Game timer START button

[Danger]

Sorry if this is requested elsewhere. I didn't see it.

Is it possible to add a START TIMER button on the Lineup screen?

Typically, the official game clock begins at the coin flip. However, by the time the coaches make with the chit-chat and amble back to the dugout, I get the lineup card, swap the home-visitors, enter starting lineups and positions, I've lost 3-to-5 minutes.

This then comes into play during late game decisions when starting a new inning is dependent upon the time limit. I'm never sure exactly how close my timer is to the official timer and that's often critical. I've seen games lost because a team thought there was more/less time on the clock than there really was. Being able to start the clock right at the coin flip and THEN being able to enter lineup info while the clock is running would solve that issue.

For those used to the old way who might forget to start the timer at the Lineup screen, perhaps it could then automatically start when the final "Play" button is pushed. And, to go further, the time could be in one color if pushed on the lineup screen and a different color if begun by pushing the "Play" button. That way, we'd know if the time was accurate or just an approximation.

Thoughts? Opposing viewpoints? Impossibilities?

[team mom]

The game timer is not meant to serve as the official timekeeper. WHen time is critical we always ask the ump for time remaniing. That said, I can generally be within 1-2 minutes by paying close attention to the coin toss. Once I know who is home and away, I will swap teams if necessary, then I will generally hit play to start the clock and then make any remaining changes to the lineups from the scoring screen using misc-show starting lineup.

[Camerabry]

I have the same issue with the game timer. I have to stare at them and read lips and hope to get the teams correct and play pushed. I usually end up starting it right when the umps start and then I have a 50/50 of having home/away correct.

I usually just ask the ump an inning or two in what time they have and just figure it out in my head, but it would definitely be nice if they had a timer start ability before you have to chose sides.

Game time in tournaments is hugely important. If we are home in the 5th inning and I know the bottom of the line up is coming up and have less than 10 minutes left I want to make sure my kids out in the field are pushing to get back in the dugout in case we go three up three down we can still have a 6th inning.

[jks0157]

I've never heard of a game 'starting' with a coin flip myself. I would assume that the game starts when the umpire says 'Play' which is when I click on the button 'Play' which also starts the game time.

[Danger]

I understand that the game timer, as it is now, is not necessarily intended to be the "official" game time. I'm asking for this addition because it would be a nice enhancement to the already great app. Believe it or not, we sometimes have umpires with - shall we say - "attitudes" who don't like giving out the time. Some use a watch. Some use a timer. Sometimes it's at home plate. Sometimes it with the field ump in his pocket. Sometimes there are buzzers. Sometimes there aren't. And I'm actually on the field in another capacity as the game is starting so it's pretty hectic when preparing the opposing lineup and positions.

And, yes, jks0157, in almost every travel softball tournament we play in, the timer begins at the coin flip. I've got two teams that play on alternating weekends so I'm at 25-30 tourneys a year and I can't recall one that wasn't started at the coin flip.

[ixamnis]

I've seen games start at coin flip, first warm up pitch by the home team and when the first batter came up to bat. Once last year, the opposing team had not turned in their line up yet and the umps had already started the clock. I asked the tournament director about it afterwards and was told that was not proper. The clock can not start until the line ups have been exchanged. Two umpires were reprimanded on that one. Didn't end up mattering, we got creamed!

The other issue with the clock is if you did try to calibrate it with the official clock, what happens on injuries or other delays where the umps might stop the official clock? My opinion is it should be used a good reference to how much time is left and the coaches should ask the umps for the official time. I have enough trouble getting the line up in sometimes, that I sure wouldn't want to have to hit a START button at the right time and then have coaches and fans coming to me asking how much time is left! In fact I score for 3 teams and I'm not sure any of them know that the app I'm using even keeps track of the time!

[Camerabry]

Game time always starts during the meeting when the coaches and ump agree on a time. Has nothing to do with play ball. Lots of times the game has already ticked away 5 minutes before first pitch.

[jks0157]

By Official Baseball Rules, the definition of "Play" is the umpire's order to start the game (or resume action following any dead ball).

With that definition official time can not be before that. With that being said, a league may have their own definition of start time but that would be contrary to Official Rules. Again, that would only be to 'shave' time. When we have tournaments, our coin flips are done in advance and everyone already knows home and visitor status so our teams are already on field and prepared to play. No delays and actual 'game time' is actual game time.

[Danger]

We're playing softball, not baseball. All of our tournament times begin with the coin flip which immediately follows the lineup exchange at the plate.

And, as I noted earlier, I wouldn't want it to force anyone to take the time to click a button. I suggest that the option exist but that, if the timer has not begun with the new button that it automatically begin as it does now as the backup. And I understand that it's never going to be the "official" time and that there is always a chance (maybe once in 20 games) when an injury or rain delay throws the clock off, just as it does with the current timer. But for the other 95% of the time, it would be nice to be a bit more accurate rather than trying to track in your head approximately how much time elapsed.

[Camerabry]

By Official Baseball Rules, the definition of "Play" is the umpire's order to start the game (or resume action following any dead ball).

With that definition official time can not be before that. With that being said, a league may have their own definition of start time but that would be contrary to Official Rules. Again, that would only be to 'shave' time. When we have tournaments, our coin flips are done in advance and everyone already knows home and visitor status so our teams are already on field and prepared to play. No delays and actual 'game time' is actual game time.

Travel ball pool games you never know home/away till flip of coin. That is done during coaches meeting. Ive never seen it done early in the three years my boy has been playing. Time starts during meeting, not when the umps say play ball. Usually time starts during the meeting or whatever the umps say. Sometimes they will have the meeting a couple minutes early and they will say time starts in two minutes or whatever. But it's not "play ball". Time it from that and you'll end up 5 minutes short every time.