Think A goodahead pregame knowwith your responsibilities partner
• • • Think A goodahead, pre-game knowwith your responsibilities partner is essential. and anticipate. For your judgment to be acceptable your appearance Don’t just learn must thebe rules, acceptable. learn the. First spirit and intent impressions of the rules. last. • Correct Good judgment individual starts and with crewgood mechanics positioning. are what Angle overgood separates distance. umpires from average umpires. • It ain’t nothing PAUSE, READtill& you REACT! say it’s PRRRRR…. somethin’. Slow down. Be completely stopped before the play happens. Crew of 2 mechanics are not perfect. Do not try to Hustle don’t hurry. Use the working area. improve upon them. Know your responsibilities • • •
Position A Both feet in foul territory facing home No Runners On plate; Right foot next to foul line, § 12 -15 feet behind 1 st base § or 10 -12 feet behind the 1 st baseman no further than edge of outfield grass. Main Responsibilities: pole), Out/Safe Check swing, Fair/Foul (1 st base to foul
Position B Facing home plate midway between back edge of pitchers mound and 2 nd base cutout and on a tangent line between home plate and the right edge of the mound (1 st base side). When in the middle stay in the middle, DO NOT cross the dirt. Rule On: All balks (specifically hands & shoulders), pick offs, steals, fly balls in the ”V”, all touches of 1 st and 2 nd base by runners and 3 rd by batter runner. Runner on First Or Runners on 1 st & 3 rd
Position C Facing home plate midway between back edge of pitchers mound and 2 nd base cutout and on a tangent line between home plate and the right edge of the mound (3 rd base side). Rule On: All balks (specifically hands & shoulders), pick offs, steals, fly balls in the ”V”, all touches of 1 st and 2 nd base by runners and 3 rd by batter runner. Runners on 1 st & 2 nd, bases loaded, 2 nd & 3 rd, 3 rd only or 2 nd only.
Between Innings Base Umpire Plate Umpire Between innings position yourself just off Between innings: replenish baseballs, stand the dirt between 1 st and 2 nd in the right 30 - 40 feet from the plate on the foul line of field grass - watch outfielders throw the balls whichever team is entering the field. Mask in before the start of the inning. should be under right or left arm. Do not carry on casual conversations with With two warm ups left step towards the your partner, players or coaches between edge of the dirt area surrounding home innings. If you need to discuss something plate and notify catcher “ 2 more”. with your partner (positioning, mechanics, etc… ) do it quickly and professionally. After the last warm up pitch move to the plate and while facing the back stop dust off NEVER talk with your partner between the plate. innings after a controversial play or call.
Working Area The area in the infield grass that is directly behind the mound and in front of the second base cutout. When the base umpire is in the middle he should work primarily in this area on all batted balls. • Routine fly ball in left center field. • Trouble ball in left center field.
• Tag-ups and touches of bases. • Fair/foul responsibilities. • Fly balls, pop-ups and line drives.
TAG-UPS & TOUCHES Touch Responsibilities. The Base Umpire has all touches and tag ups of first and second base by all runners and all touches of third base by the batter runner. If the Base Umpire goes out the Plate Umpire has all touches and tag-ups at all bases. The Plate Umpire has all touches of home plate by all base runners and the batter runner. And all touches and tag-ups of 3 rd base by all base runners.
Fair/Foul § Base Umpire in A § Base Umpire in B or C Pop-ups § Base Umpire in A § Base umpire in B or C No Runners On POP-UP PIVOT!
Fair/Foul § Base Umpire in A § Base Umpire in B or C Pop-ups § Base Umpire in A § Base Umpire in B or C Runners On
Fair/Foul § Base Umpire in A § Base Umpire in B or C Pop-ups § Base Umpire in A § Base Umpire in B or C Line Drives § Base Umpire in A § Base Umpire in B or C No Runners On
Fly Balls (A) Base Umpire § Go out on fly balls from the right fielder to the 1 st base foul line § and trouble balls from centerfield to the 1 st base foul line – § fair/foul then catch/no catch § If the base umpire goes out the plate umpire has the batter runner. Plate Umpire Routine fly balls from right fielder to center fielder & all fly balls from center fielder to 3 rd base foul line. No Runners On
Fly Balls (B/C) Base Umpire Rule on all fly balls from the right fielder to the left fielder – Known as the “V”. When in the middle stay in the middle, DO NOT cross the dirt. Plate Umpire Rule on all fly balls from the right fielder to the 1 st base foul line and from the left fielder to the 3 rd base foul line. fair/foul then catch/no catch Runners On
• Ground balls and base hits. • Steals and double plays. • Rotations. • Plays at the plate.
