TwoPerson Umpire Mechanics Walk The Field Before The

Two-Person Umpire Mechanics

Walk The Field Before The Pre-Game Conf. Local Ground Rules… D M A A D M

Two Pre-Game Conference: ü Head Coach Must Be Present ü No Players May Throw Ball(s)… Safety HC HC

Start of Game: Plate Umpire Checks with Base Umpire

PLATE UMPIRE Routine Coverage is 3 B and HP BASE UMPIRE Routine Coverage is 1 B and 2 B …may need to take lone runner to 3 B

D A M A D M

may F 5 INFIELD HITS 90 -Degree Angle Basic Four “Set” Timing… see play complete

-. 90 -Degree Angle Basic Four “Set” Timing… make one signal INFIELD HITS F 4

No Ball… No Call Button Hook In… F 6 F 3 B R

BASE UMPIRE v F 9 or F 8, short hop, throw to 1 B v Base Umpire in foul territory F 8 F 9

BASE UMPIRE v Bunt to F 5 or F 3 v F 4 covers 1 B v Base Umpire in foul territory F 3 F 5 F 4

q Inverted Infield… Bunt q Handle Same As Infield Hit BASE UMPIRE F 3 F 4 F 5

Dropped Third Strike… 1 B foul side Extend 1 B Foul Line to backstop F 2 throws ball to F 3 from foul territory BASE UMPIRE B R C F 3 F 2

BASE UMPIRE Dropped Third Strike… 3 B foul side Extend 1 B Foul Line to backstop F 2 throws ball to F 3 across infield B R C F 3 F 2

Two. T Bunt Coverage with Runner at 2 B… F 8 F 4 F 6 R F 3 F 5

FOUL BALL COVERAGE Ø Straddle Foul Line Ø First Call is Fair or Foul Ø Second Call is Catch or No Catch 00 00 PLATE UMPIRE… No Runner In Scoring Position

PLATE UMPIRE… With Runner(s) In Scoring Position FOUL BALL COVERAGE Ø Fair or Foul Ø Catch or No Catch Ø Tag-up of Lead Runner 00 00

NO RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION… F 7 Look At Ball-Glance at Runner Theory… Look at Runner-Glance at Ball Theory R 1 BR

INSIDE-OUTSIDE THEORY… Button Hook to Infield BASE UMPIRE No Runner in Scoring Position… INSIDE-OUTSIDE THEORY: ü Ball on infield, Umpire on the outside of bases ü Ball in outfield, Umpire on inside of bases ü Button Hook to infield

WORKING THE RIM No Runner In Scoring Position… WORKING THE RIM: ü Fly ball to LF, CF, or RF R ü Stay outside bases ü RF… trail runner to 2 B

PLATE UMPIRE… Fly Ball Coverage v with No Runner In Scoring Position v work around Pitcher’s Circle R BR

q with Runner(s) in Scoring Position, q Uses “Holding Zone” q Has Tag-up of Lead Runner PLATE UMPIRE… Fly Ball Coverage R R

BASE UMPIRE… FLY BALL COVERAGE F 6 v With Runner(s) in Scoring Position v Button Hook Into Infield v Tag-up of Trail Runner(s)

RUNNER ON 1 B ONLY v Square to Home Plate When Off The Line… v “Set” with release of pitch BASE UMPIRE: q Calls at 1 B and 2 B q Basic Four q 90 -Degree Angle for Call q Shade To Lead Runner Theory R 1

F 6 BASE UMPIRE… 15 feet behind baseline with runner(s) on base… but, if F 6 or F 4 plays deep… Base Umpire may never be closer to the infield than the nearest infielder. F 4

SHADE TO LEAD RUNNER THEORY Once runner(s) are on base… check to see where outfielders are set up… don’t block their view R R F 6 F 4 R

SHADE TO LEAD RUNNER THEORY F 6 Square to Home Plate = Take ½ step back with left foot / when on 1 B side of infield Square to Home Plate = Take ½ step back with right foot/ when on 2 B/3 B side of infield F 4

TWO-PERSON UMPIRE SYSTEM BASE UMPIRE IS NEVER POSITIONED BETWEEN F 4 & 2 B MAY NEED TO TAKE LONE RUNNER TO 3 B… IF PLATE UMPIRE STAYS HOME BASE UMPIRE WILL CLEAN BASES AS NEEDED v (Request time to clean base from Plate Umpire) v (Plate Umpire is only umpire to call time because he/she has best view whether all play has been completed) BASE UMPIRE WILL CLEAN PITCHER’S PLATE AFTER THE 3 RD OUT (Point your seat to center field when cleaning pitcher’s plate / to outfield fence for bases…) BASE UMPIRE WILL NEVER HAVE A CATCH/ NO CATCH CALL unless the Exception is used… Final Play / Game Ending Play 2 Outs Multiple Runners It leaves the Plate Umpire with all calls at all bases One Umpire System is least accurate and least effective

BASE UMPIRE DOUBLE PLAY: Take 1 -2 steps toward 2 B See ball released w control NEVER RUN DIRECTLY AT 1 B Flat angle… blocks view Get as close as possible to 1 B/ “Set” / Don’t Make Call “on the run” Sell ‘em Out/ Sell ‘em Safe Signal F 4

RUNNER ON 2 B ONLY or 1 B & 2 B BASE UMPIRE: v v Runner in Scoring Position between F 6 and 2 B First Play on Infield 15 feet behind base/baseline Who takes throw to 2 B/ Pick Offs/ Special Plays? R 1 F 6 2 R

Runner at 1 B and 3 B… v Know skill level of players v 1 B runner will steal 2 B… hope defense will forget about R 1 at 3 B… or try to draw a throw as she advances to 2 B F 6 BASE UMPIRE R R

RUNNER ON 3 B Only, 1 B & 3 B, 2 B & 3 B, and Bases Loaded BASE UMPIRE: Ø Longest Angle for Call at 1 B Ø 15 ft. behind baseline Ø First Play on Infield R 1 F 6 F 3 Ø Hold your position until ball is released for your next call…

R Rundowns: Between 1 B & 2 B Between 2 B & 3 B R

RUNDOWN: Between 3 B and Home Plate R

v Plate Umpire can assist Base Umpire with call at 2 B… v In Two-Person Umpire System Plate can assist Base Ump… trails Batter-Runner to 1 B or … if asked… on a) pulled foot b) swipe tag or c) bobbled ball v Base Umpire can assist with check swing… whether on or off the line… Plate only asks on a “ball” call v Base Umpire can take lone runner to 3 B… Plate “stays home” v Base Umpire may never assist Plate Umpire at Home Plate x R x B R

Two- At 1 B… Base Umpire in fair territory At 3 B… Base Umpire in fair territory At 2 B… F 4, F 6, F 8 Glove Side of Tag, 90 -degree angle R X F 5 R F 3 R Ø Ø PICK-OFFS: F 3’s glove? R-handed L-handed

Two-Person Umpire System Veteran vs. Rookie Umpire: Your knowledge of the sport of Softball will always be beneficial… Move like an “athlete” Common Sense is vital to your survival Good first impression/ Pride in your uniform and appearance Credibility and Respect Preventive Umpiring Skills Timing / Correct Signals / Positioning Studying The Rules / Applying The Intent of the Rules to Game Situations Are You Approachable… Look Coach In The Eye… Listen… Be Concise w explanation… In my judgment… This is what I saw… (Sometimes must walk away… Umpire does not have to have the last word…)… Keep a good pace to the game