YBE 161: Rules Every Coach Should Know Before Arguing With Umpires, Part 4, with Brandon Jackson

Test your knowledge of sportsmanship rules, base awards, the runner's lane, what exactly is a foul tip, what exactly is a dropped third strike, catcher's interference, the softball lookback rule, and a bunch of miscellaneous questions. Brandon Jackson, former umpire at the D1/DII/DIII level, is back to explain these commonly misunderstood rules coaches should know before going out to argue with the umpires. This is Part 4 of a four-part interview.

Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week (1:03:15) about what his hitting philosophy is and how to train it.

In this 1-hour-14-minute episode, you'll learn:

• when a team is determined to be distracting or unsportsmanlike (6:18)
• when is it ok to pitch without being charged with quick pitching [from Eric] (10:26)
• what should happen if a fielder tricks a runner [from Colin] (12:43)
• what the base award would be if the pitcher steps off the rubber and throws the pickoff throw over/under the fence [from Rich] (14:37)
• what the base award should be if the fielder throws the ball out of play, and does it matter what direction the runner is running [from Colin] (15:07)
• when does interference occur during the runner's lane [from Vito & Curtis] (17:39)
• when must a player run on the baseline [from Jonathan] (20:06)
• whether the runner may run on either side of the baseline when running to 1B or home [from Jonathan] (21:31)
• whether a switch-hitter can change batter's boxes in the middle of an at-bat [from Morgan] (22:53)
• whether it is a foul tip if the ball is not dropped but also not caught cleanly [from Colin] (24:46)
• what's the difference between a foul tip and a foul ball [from Samuel] (27:11)
• whether a force is at any base on a dropped third strike with bases loaded [from Colin] (28:16)
• why umps feel they need to put their personal stamp on the game [from Robert] (28:55)
• whether umpires can be asked to appeal his own call if the umpire is going solo [from anonymous] (32:18)
• whether umpires can be asked to move [from Don] (34:38)
• when a batter is considered "giving himself up" on a dropped third strike [from Colin] (36:29)
• how to define a dropped third strike [from Samuel] (37:16)
• whether the batter's place is an out if the batter becomes injured during an at-bat when batting everyone in the lineup [from Dave S] (39:25)
• who to tag if multiple runners are on the same base [from Dustin] (41:08)
• whether the strike zone is absolute or varied depending on the batter's height [from Samuel] (42:18)
• what exactly is the lookback rule in girls' softball [from Michael] (53:14)
• whether the run scores on a sacrifice fly if a runner is out because he did not tag up at 2B (56:20)
• a checked swing can be appealed if the field umpire is in the 'B' or 'C' position in a two-man umpiring crew (57:46)
• whether OBR declares a balk on shoulder movements after coming set without pitching or picking off (58:41)
• four little-known rules regarding catcher's interference (59:38)

Resources and links mentioned in this episode

• Slides about the Look-back rule
  Download Now!
• Coach takes result of the play on catcher's interference
• Catcher called for interference and balk
• YBE Practice Plan membership open again
• Subscribe to the YBE YouTube channel

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