It's Softball Season

I'm going to put a few more up than usual here. Hopefully I won't get in too much trouble. Some composites and some action. These first 2 are from North Dallas High School.

And then my school had a home game tonight so I took a few there. The umpires actually kicked me out of the game after the first half inning for reasons that no one's sure of.

Did you find out why the Umps booted you? Were you on the field, or in the spectator area?

New rule this year. Photographers must be in a designated area for photographers that is marked out before the game. They cannot be in the dug outs. I'm paraphrasing that but that's about the just of it.

Up until this year, I was always inside the fence near 1st or 3rd base...but Michigan changed the rules this year and photogs can no longer be inside the fence. But dugouts are allowed.

At least you know why and don't get tossed again.

I miss softball, my daughter stopped playing this year and is focusing on lacrosse. I love the lacrosse action, but do miss this game. I guess it brings me back to my youth and baseball every spring. Softball and baseball have so many idiosyncrasies and even the sounds of the game that I enjoy.

It's a national rule change this year and is being enforced inconsistently. I've talked to several umps and they were all aware of the new rule. See https://www.nfhs.org …mments-on-the-rules-2019/ as it states "It is no longer acceptable to designate any area in live-ball territory for media to occupy during the game. Game management is still free to designate a media area anywhere in dead-ball territory."

Here are a couple of quotes from a closed Facebook group I'm in:

"NFHS has done away with dead-ball chalked areas for media on the field as you must be in the dugout or another safe location off the field."

"Only the first and third base coaches are allowed on the field while on offense, and no defensive coaches are allowed on the field during play."

The above is consistent with the umps I've talked with, i.e., you're either in the dugout or outside the fence as the chalked media box is no longer allowed.

Here's directly from UIL.

UIL State Baseball and Softball Tournaments: In accordance with National Federation Rules, photographers may shoot on the field ONLY from designated areas. These areas must be marked as dead ball areas on the field. If no designation has been made, photographers will not be allowed on the playing area. Photographers are not allowed in the dugouts at any time.

yes, different rules for USA Softball, NCAA and NFHS

https://www.teamusa.or​g …NFHS-Rule-Differences.pdf

see "Media Area"

USA Softball - No Rule

NCAA - Media/photographers authorized by the host team may be in designated live or dead ball areas at the discretion of the host institution. Also has NOTE for additional references

NFHS - Media shall be prohibited from being in live ball territory.