No time left...Rules for STALLING

[default]

From the www.usfastpitch.com web site... I personally love this!! I also understand "time" is a strategy and part of the game... which way do you choose to play? By outright beating your opponent or doing whatever it takes to win? This should be a good debate.

USFA Clarification on the Stalling Rule: Rule 6007: Umpire has a right to end a conference early if the umpire determines a coach is trying to stall a game. This call will not be questioned or appealed by a coach. (This portion of the rule is to help keep play moving throughout the game, from the 1st to the last pitch of the game.)

USFA ‎6007 Continued: Any conference or time out within the last 5 minutes of a timed game will result in the game clock being suspended until play resumes. (This rules applies to any stoppage of play, be it pitching or other position change, coaching conferences, etc. in the last 5 minutes of the game)
March 2, 2010 at 1:16am

 

[default]

That's an excellent rule. It may be crazy, but how about we let the players decide the game on the field?

 

[default]

Let's hear about the various stalling techniques such as repeatedly tying cleats.
What other good ones are there out there?

 

[default]

I have seen coaches send 3 girls to bat in a row and have them all ask for a timeout to tie their shoes.......I have also seen girls fake getting hit by a throw bat (bat was not thrown) and limp around.........the ump saw it all and almost threw catcher and coach out of the tournament.

And.....

We have also played Finesse and they were up by 2 runs and their coaches were rushing the girls out to start the last inning and give us one more chance to tie the game.

So I have seen total bush league and class.

It is ashame this type of rule is needed.

 

[default]

my two favorite I have had used against me were the 2 pitching changes one pitch apart and the batter conference followed by the pinch runner and the coach changed his mind on who would run after the 1st player had to adjust her pony tail and tie her shoes before reaching the base. I couldn't even get mad they were so blatent. LOL

 

[default]

Not saying stalling should be a part of the game but... think about it. If you are playing by the rules, why should a team be penalized?

 

[default]

Guessing most (many?) boys would "stick one in their ear" if there was blatent stalling going on. I personally think it is very bush to stall.

The game is designed for 7 innings, bad enough time limits change it to 4 or 5 innings without any stalling nonsense. Like to stop the clock last 5 mins rule.

 

[default]

If we don't like stalling lets play by the innings and not the clock otherwise playing by the rules is playing by the rules.

 

[default]

If you're going to do that you better have lighted diamonds as a practical matter or restrict the number of teams. Either way the price of softball will go up.

 

[default]

If everyone went back to no-time limit games, there wouldn't be enough quality tournaments to satify all of the travel teams.

Tournament fields would be cut in half and then everyone will be crying about not getting into a tournament.

 

[default]

I like the new rule but I also have to agree with some of the post, stalling does play a factor but every coach knows it is there before they start the tournament. So is it really stalling or using the rule to its fullest extent? I will never stall as a coach. I think the games should be played 7 innings like they are designed to but I also understand why there are time limits as well.

I had a team try everything they could to stall a game 2 years ago in a tourney in West Liberty and asked the ump to move the game along and he did the best he could but a rule is a rule. Anyway we were down 1 run and I believe 1 minute left and my batter biggz, god love her, hits the ball down the right field line for a homerun. Game ends in a tie and we go on to win the tourney. Now the bad thing was, while shaking hands with the other team, that the coaches called my coach and me out to the parking lot to fight afterwards. I did good and told him he was not worth my time even though I really wanted to but its for the girls. I wish I could remember the coaches names because I sure would post them, at least the team name, but I cannot remember. Can you believe coaches calling out the other coaches to fight? What a bunch of morons. Help me out with this one softballmomrlz22, what team or the coaches names was this? Their names should be posted on here so whoever plays them next knows to bring their boxing gloves, lol.

 

[default]

A few comments...

- Every other sanctioning body already has rules in place that prescribe penalties- up to and including a forfeit- for delaying the game.

- In every sport that utilizes a clock teams have developed strategies to manage the clock in their favor. Should we outlaw spiking the ball or running out of bounds in football, icing the puck in hockey or the four-corner offense in basketball?

- With respect to the amount of time consumed, an otherwise legal conference, substitution or time out- all of which the rules permit- will eat up the same amount of time whether it is taken in the first inning or the last.

- As far as "letting the players decide the game on the field"...they did- during the first hour-plus the game was played. If your team is in a position where a minute or two one way or the other is going to seal your defeat, perhaps you didn't play well enough the entire rest of the game. If you had, then you wouldn't be in this position (a position that had to realize was a possibility when you agreed to play games under a timed format).

 

[default]

If you're going to do that you better have lighted diamonds as a practical matter or restrict the number of teams. Either way the price of softball will go up.

Yep, so we should stop freaking out over teams playing by the rules and using the clock in a timed game when we want the clock to be part of the game.

 

[default]

Musty, I agree! Cut back on the # of teams and let them play the games all the way out!!! Maybe will cut back on # of irrelevant games...!

 

[default]

A few comments...

- Every other sanctioning body already has rules in place that prescribe penalties- up to and including a forfeit- for delaying the game.

- In every sport that utilizes a clock teams have developed strategies to manage the clock in their favor. Should we outlaw spiking the ball or running out of bounds in football, icing the puck in hockey or the four-corner offense in basketball?

