Hey CB....Nice hearing from you; and agreed!     

Hope all is well with you!

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At least, at minimum, one copy, be made available to every league president, as  is the "Operating Manual"---with full knowledge to all league personnel; and yes, hired service umpires, that it's there to settle issues whenever needed. With its "treasure trove" of helpful information; some/much of which is not contained in the rulebook, and/or other available LL  publications.

Heck, they make "Hometown" available on-line----40 pages! "THE RIM" 79 pages, with an exceptional well-defined helpful index, pages 78 & 79, as to referencing applicable rule or rules.  What a waste not being available to the very venues the whole publication is all about.

What the hell is gained with  LL Inc. by design, not making it available in one fashion or another to all bona fide league personnel-----making it only (legally) available to a limited/restricted number-----they, for the most part, not being of any  help in resolving local game issues.

If the powers-that-be see fit to print, and make available "THE RIGHT CALL" ---granted only 55 booklet size pages--as an aide in settling potential game issues; the same thinking should prevail in making "THE RIM" available to settle that many more issues, if not all potential game issues.  A "by-product" of which might well be minimizing or eliminating a protest.

Frank!

"What it doesn't do"... is exactly my point.

As far as "rule interpretations".... what is written on the bottom of page 2 of "THE RIM"....."included in this section will be rule interpretations"... by your count, is to be ignored even when  "instructing at the field level."   BTW---who is your "target audience" when instructing at "field level"?

So when does the very "volume" of what is embodied in the RIM dealing with the very rules and regulations in the rulebook; each rule and regulation cited by number in the RIM, of any worth to local leagues and game venues?  By design, then never!

Again, what a waste of a valuable compilation of infomation pertaining to the rules and regulations governing a LL game.

Also, where in THE RIM  are printed all the caveats you cited as to how and when the RIM is to be used by those selected number possessing one; or as a "student" at field level,  if at all?     It's  nice to know all those making up the LL universe, being they students or possessors of the RIM, are all on "the same page."

That  "same page" not being available to all the rank and file people making up local leagues, service umpires, and game venues being "deleted."

I've been involved in little league for well over four decades and never heard of THE RIM until on these boards.

And then we have highly intelligent posters here citing the RIM to make a point. Manny, for one, correctly quoting the manner in which a LL baserunner can legally break-up a double play.  No mention made of that in the rulebook or Right Call. So how does a coach teach a player to do that, and an umpire to rule on the correctness of the action, if not aware of the action being supported by THE RIM.

Frank!

A BIG welcome back Jim.

Don't know if you are aware or not---where we first met face to face; old Ryan Field in Charlestown was renovated, lights and all,  compliments of the City of Boston. Great for the Townie kids.

Albeit, not in my District, but we back up to it on the north side.

The traffic problems, as you well know, are horrific---with that rotary still in place, and the 93 overpass taken down.

lots of "talk" about an "over and under" re-do, but appears not in my life time.

Son-in-law fights that every morning and evening, coming off 93, to get to Rutherford Avenue and reverse in the PM. His workplace next to Hood Milk.

The good news, his place moving to Peabody asap!

Anyway not to digress any further----looking forward to your posts on these boards. Always did, whether we agreed or not.

Good luck in your new town. Umpires of your ilk are too few and far between. I know, at one time, you trained the newbies at your previous locale.

Frank!

Jim:

The "windmill" is in the eyes and minds of the "beholder."

Again, welome back; and many thanks to the moderator for allowing two old friends to settle back in....Off Topic!  

Frank!

Kyle:

You stated in your first post..."the RIM was designed to be used at the  Regional schools."

At this time, that is in keeping with the title page of the 2012 RIM......"Prepared for THE 2012  Regional Umpire Schools."

So for written intents and purposes----use Of the RIM... STOPS with use at Regional level.    {as "designed to"}

Yet, evidently, you see "value"....  "as also handy for us instructors at field level."

You brought the use of the RIM to a "lower level"----that being "field level."  {I asked you, in my first reply to you..."Who is your target audience at field level?}    Or, define "field level.?"  [Or, maybe, you took the 5th in not answering the original question].

Seeing as you do not see fit for the RIM to be available for use by LL Districts, leagues, manager, coaches; who then at field level are you instructing using the RIM? Contrary to the written design for its use only at Regional level---that you very clearly espouse.....but choose not  to practice.

As often said on these boards...Can't have it both ways!

I can only believe you see how the RIM and its contents benefits your undertakings at field level--so you use it!

Same as myself and others here feel districts and local leagues would benefit from the RIM being available.

Again, keeping in mind, many issues on these boards are...."put to bed"---by intelligent persons, citing the RIM.

Also keeping in mind the RIM contains info pertaining to play on the field NOT expressed in any other LL publication.

Manny and I "talked" about one such excerpt in the RIM, on another thread.

Frank!