Chattering - Rules question (Rich)

The only reason I'm quoting the rule is that I don't think Rich has the book yet.

Just to make sure you understand, all baseball rules, as far as I know, are derivatives of OBR which is what MLB uses, and I think owns.

NFHS publishes the rules for HS ball used at most schools. Their book is not set up like OBR! It has rules, but they are set up as "rule, section, article" and they do not cross reference to OBR.

I'm not going to type out the whole rule, but here's what we're talking about.

NFHS Rule 3, Substituting-Coaching-Bench and Field Conduct-Charged Conferences;

...Section 3, BENCH AND FIELD CONDUCT;

Article 1... A coach, player, substitute, attendant or other bench personnel shall not:

...g. Commit any unsportsmanlike act to include, but not limited to,

1. use of words or actions to incite or attempt to incite spectators demonstrations,

2. use of profanity, intimidation tactics, remarks reflecting unfavorably upon any other person, or taunting or baiting.

NOTE: The NFHS disapproves of any form of taunting that is intended or designed to embarrass, ridicule or demean other under circumstances including race, religion, gender or national origin.

3. use of any language intended to intimidate,

4. behavior in any manner not in accordance with the spirit of fair play;...

Penalty: The umpire shall eject the offender from the game, unless the offense is judged to be of a minor nature. The umpire may warn the offender and then eject him if he repeats the offense. The warning or ejection shall be made at the end of playing action. Failure to comply shall result in the game being forfeited. For coaches who violate g, h, i, j, k, or l, the umpire may (1) restrict the offender to bench/dugout for the remainder of the game or (2) eject the offender. Any coach restricted to the bench shall be ejected for further misconduct. A coach may leave the bench to attend to a player who becomes ill or injured.

Depending on the exact circumstances, you are probably correct in assuming unsportsmanlike conduct is frowned on by both OBR and NFHS, but the ump is right in the sense that there is a heck of a lot more to the NFHS rule than OBR.

Also, its possible that a state association may "augment" that rule by adding language of their own. Here in Ca, there are several sections of the state association and they may all do that. Of course any league in any section, and any team may also do that. It is possible that an umpire may do games in different states or in different sections with the same state and find a few rules that are different.

But in this particular instance, I'd fall back on what I said before. No matter what the rule says, I think umps will use their own judgement. The purpose of the rule is to keep the game under control, and that's what most of them try to do.