u/HazyAmerican

I work with a few different Little Leagues in my area and I've been running into many youth umpires this year that are setting up on the inside of the foul line. The most recent kid was telling me he used to set up outside but was told by a previous partner that he needed to be inside as that's the proper position.

I know it's outside because I've read the Little League manual and instruct at the district clinic in the spring, so no question for me where the proper position is.

I'm assuming someone just read a diagram wrong, but this isn't like a slow pitch softball or kickball mechanic or something leaking its way in is it?

Doing a 10U Little League game today with 10U throwing, 10U fielding, and 10U situational awareness. Batter hits a ball past the infield on an error, R2 and R3 score, BR running to second, outfielder tries to throw to the pitcher and it sails past him. Ball is rolling straight for the offensive team's dugout entry, not fast but clearly going to go in. At least it would have rolled in if the entryway was not obstructed by R2, R3, an overzealous next batter up, a player who had no business being on the field yet, and a coach. Ball rolls in towards their feet, and one of the kids (no idea which one was which) accidentally kicks it through the dugout opening.

I killed it and left BR at his last legally acquired base (2nd), there were no arguments after and the only question I got was the offensive coach wanting to make sure I didn't think the player kicked it on purpose. Everyone was then warned to not be on the field unnecessarily.

While I feel fine about the call, I am not positive I got it right by the book. What would you have here? Would it make a difference if the kicker was R2/R3, on deck batter, or the player with no business being on the field? If it had rolled into the dugout on its own I would have had BR at 3rd, would it be proper to have put him on 3rd here? Would you have something different if he kicked it away from the dugout so it never left the playing field?

Curious for any thoughts or citations.

Was doing Bases for a Little League minors end of season tournament with Continuous Batting Order yesterday. Final inning, losing team is up to bat, Batter walks on 4 straight balls, which brings us to R1 and R2. Immediately the coach waves R1 over and brings out a sub for him. PU starts having a conversation with the coach then beckons me in for a rules discussion (he's more of a vibes umpire than a rules umpire). I clarify the Little League pinch runner rules for PU (No pinch runners with CBO, courtesy runners or injured player subs are allowed, sub should be the last runner put out).

PU turns back and tells the coach the sub is fine if the kid is injured and the coach says "Oh yeah, he's injured". The opposing coach immediately interjects "really, he's injured? you really want to win this way?" but it all quiets down and we move on.

The implication is this kid was not injured, and to be frank, I don't see how he could have gotten injured on his casual stroll to 1B so I'm inclined to believe he was fully healthy. Strategically though I can't see why someone would want a pinch runner for the trailing runner in an R1/R2 situation. Since I joined the conversation so late I think I missed most of the story, I have no idea if they claimed the kid was injured before PU informed them that would make what they were doing legal. I kind of stayed out of it beside bringing rulebook info.

Anyway, the pinch runner never scored and they ended up losing so it didn't really impact the result.

I am however left wondering, how do you determine if a coach is faking an injury for their kid to get a pinch runner? It feels wrong to just accept the coach's claim when its as fishy as this example, but I can't think of any way to investigate without grilling the kid. Little League minors though, so the "injury" could just be he was too nervous to be on base in a high stakes situation.

Anyone have some successful strategies for navigating similar situations?