the courtesy runner for the catcher

I'm not a fan as my son is a great baserunner. His HS coach will leave him in unless he's on first with 2 out. I see coaches use it more to get kids into the game who don't play much more than to get a faster runner out there. I don't have a huge problem with this idea, but again my son is the one taken off the bases for a CR.

Your time saving argument makes sense, but I've seen plenty of kids take their time getting out there.

Every coach is different in how they use this rule.  It allows for slower catchers which is normally the case.  it does give them time to get ready.  If you don't run for them, then you cannot complain as a coach when the umpire does not give your pitcher adequate time to get warmed up.  You would be surprised how many teams do not have a substitute catcher warm up the pitcher.  I would disagree that the catcher with two outs should have full gear on except helmet.   The pitcher and catcher should be the first ones on the field as soon as the last out is made.  Legally you only have 1 minute to warm up between innings but most umpires will give you plenty of time to throw your warmup pitches as long as there is someone there to catch the pitcher.  I know a lot of umpires that will not give them their full time or hold it against a team that does not have someone ready to warmup pitcher or if the pitcher is not out there right after the last half inning is over.  It was all for a speedup rule and many leagues are making the teams use CR for pitchers and catchers, no choice.  My son was always allowed to run for himself as a pitcher during school ball and mostly during summer if he was hitting for himself.  But he always knew he had to get ready quickly when the third out was made and usually had someone running his gear to him.

It's at the coach's discretion, there have been plenty of times where my catcher was a good baserunner and I didn't courtesy run for him.

As far as it not slowing games down to have catchers run, though, I'm not sure I agree. Maybe with older kids there's not much difference, but I can't even count how many times I've had to wait for an inning to start because the catcher (mine or the other team's) was putting on gear. It's a real thing.

I always laughed at the speed up the game argument when the hitting team doesn't have a runner ready, and then when they find one he has to take off his coat and tie his cleats, running out without a helmet...

In the South Texas heat, my son loves that there is an option. Working behind the dish then running the bases to go right back behind the dish when it is over 100 degrees can become taxing. He does love running the bases but, if he can get some time in the shade to cool off, he would be taking that option. This may not apply in other areas of the country.

I don't know about speeding up the game, but on those 90F+ afternoons it's a good idea to get your catcher in the shade as much as possible.

@K9 posted:

I always laughed at the speed up the game argument when the hitting team doesn't have a runner ready, and then when they find one he has to take off his coat and tie his cleats, running out without a helmet...

True!!

Just to clarify - I don't think the rule as an "option" is terrible. It's when it's enforced no matter what or used blindly where it's bad.

The non-option rule is annoying. If they want to save time, enforce the batter box rule

Do they not enforce the batter's box rule in NY?  They do everywhere we have been in the South at least 90% of the time in HS.  Very rarely do you have a batter step out of the box with both feet and if they have not been given timeout the umpire allows the pitcher to pitch.  The batters box rule is pretty well enforced throughout the South and midwest where I have been for the past 20 years.  Travel ball is different but they normally play by MLB rules which do not have a batters box rule.

There is a rule but it is enforced as much as not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign.

@Francis7 posted:

1. Save the catcher’s legs.  Yes, perhaps the PR provides some benefit to provide the catcher a break?  But, he also gets breaks during offensive innings where he is not batting.  So, how many breaks does he need?  Also, is having him sit the couple of times that he reaches base in a game worth the trade-off of the catcher never gaining any base running experience because you always pinch run for him?

The only time I've seen a courtesy runner for a catcher is in PG tournaments, USA Baseball and the like.  It's usually 90+ degrees while playing multiple games in a day, and while you may think of this as saving his legs, it is saving his whole body including his arm, which has to work harder when his legs get fatigued.  While most position players are standing around for all but 8-10 chances in a game, the catcher is squatting, blocking, backing up 1st, etc for 150+ pitches.  I think it's a good option to offer a catcher to give him a much needed break... not dumb at all.