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!

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

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.

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

Baseball Rule in Black and White 

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."

Billy Haze 2016 NCAA Division I, College World Series Umpire - “I believe the message in Baseball Rules in Black and White. You must understand what the rule is saying before you can properly call and explain that rule.”

The National High School Baseball Coaches Association - "In the continuing effort to help our members of the National High School Baseball Coaches Association, we recommend the 2019 edition of NFHS Baseball Rules in Black and White as a beneficial and effective resource for all High School baseball coaches"

    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  

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

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.