Ground balls (A) Base Umpire Move into a position approximately 15 -20 feet from the base and approximately at a right angle from the fielders throw. As ball is about to reach the fielder stop and get in ready position – chest square to first base, head and eyes on the ball, turn your head with the throw. LISTEN for catch watch for BR foot on bag. (Drill: Close eyes listen for catch vs. foot) Pause, stand, then make the call. No Runners On
Ground balls (A) Plate Umpire Clear the catcher on the left side while removing mask (left hand) keep eyes on ball and hustle (don’t hurry) up the 1 st base foul line no further than the 45 ft. line. Follow ball to base. Rule on: • Tags before the 45 ft. line / Running lane violation / Overthrows Help on: • Puled foot by 1 st baseman • Swipe tag at 1 st base No Runners On
Ground balls (A) Overthrows Base umpire busts in to stay ahead of the runner. Has all calls at 1 st base ( i. e. obstruction, malicious contact, missed base, etc…) Plate umpire move quickly to his right and rule on the ball. ( i. e. dead ball, lodged ball, interference, etc…) No Runners On
Base Hit (A) Base Umpire All base hits, routine fly balls from right fielder to center fielder & all fly balls from center fielder to 3 rd base foul line – come into infield pivot and take the runner to second (if he goes) – watch him touch first then find the ball – rule on legal touch and/or obstruction. Plate Umpire Clear catcher on the left and hustle into the infield in the direction of the ball. No further than an imaginary line between 1 st and 3 rd. No Runners On
Steals B Base Umpire Know the count and number of outs. Don’t move until ball crosses the plate. Then with your eyes on the catcher make a drop step towards second. As the catcher makes his throw, continue towards second turning with the ball. Assume the ready position with chest square to second base — Stand, make the call. Plate Umpire After catcher’s throw, move to your left and back, while removing your mask. Watch developing play and be prepared for overthrow at third and play at plate. Runner on First
Double Plays B Base Umpire Step up and turn with the ball (no more than 1 or 2 steps). Turn with the throw to second and be set for the play at 2 nd. Make the call at second and then turn and set up for the call at 1 st by taking 2 -3 steps towards the 45 ft. line. Be set before the play happens. Make the call. (Do not drift towards first on the initial play at 2 nd as there could be problems – i. e. bobbled or dropped ball, close play, illegal slide, etc…) Plate Umpire Swing out from behind home plate on 3 rd base foul line and continue into the infield (unless the batted ball is down one of the foul lines). Come set before the play at 2 nd. Watch for illegal slide after or during the throw to 1 st. Runner on First
Rotations (B) - Base hit Base Umpire Open up to the ball and move back (towards mound) and to the middle of the working area. Watch R 1 touch 2 nd then glance back to see BR touch 1 st. If R 1 commits to 3 rd slide over to B and BR back into 1 st or into 2 nd. Keep your eye on the ball and feel the runner. Plate Umpire Remove your mask and move down the 3 rd base line in foul territory while loudly telling your partner “I’ve got 3 rd if he comes, Bill!” (if runner on third, glance over your shoulder and watch him touch home plate). If a play develops at 3 rd, step into the field and make the call. If not, after playing action stops, tell your partner “ I’m going home, Bill” and hustle back to the plate. Runners on 1 st or 1 st & 3 rd
Rotations (B) – Routine Fly Ball Base Umpire Open up to the ball and move back (towards mound) and to the middle of the working area. Watch R 2 and R 1 tag up. Then move forward to the right side of the cut out. Keep your eye on the ball. Plate Umpire Remove your mask and move down the 3 rd base line in foul territory while loudly telling your partner “I’ve got 3 rd if he comes, Bill!”. If R 2 and the throw come to 3 rd, step into the field and make the call. If not, after playing action stops, tell your partner “ I’m going home, Bill” and hustle back to the plate. Runners on 1 st & 2 nd
Plays at the Plate (C) Base Umpire Open up to the ball and move towards 1 st base to pick up batter runner. Plate Umpire Remove your mask and move back to the edge of the dirt behind the point of the plate. Watch the play develop and decide whethere will be a swipe tag or if the catcher will block the plate. • Swipe tag – 3 rd baseline extended Runner on 2 nd
Plays at the Plate (C) Base Umpire Open up to the ball and move towards 1 st base to pick up batter runner. Plate Umpire Remove your mask and move back to the edge of the dirt behind the point of the plate. Watch the play develop and decide whethere will be a swipe tag or if the catcher will block the plate. • Swipe tag – 3 rd baseline extended • Blocked plate – 1 st baseline extended Runner on 2 nd
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