Coaches Conferences

Question
Hi Scott, I coach 12U fastpitch and there is a coach in our league who while coaching third base will approach his batter halfway between home and third after each and pitch and give her batting instructions. I'm not sure if that is considered a "coaches conference," but it really slows the game down and distracts and slows down the pitcher who usually has the ball and is ready to pitch while he is still talking to his player.  My question is, what can I do to prevent this from happening, our umpires don't do anything to stop it.

Thanks

Answer
Hi Brian,

Thank you for your question.  

Let's get right down to the business of the rule regarding coaches and coaches' boxes.   ASA Rule 4-7-C-2 states: "A base coach shall stay within the confines of these boxes with both feet.  

a.  A coach may leave the coach's box to signal the runner to slide, advance or return to a base or move out of a fielder's way as long as the coach does not intentionally interfere with the play.
b.  A coach may not leave the coach's box to give verbal communications or signals to the batter.
EFFECT: After a warning, an offensive conference will be charged."

The coach is in clear violation of b.  You're in a tough position as a coach, because if your games are being officiated by umpires who are can't/won't enforce the rules, or who don't know the rules, this problem will persist.  There are several paths you can take to prevent this from persisting:

1) If the other coach is a close friend, and I suspect he isn't, merely ask him to not do it anymore, as it slows the game and is against the rules.  He may just be a super-enthusiastic guy and doesn't even know that he is doing it, and I suspect again that's not the case.

2) Professionally and courteously, between half-innings, bring his actions to the attention of the umpires.  Now that you are armed with 4-7-C-2, you can act like you know what you are talking about, because you do know what you are talking about!  I know that this can be an awkward option for a coach.  When the other coach gets wind of your conversation with the umpires, he may peg you as overly-officious or a whiner.  He may then start to observe your actions and the actions of your players for (legitimate but probably minor) rules violations, such as untucked jerseys or on-deck batters a little bit out of the on-deck circle, and approach the umpires about those matters, in an effort to "get even."  These situations can also be awkward for the umpires, as if they start to enforce a rule midstream in a game, which they shouldn't do, after being approached by a coach, in the eyes of the other coach they appear to have been weak and manipulated.

3) As your last option, or as your second option if you don't want to personally bring it to the attention of the umpires, discuss the matter with your league officials NOW, before that coach's next game.

FYI, here's how a strong and knowledgeable umpire handles a coach coming out of the coach's box to coach his batter, and in doing so delays the game.  This is right by the numbers, right by the book: The first time out, warn the coach.  The second time out, charge the coach the one offensive conference he is allowed per half-inning.  The third time out, if he insists on coming out, immediately eject him.  Now he will be "cured."

Scott Kelly