Thursday, December 12, 2019
Light at the End of the Tunnel.
Just finished backloading the 17,430 word NFHS Baseball Rules in Black and White manuscript into the Content Management System or CMS for our Baseball Rules in Black and White App. One down two manuscripts to go.
Next will be our 14,736 word Official Baseball Rules in Black and White Manuscript, it will also be translated into Spanish, Japanese and Chinese. By translating into additional languages this raises the OBR word count to 58,944.
After these daunting tasks I will finish with the endeavor by including our18,749 word NCAA Baseball Rules in Black and White manuscript.
As you can tell it is a lot of work in progress, but our beta app will be launched very soon and all the effort and time spent will become an awesome reality.
If you'd like to see our prototype for our beta, click here.
Want more information about Baseball Rules in Black and White and our App, click here.
Friday, November 22, 2019
App Prototype, Baseball Rules in Black and White
Baseball Rules in Black and White now has a prototype for our app. The prototype
is a window into a fantastic technological achievement that will soon be coming
to the global baseball community.
While at this moment the prototype is not fully functional, it does
allow users to experience the amazing speed, that with a few touches of the
screen you can find an exact or related baseball ruling you seek.
Click a language, a rule set OBR, NCAA or NFHS, a rule
topic, a rule category or related ruling and you’re there. Four to five touches
of your screen and a confusing ruling on the baseball field can be quickly found,
easily and correctly explained. In addition,
videos of infractions are provided for the more complex rulings as well.
We are extremely proud that a fully functional Baseball
Rules in Black and White beta app is coming in weeks. Until then you can click
on any of the above highlighted links and witness a technological achievement for the
rules of baseball and enjoy our prototype.
Best Regards,
Jim Bettencourt
Baseball
Rules in Black and White LLC, President
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Baseball Rules in Black and White App
We are
pleased to announce that Baseball Rules in Black and White is quickly progressing
through the many challenging steps required in building an app.
The substantial
and creative benefits provided by our innovative app are key to the many successes
that have been accomplished to date.
Baseball Rules in Black and White is committed to evolving and improving. Our 2020 app is another perfect example of that promise.
Sincerely,
Jim
Bettencourt
President, Baseball Rules in Black and White LLC
Thursday, April 4, 2019
Effective Resources Exist
William J Hart, 5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect complement to the NFHS Rules. April 2, 2019, Format: Paperback Verified Purchase. This book is a great supplement to the NFHS rules. You wouldn't navigate the seas without a map and or compass. Rule's in Black and White helps you navigate the rules. The print is BIG and enough space to write notes on the pages. The rules in simple to read format. The rule number resides with each infraction in alphabetical order. Looking for BALK,look up B for Balk. Then the ruling definition and rule number. Its thats easy. Rules in B&W needs to be in your umpire arsenal.
Greg Xepoleas, 5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Resource! March 28, 2019, Format: Paperback Verified Purchase. Another great item to add to the toolbelt. The baseball umpire community is always seeking resources to assist with rules interpretations and applications at all levels of the game...…. and this is a great tool. This book serves as an invaluable supplement to the NFHS rule book. The format and presentation allows for a convenient and easy-to-understand application and interpretation of the most frequently encountered rules and situations. Well worth the investment!
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Umpires Friend or Foe
First game
of the year I was umpiring the bases. At the completion of the top half of the
first inning I approached the pitcher as he was walking off the diamond. I wanted to let him know from the set when he
came to a stop, his glove was above his chin and that is considered a balk in
high school baseball.
This is one
balk seldom called, but rather than a pitcher not knowing and having a balk
called on him in a playoff game, this was a perfect non-league game to help
educate a player. The player thanked me and went to the dugout.
The bottom
of the first inning now with the visiting pitcher on the mound, from the set he
also had his glove above his chin when he came to a stop. At the end of the inning I repeated the same
information in the same manner to the pitcher but with just the opposite
effect.
This pitcher
became defensive and was not receptive. Soon I see his head coach approaching and
asks what is going on. I informed him what his pitcher was doing wrong and let
him know I was simply providing rule information. The coach first asked, “When
did this become a rule?” As we parted, it was clear he was upset that I had
even brought this rule to their attention.
