time out question

Question
The ump we had last night was letting the other team raise the ball in the air and call timeout as soon as they got the ball into the infield. They rarely made any attempt to make a throw because they were afraid that they would throw the ball away. When can a player call timeout ?

Answer
Hi Chad,

A player can NEVER call "time", only an umpire.

ASA 10-4-I (Slow Pitch) When, in the judgment of an umpire, all immediate play is apparently
completed, the umpire should call time.

However ASA 10-4-E. An umpire will not call time while any play is in progress, including when a
thrown ball hits an umpire.
EXCEPTION: During a live ball situations, when a player becomes injured and requires immediate attention, then umpire shall call time.


So if nothing was going on, in SP we usually call time when the ball comes back to the infield.

Mark