players out of the dugout to greet the runner(s) as long as they remain on their side of the 28 ft. dirt circle surrounding home plate.

Live ball. No unauthorized player is to be in LIVE ball territory

Protective batting helmet. Any non-adult who is outside the designated dugout is required to wear a protective batting helmet. (R 3.5.1.)

Catcher. NCHSAA requires any non-adult or team member warming up a catcher must be protected by fence or other structure as well as wearing a protective helmet when assuming the crouch position.

Participant’s Conduct

Ejection. NC has defined boundaries which lead to immediate ejection.

Fighting. Includes contact, instigating or attempting to strike an opponent or official.

Profanity. Should you hear a profane or inappropriate comment, NOT directed at you, your partner, or an opponent, a written warning is given to the offender.

“F” bombs or racist comments. Loud enough to be heard are immediate ejections—no warning required.

Questioning of balls and strikes. One single direct warning, than second time is in writing followed by restriction or ejection.

Ejected player. A player ejected must remain on the team bench unless removed by parent or coach to team bus.

Flagrant contact. The contact is considered to be of a malicious nature with the use of excessive force for the purpose of causing bodily injury. Penalty is ejection.

Status of Head Coach When an Assistant Coach Ejection/Restriction Occurs

CUA officials will always attempt, if the situation permits, to give a verbal warning before any restriction or ejection.

Assistant coaches are NOT permitted to leave the dugout or coach’s box to argue anything.

Restricting or ejecting an assistant coach now restricts the HC to the dugout. Conferences will be conducted at the dugout.

NC is different than NFHS as to when to restrict an assistant coach. NFHS states the HC is not affected if the assistant coach is restricted or ejected while returning to the dugout when arguing. (NFHS illustrated) NC does restrict HC if another coach is restricted or rejected for any reason.

NCHSAA requires umpires to submit a preprinted form to State Office. CUA umpires will allow assignor to complete this form.

Status of Assistant Coach When Head Coach Ejection Occurs

Reference CUA guidelines NC views an ejection of a HC as a very serious offense, even to the extent

of job loss. When the HC is restricted, it does not affect the status of the other

coaches in any way. In NC when the HC is ejected, an assistant coach is appointed “designated

coach in charge”; however he still has the rank of assistant coach. The NC illegal bat rule will also apply to new designated coach in charge. The “designated coach in charge” is NOT allowed to leave the coaching box

to argue calls. He may approach an umpire and politely question a rule application. He is allowed to conduct on field conferences with his players.

Although not the HC, the assistant coach is to be treated with respect. Prior to the HC being ejected, if the assistant coach was restricted, he stays

restricted to the dugout and must perform his designated duties from the dugout.

If the HC is ejected and no assistant is present to take over, a school representative who displays a name tag may become the “designated coach in charge”. However, they may not occupy a coaching box (varsity contest) in street clothes. Rationale when HC ejection occurs: except as singularly noted, an

assistant is always an assistant and never has the right, verbally or by gesture, to dispute a judgment call by an umpire. (CUA supplement)

Get It Right Procedure

1. Crew does not request a meeting unless request first comes from HC.2. Request should not be over simple judgment call. Extemporaneous

circumstances must be present. (I.e., drop ball, bad angle, clearly straight lined.)

3. Reversal of any decision can never place the other team in jeopardy.4. HC must return to dug out or coaching position before crew will discuss.5. Crew will tell coach he cannot return to argue call. If he does return, he

is subject to penalty.6. Must notify opposing HC if crew is reversing the original call.7. Call opposing coach to foul line. Do not allow either coach to enter field

of play.8. Once decision is made and coaches notified, NEVER reverse if opposing

coach tries to reverse it.9. Signal scorer if a call involves a scoring issue.

Stay engaged even if not your primary coverage area. Get the call right.

Protest

Protest. NCHSAA does allow for a protest in baseball. The protest must be over the misapplication of NFHS playing rules 1-9 and not about judgment decisions. Never disallow the HC request to protest. The assignor and NCHSAA will decide its “righteousness”.1. Follow the “Get it Right” procedures.2. Log all pertinent date on your lineup card and log it into

home scorebook. Be precise. No opinion, just factual information.

3. If necessary, go to your vehicle and review rule book off the field but never allow lengthy game delay. Do not allow HC while on the field to pull out rule book.

4. Never suspend the game. Finish the game and report to assignor immediately.

Fan(s) or Announcer Conduct

Fans and announcer. Beginning with the 2014 season, CUA has adapted a proper protocol to handle unruly fans and announcers.

Field Markings

Coach’s box. NCHSAA requires all varsity contests to have marked coach’s box.

On-deck circles. All varsity contests require marked on-deck circles.

Remedying field markings. Anytime during the top-half of an inning, the host team can remedy field markings.

Illegal Equipment

Illegal bat. North Carolina (NC) does NOT Follow the NFHS illegal bat policy. NC does not warn or restrict. NC ejects—period.

Dented or cracked non-wood bats. First discovered in the game, all plays made prior to the discovery

stand. There is no replay or coach option. Remove the bat. Log it in the score book and on the PU lineup card. Next warn the offending HC if the bat reappears in the game, it will be

treated under the illegal bat rule. Illegal helmets. There is no penalty when an illegal

helmet is detected. Remove the helmet and have HC send it to the locker room or press

box. There is no penalty if the helmet reappears again in the game. Again

remove the helmet. Disqualification or ejection? Do not, if asked, get caught

up in semantics of illegal equipment.

Weather Disturbances

Safety of all participants is paramount

Proactive planning Thunder and lightning Suspended play

Take shelter Periodic review of the field

Stopped game Record all pertinent information

Suspended Games or Time Limits

Suspended game. NC has adopted the suspended game rule that is mandatory in all regular season and State playoff games.

Time limits. There are no time limits for varsity conference play.

Inclement weather. Contact the assignor. Never assume the game is cancelled.

Traffic/vehicle related issues. CUA policy requires a 30 minute wait before calling any JV or varsity contest.

Middle schools. They play by a game time limit.

When doubt, say “we are done for the day.”

Arbiter Website

Upload appropriate photo of yourself along with correct profile information.

Check Arbiter account daily. Link to your mobile phone, if possible.

Accept or decline all games within 24 hours of the posting.

Block days well in advance particularly if working within multiple associations.

There is a $25 fine for not posting game report by noon the next day. If the Arbiter website is not functioning properly, email game report and any issues to gary_swanson@hotmail.com.

Conclusion

Questions?