Umpires, stop the "deer in the headlight syndrome"

Baseball Advocates & Umpire Administrators, 

Re: Baseball Rules in Black and White

There is no bigger fear for an umpire than to be unclear of a rule 

interpretation and then have that infraction happen right in front of 

them during a game.

 

The first reaction is to have a delayed call or no call, the famous 

“deer in the headlights syndrome.”  Hostile fans, coaches, players 

all either doubt your call or wonder if you are qualified. Then, 

that’s when it can get ugly.  This scenario plays out hundreds of 

times across this country every baseball season.

Of course this happens more frequently with newer officials, but as

 we all know it is not only exclusive to rookies.  Even seasoned 

officials are ultimately challenged by important game situations in 

conjunction with difficult worded rules.  Pressure of a game 

or a play and a complicated ruling can easily rattle and cause any 

official to struggle. 

Over five decades of either playing, coaching or umpiring baseball 

I wanted something better to teach both old and new umpires

 difficult rules, that would help reduce or stop "the deer in the 

headlight syndrome". 

My objective was to make difficult rulings easier to learn and 

comprehend so that they would be easy to retain and apply in  

difficult games and plays, this would increase a decisive and 

correct call on the field.  I have seen both rookies’ and veterans’ 

field performance greatly improve by reading, understanding and 

applying their newly gained rules knowledge.  Making calls in an 

automatic reflex action tells everyone that you honestly know what 

the rule says and why you called it.

The introduction in the book gives an excellent overview about 

Baseball Rules in Black and White. I have written a baseball rule

clarification book, an enhancement to the high school baseball rule 

book.  I did not attempt to rewrite the whole rule book or replace 

it.  

After purchasing, reading and evaluating this book, if you know of 

anyone that would benefit from its contents please pass the name

Baseball Rules in Black and White along to them.

baseballrulesinblackandwhite.com

James C. Bettencourt