Why one kid will never respect umpires

An opportunity to teach that everyone makes mistakes...and it sucks when you're on the wrong end of them.

An opportunity to teach him to make more than one observation before using inductive reasoning to form a broad conclusion.  

I saw this same thing happen to a kid several years ago.  A HR... at any age... is very special.  May well be the pinnacle of a kids playing days... something he's likely to remember literally his entire adult life, especially if it was his first.  Always got the strong impression that the ump who I watched do this to the kid never knew that feeling. There are rules and then there are rules.  The thing to do with a 12 yo is let them celebrate the moment.  Then, make mention of the rule by way of a warning.  I doubt this would be called in a professional game.  Terrible.

There is no rule.

Is the rule no one can aid the runner? Making contact doesn't necessarily aid the runner. I remember we got a call reversed in an ASA softball game. The runner came a little wide around third. The third base coach made contact with the runner waving her in. It was determined the runner was not out because the coach did not aid the runner.

A base coach (or any other non-runner authorized to be on the field, for that matter) cannot physically assist a baserunner. Slapping someone in celebration is not assistance.

Two grey areas, not relevant here:

1. when the ball is dead, is there really assistance, since the runner is not liable to be put out? 

2. Is assistance only the act of moving the runner, or is using touch to emphasize coaching instructions illegal, as well?

RJM,

I don't know what rules these 12 year olds are playing under.  It wouldn't astonish me to hear that some youth league prohibits such contact.  But in high school, you would be correct.  Aiding the runner is proscribed, not touching or congratulating.

The game I saw... kid hits the bomb, rounds third and before touching home the entire team starts mobbing him.  I saw him touch the plate eventually.  Ump called him out.  

This league should fire the ump.  

Ask the ump why McGwire, Thomson and Gibson weren't out.

http://youtu.be/6cMwDLxr-1A?t=45s

http://youtu.be/lrI7dVj90zs?t=23s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U157X0jy5iw

Or this little leaguer hitting a walk off in the LLWS:

 http://youtu.be/ME5ZPGDqJx0?t=1m7s

Seems like some "adults" just can't help themselves ruining the game for the kids.   

I've seen this more than once. Called by umps who don't know the rules. I've also seen coaches complain about it as teammates celebrate and touch a kid before they touch home. In a game I was coaching, an ump called a kid out on the other side for slapping the 3b coaches hand as he trotted around third (and this was American legion). I left the dugout to tell the ump he was wrong and almost got tossed for my interference.

There is an old saying that local rules are made by local fools....although not supported by any rules set interpretation, it would not be a surprise if you were right and this was a local rule somewhere

I must be too nice. In LL an opposing team hitter missed home in the pile of congratulations at the plate. Parents from my team were yelling about it. I told my pitcher to get on the rubber and throw a pitch. I wasn't going to screw a kid out of his first homer in LL.

Depending on where your playing and what rules you are playing under there is a simple solution for an ump calling a kid out for getting a high five or black slap on an HR.  Its 2 simple words, "I protest".  

Texas, Nations Baseball, MLB+ rules.  The plus is age restrictions, pitching restrictions, field sizes, etc.  My brother in law was called out in college for same in the '80's.  It still comes up.

not one of those rules sets specifies that a touch is considered aiding the runner.......the problem is this 12-u game was umpired by a less than well trained umpire.....that blame lies with the umpire, his association or the league that trains him

This happened to a teammate of mine in high school. There can be no physical contact/assistance by a teammate to the runner coming home. Another one of those bad examples set in the big leagues, like not hustling to 1st on a ground ball. in the MLB in a big situation, the whole team rushes the field and collapses on the guy. and the run counts. I agree with just giving a warning, especially at 12 years old! i never hit one till junior year of high school! defense appealing when the HR hitter failed to touch a base on the other hand...

There is not now, nor has ever been, a "physical contact" rule. It's about assistance. there's no need for a warning. There is no infraction that would be grounds for a warning.

Nor is there a rule preventing a baserunner from assisting another baserunner.  There is a rule preventing a coach from assisting a runner.  7.09(h)

Why would a kid never respect an umpire because of something that happened when he was 12 years old?  That is like saying all players are bad because one player is bad.

People get confused. Apply the wrong rule set. Note the penalty - it is not an out. Only a rule in NCAA - not in NFHS or OBR.

NCAA Rule 5-2d

After a home run, no offensive team member, other than the base coaches, shall touch the batter-runner before home plate has been touched. Team personnel, except for preceding base runners and the on-deck batter, shall not leave the warning track area in front of the dugout (a recommended minimum area of 15-feet) to congratulate the batter-runner and other base runners.

PENALTY for c. and d. - After a warning for the first offense, ejection from the contest of one of the offending players.

If the kid grows up to have no respect for umpires, it is most likely due to his dad, not the umpires.

I can't remember back that far -- did it used to be an out?  (I'm talking like 15 years ago or something).  I suppose I could dig out my old rule books to find out -- but then I'd just be confused on the current rule.