One inning
later I’m in the A position as the base assistant coach approaches and
immediately begins a loud negative assault at me related to me providing information.
I immediately shut him down without an ejection and with no further comments
throughout the remainder of the game.
This umpire’s
afterthoughts: 1. I should have told the
head coach I had previously given the other pitcher the same information. This
may or may not have reduced his concerns. 2. In this instance, I experienced
small grief for providing what I thought would be helpful information. As
umpires we are trained to limit information, for this very reason. 3. As
umpires and coaches when we are quick to pre-judge or assume the worst, we can miss
opportunities to become better.
Jim
Bettencourt, NCOA, RCOA, Baseball Rules in Black and White
Monday, February 11, 2019
Baseball Rules in Black and White, what we don’t do.
Baseball Rules in Black and White does not scatter
pertinent rule information and randomly hide it throughout a chapter or the
entire book. We do not offer the reader bits and pieces of a ruling, as though
only a portion of a ruling is what we need in a game. Instead we provide rulings
that include related sub-rulings, from the time of the infraction until play
has stopped.
Baseball Rules in Black and White does not provide
every single rule in baseball and for very good reasons. We believe focusing on
the most frequently called infractions umpires see throughout a game, season
after season should be our priority. These are the infractions we must rule correctly
most often, not the stitch count of the baseball.
Baseball Rules in Black
and White’s books do not cause you to spend your valuable time flipping
pages searching for hidden, scattered or partial rules in confusing language in
tiny font. Instead we have taken obscure rule book language and random formatting
and converted it into a structured format, with easy to read basic English
sentences.
You’re going to spend your valuable time searching and
flipping pages anyway, instead try studying, retaining and correctly applying
the most frequently called rules with Baseball Rules in Black and White.
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Baseball Umpires Young and Old Benefit
Take a time and listen to what Billy Haze CWS umpire knows, that beginner or veteran every umpire can benefit from
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Endorsements Matter
The 2019 NCAA and NFHS Baseball Rules in Black and White resources take readers quickly to a rule, use
straightforward language, while retaining accuracy, to convey a clear and
decisive interpretation, in a beneficial format. We are honored to have the following accomplished umpires and associations from across the country endorse the many benefits of our books.
Bradley
Hungerford
California Baseball Umpires Association’s Executive Instructional Chairman - "It is my opinion Baseball Rules in Black and
White’s 2019 High School Edition reader friendly content and format should be
read and studied by every high school umpire and coach across the country."
Doug McClure, Triple Play Umpires - “The 2018 College
Edition of Baseball Rules in Black and White will help you to
understand NCAA rules, along with the rule references so that
your knowledge will be spot on. We at Triple Play Umpires and many others
fully recommend that you give this your attention.”
Pre-order our 2019 NCAA and NFHS editions at Amazon or at our website below, copies retails for $14.99
www.baseballrulesinblackandwhite.com
www.baseballrulesinblackandwhite.com
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Baseball's Effective Rules Resource
Baseball rule books contain a peculiar format, which causes these books to be flawed as an education resource. How so? Their format provides unconnected singular rulings. Now ask yourself, how many of the common, but
complicated infractions in baseball require a single ruling. When an education
resource fails to connect important information, it is flawed.
An effective baseball
rule resource should use straightforward language to convey a clear and
decisive interpretation of related and pertinent rulings pertaining to an infraction, while retaining
accuracy. The 2019 NCAA and NFHS Baseball Rules in Black and White series
of books are those
resources.
These effective resources have been honored with the endorsements of
the California Baseball Umpires Association, Executive Instructional Chairman, Bradley Hungerford, Sacramento’s own Billy Haze, a 2016
NCAA Division I College World Series Umpire and the National High School
Baseball Coaches Association.