- With respect to the amount of time consumed, an otherwise legal conference, substitution or time out- all of which the rules permit- will eat up the same amount of time whether it is taken in the first inning or the last.

- As far as "letting the players decide the game on the field"...they did- during the first hour-plus the game was played. If your team is in a position where a minute or two one way or the other is going to seal your defeat, perhaps you didn't play well enough the entire rest of the game. If you had, then you wouldn't be in this position (a position that had to realize was a possibility when you agreed to play games under a timed format).

True, so true

 

[default]

A few comments...

-- As far as "letting the players decide the game on the field"...they did- during the first hour-plus the game was played. If your team is in a position where a minute or two one way or the other is going to seal your defeat, perhaps you didn't play well enough the entire rest of the game. If you had, then you wouldn't be in this position.

Dont agree with this statement at all, lots of very good competitive games are decided at the end and by one or two runs. Thats why you have either time limit or innings, etc....as well part of your earlier statement below....

- In every sport that utilizes a clock teams have developed strategies to manage the clock in their favor. Should we outlaw spiking the ball or running out of bounds in football, icing the puck in hockey or the four-corner offense in basketball?

Doesnt hold water because lots of those sports come down to the wire.... your comments are contradictory relative to timelines and similarities.

 

[default]

A few comments...

- Every other sanctioning body already has rules in place that prescribe penalties- up to and including a forfeit- for delaying the game.

- In every sport that utilizes a clock teams have developed strategies to manage the clock in their favor. Should we outlaw spiking the ball or running out of bounds in football, icing the puck in hockey or the four-corner offense in basketball?

- With respect to the amount of time consumed, an otherwise legal conference, substitution or time out- all of which the rules permit- will eat up the same amount of time whether it is taken in the first inning or the last.

- As far as "letting the players decide the game on the field"...they did- during the first hour-plus the game was played. If your team is in a position where a minute or two one way or the other is going to seal your defeat, perhaps you didn't play well enough the entire rest of the game. If you had, then you wouldn't be in this position (a position that had to realize was a possibility when you agreed to play games under a timed format).

So, what you are saying is that games are never decided in the late innings? IMHO, I will not stall regardless. I understand the "rules are the rules", as I am an attorney. But, I think karma will always come back at you. We had a team try to start stalling with 15 minutes left in the game a couple years back in Parma. They changed pitchers 7 times, including bringing the one that started the progression back a second time. Unfortunately for them, our 1/2 inning lasted about 9 minutes, we got a lead, and we shut them out quickly in the bottom half of the inning. We could have stalled, and changed pitchers, and won, but we weren't going to play that game. I thought it was ridiculous then, and I still think it is ridiculous. I'm perfectly fine with ending the inning, but don't have a drop-dead time limit. I can deal with playing 3 or 4, or 5 full innings, but just give the teams a fighting chance, including the opposing team.

 

[default]

So, what you are saying is that games are never decided in the late innings? IMHO, I will not stall regardless. I understand the "rules are the rules", as I am an attorney. But, I think karma will always come back at you. We had a team try to start stalling with 15 minutes left in the game a couple years back in Parma. They changed pitchers 7 times, including bringing the one that started the progression back a second time. Unfortunately for them, our 1/2 inning lasted about 9 minutes, we got a lead, and we shut them out quickly in the bottom half of the inning. We could have stalled, and changed pitchers, and won, but we weren't going to play that game. I thought it was ridiculous then, and I still think it is ridiculous. I'm perfectly fine with ending the inning, but don't have a drop-dead time limit. I can deal with playing 3 or 4, or 5 full innings, but just give the teams a fighting chance, including the opposing team.

I agree.

Funny story last year (because it wasn't my team)...a coach started texting me during a game at an east side Cincy tourney about the absolute ridiculous antics of another team...to win is to win with pride. I tried to help this coach and he took the high road. I was ticked off for him and his girls. Even funnier thing is...he was 11u and they were a strong 12u team. Nothing like teaching the girls a lesson....question is...which lesson do you want to author for them?

 

[default]

On the otherside of the coin.... We had two outs and our 9 hitter up. We were the home team and had to get into the next inning. Bless her heart but the girl up to bat understood what we needed and without asking she struck out on three pitches. The third was in the glove she looked, swung, and ran off the field to get her glove. We were able to start a new inning, and with the top of the order. We heard the coach yelling at the pitcher for not taking enough time between pitches. Umpire looked at our coach and laughed it off saying "what other choice did you have, nice game". It was one to remember.

 

[default]

On the otherside of the coin.... We had two outs and our 9 hitter up. We were the home team and had to get into the next inning. Bless her heart but the girl up to bat understood what we needed and without asking she struck out on three pitches. The third was in the glove she looked, swung, and ran off the field to get her glove. We were able to start a new inning, and with the top of the order. We heard the coach yelling at the pitcher for not taking enough time between pitches. Umpire looked at our coach and laughed it off saying "what other choice did you have, nice game". It was one to remember.

We did this last year and the ump called the game because they timed the game with a sun dial. Don't even need to resurrect that issue. OMG..