Start of Innings

Question
Hi Dr. Ambrose,

As a rec league fast pitch umpire, I constantly run into situations involving the start of an inning before a time limit. What is the actual rule on the true beginning of an inning? If I have one minute to play (and the game is close) one coach typically wants to stall, kill time in the warm-ups, call time for a conference; while the other coach is screaming for play to begin.

I've adopted an informal rule (explained in my pre-game meeting) that I consider the next inning to begin once the last out of the previous is recorded. So once the side is retired in the bottom of the fifth, the sixth inning has begun that instant, even if we were seconds away from reaching our league's 90 minute time limit. So far, this has worked out well, but is it correct?

Answer
Hi Kevin,

Sorry for the delay, I'm not getting my questions after the last upgrade, I have to check on them manually (I guess).

You are right....5-10 tells us an inning begins as soon as the 3rd out is recorded in the previous inning.  Good job!

Mark

ps...just tell them in your pregame "by rule the next inning starts...." that'll move them along