To pre-order our NCAA and NFHS editions through Amazon click on the highlighted blue links or for more information and see our endorsements visit our website at www.baseballrulesinblackandwhite.com Each copy retails for $14.99
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Baseball Umpires Turn the Page
In order for
baseball umpires to correctly apply a ruling on the field the majority of time
they are enforcing numerous, individual, but related rules. Official baseball rule books tend to scatter
these numerous, individual, but related rules randomly throughout their pages.
So, this
causes anyone, not just umpires trying to find the rule(s) for a correct
ruling, to begin an intensive page turning investigation in order to see all the
rules that were or were not correctly applied.
Another joyless format, these rules have tiny font,
spread out over several pages or chapters and there is a very good chance while searching,
finding and reading the third rule of five, we will forget the first rule we
read.
After twenty
years as an umpire, personally I do not need practice turning dozens of pages
and searching randomly for rulings. Now instead of hurriedly turning pages, searching and turning too many pages I use my time actually studying, learning and retaining the
rules. I easily find the infraction, with all the related rulings from an A to Z
Table of Contents. Now, rather than turn
pages back and forth, I study an infraction using all the related rulings,
examples, exceptions and notes on the same page in big font in Baseball Rules
in Black and White.
Sunday, January 27, 2019
Baseball Rules in Black and White an Effective Resource
We have deconstructed
wordy, confusing baseball rule book language, then we reconstructed that rule
book language into basic English sentences that are easy to read and make sense.
Some of the rule book language was so confusing and poorly worded it took weeks
to extract the jest of the rule, in order to construct a basic English sentence.
Our unique
format is far superior to official rule books. With official rule books you get
what I call a scavenger hunt format, related pertinent rulings scattered randomly
through-out the book. This scavenger hunt format can cause partially correct
rulings.
With the Baseball Rules in Black and White format we have collected
and organized related and pertinent rulings, then print them in order of sequence
and importance. You get all the related rule information on the same page, instead
of wasting time flipping pages looking for numbers.
The fact is,
when we read confusing rule book language or a partial ruling, what we retain becomes
distorted and what we recall is doubtful. The worst part, we then apply a
ruling that’s weak. Until we are able to easily comprehend rules that we read, we
will struggle to retain, recall and apply an accurate ruling. Baseball Rules in
Black and White books are easy to comprehend and this makes them a very effective
resource.
You can now pre-order these books at Amazon
Sunday, January 20, 2019
Baseball's Most Effective Rules Resource Available on Amazon
For an umpire to
advance, he must have a solid knowledge of the rules of baseball!
Having a proficient
level of rules knowledge empowers umpires to have greater confidence and
accuracy when making split-second calls. This in turn improves an umpire’s
ability to articulate his rule interpretations and establish superior game
management skills. Rules knowledge is vital to becoming a respected umpire.
Effective baseball
rules resources should take a reader quickly to a rule, use straightforward
language to convey a clear and decisive interpretation, while retaining
accuracy. The 2019 NCAA and NFHS Baseball Rules in Black and White series of books are those resources.
These books have incredibly strong endorsements from accomplished and respected umpires, assignors and instructional chairs from across the country, which can be seen on our website: www.baseballrulesinblackandwhite.com
You can pre-order the NCAA
and NFHS
editions through Amazon by clicking on the highlighted links. Each copy retails
for $14.99
Baseball Rules in Black and White, 2019 NCAA & NFHS pre-order now!
For an umpire to
advance, he must have a solid knowledge of the rules of baseball!
Having a proficient
level of rules knowledge empowers umpires to have greater confidence and
accuracy when making split-second calls. This in turn improves an umpire’s
ability to articulate his rule interpretations and establish superior game
management skills. Rules knowledge is vital to becoming a respected umpire.
Effective baseball
rules resources should take a reader quickly to a rule, use straightforward
language to convey a clear and decisive interpretation, while retaining
accuracy. The 2019 NCAA and NFHS Baseball Rules in Black and White series of books are those resources.
These books have incredibly strong endorsements from accomplished
and respected umpires, assignors and instructional chairs from across the
country, which can be seen on our website: www.baseballrulesinblackandwhite.com
You can pre-order the NCAA
and NFHS
editions through Amazon by clicking on the highlighted links. Each copy retails
for $14.99
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