GREATER NAPLES OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION BASEBALL DIVISION UMPIRES PROGRAM

GREATER NAPLES OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION BASEBALL DIVISION

UMPIRES “PROGRAM FOR SUCCESS” To see and call pitching infractions for F. H. S. A. A. baseball games AND To provide a framework for working together as a crew to know the responsibilities of each position. GREATER NAPLES OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION GNOA

FEDERATION RULES BOOK TO BE FOLLOWED STATEWIDE Regardless of what has happened in the past, the federation rules book gives the high school umpires in the state a consistent guideline to be followed. Opinions vary…but the rulebook is consistent!

NOT TRYING TO REINVENT THE WHEEL…JUST THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX! FEDERATION

PROGRAM FOR SUCCESS… Base umpire(s) focus on the feet, plate umpire focus on the upper body…with the plate umpire helping out on “direction” of pick offs. Before the pitcher engages the rubber, the base umpires assist the plate umpire by seeing the actions of the pitcher as the pitcher may be turned away from the plate. Once the pitcher engages the pitchers plate… Base umpire(s) lock in on the lower body seeing the legality of the feet, disengagement of pivot foot, RHP on the “buckle, pause, and Pick”, flinching of the lower body. The plate umpire locks in on the upper body, arms, hands, complete and discernable stop, shoulders moving after coming set, start-stops, and where the P comes set. IF the pitcher throws to 1 st or 3 rd, the plate umpire shifts his/her attention to direction of the lower body since he/ she has the best angle to judge direction in those directions.

WHY? If both umpires are watching the upper body, how is the lower body getting judged? What if all 3 umpires are watching the lower body and the pitcher does not come set? If umpires say, “We will both be responsible for seeing if he comes set” or “We can both call direction if we see it” or “We can both call it if the pitcher doesn’t step off and he picks to 1 st” or…. if umpires don’t communicate at all who is responsible for watching what…we have a problem! If both umpires are watching the upper body intently, how can they see if the pitcher quickly steps off before faking the throw to first…get the point? This system is based on theory that if the umpires on the field have specific jobs in which they focus on, the chance of getting the call correct greatly increases…. If the umpires don’t have specific jobs, it is left up to chance whether the crew sees a problem…or not. This system is based on each umpire claiming ownership of, watching, and judging on the area in which he/she has been assigned.

2 MAN VS 3 MAN

BASE UMPIRE BETWEEN INNING LIBRARY

“B. U. B. I. L” POSITION FOR BASE UMPIRE(S) BETWEEN INNINGS LIBRARY U 1 -beware of players warming upmove up or back to get a good angle to see feet and stay safe “B. U. B. I. L” area U 3 -beware of outfielders warming up “B. U. B. I. L” area

PLATE UMPIRE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR:

PLATE UMPIRE CONT.

BASE UMPIRE (S) RESPONSIBLE FOR:

BASE UMPIRE CONT.

JV VS. VARSITY CONTESTSPITCHING INFRACTIONS ** Pitching infractions shall be called during VARSITY contests IF the pitcher sets up illegally or performs an illegal action. Calling this consistently STATEWIDE during VARSITY games should lead to pitchers setting up legally and performing legal moves. VARSITY PITCHERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO SET UP LEGALLY and perform legal movements. ** During JV games (Where some players and programs may struggle with rules, ability, etc. ) preventative umpiring may be used to help to educate the Head Coach of the pitching rules. Umpires associations should use discretion in making the call or using a warning to the Head Coach. It should be stressed that this is a JV procedure only. EACH ASSOCIATION SHOULD DISCUSS THIS AT THE FHSAA MANDATED COACH UMPIRE PRESEASON MEETING. **The long term goal is to educate all players, coaches, and umpires that it is the responsibility of the PITCHER to set up legally. EDUCATE, EDUCATE!!

FRAMEWORK FOR SUCCESS QUALITY