I know this isn't the SSUSA rule but just curious about how everyone feels about the associations where they don't call illegal pitch until after it lands. I like the way the rule is written in SSUSA that it's called while the pitch is in the air but other places don't call it until after it lands. To me that makes zero sense at all, the spirit of the rule is there to assist the batter. How are you helping the batter when there is no verbal or even hand signal saying it's an illegal pitch. I don't agree with the hand signal either but at least if the on deck batter is paying attention he can tell the batter it's illegal if the ump puts out a hand. But when the ump does nothing until after the pitch lands what is even the point.

John, there's not much left for me to say other than, "I agree". Your comments were spot on.

The only association that I am aware of besides senior ones is USA Softball which have worked for years and do call illegal pitches. My honest opinion only is that it is just another way for umpires to get into trouble when they already have enough ways to do that. As a batter, I know what I want to hit. More people seem to want to hit flat pitches anymore. It is a tough call for the umpire because the ball is quicker to get to the batter at its highest arch because is low. In my experience more batters complain about the correct call on a ball under 6’ because messes up their swing when are going for it.

Nancy is correct. Besides SSUSA, the only association that calls “illegal” with the arm out while the pitch is in the air is USA (formerly ASA). It sure has worked out real well for them over the years!
Problem with senior ball is sometimes you get umpires that don’t do that. Likely because they’re Utrip, NSA or One Nation. Going over rules 15 minutes before game time is likely not going to break their habits!
Unless the pitch is egregiously high or flat look to hit!

stick8, I know that SPA calls it too, but I really don’t know about other senior associations besides those 2. The trouble though is that other than USA Softball or seniors umpires, that many have never done that before. I really don’t like the idea of them trying to learn it during a senior tournament. They will definitely mess it up at least to start if they ever do it right. I do watch the umpires at ISA seniors tournaments and is an interesting exercise. Like I said, I really don’t get much heck on calling it on the high pitches but do on the low ones most likely because am pretty vocal and say that it messes up their swing. Now if I sound like their wife, they can’t hear me anyway. ????

Nancy.. huh .. whattt .. did you say something??

B.J., it does amuse me as loud as I tend to be when a man says that they did not hear me yell Foul ball. You could probably hear me from there. Yes, I have been know to look at them and say Do I sound like your wife? Yes, we girls can say things that you boys cannot for sure. I do have to give a shout out to The Villages. I had lady friends on both the first and second place teams last weekend. They were very impressed and said had 4 umpires on the championship games. If they were lucky, you were one of them.

Nancy, ISSA calls it. I don’t know about the newer association, I think it’s TPSSA.
It is a shame that from time to time umpires don’t call “illegal” when the ball is in the air. But otoh, sometimes we’re lucky just to have umpires!!