Working The Plate

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Working The Plate
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Working the Plate is Just That

• Its WORK!

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Each Pitch Requires your Utmost Complete
Concentration

• You ready yourself for the pitch
• You focus on THAT pitch
• You relax
• You ready for the next pitch

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The Slot

• The area between the catchers head and the
  batters body when the batter is in her natural
  stance and the catcher is in her normal crouched
  position.
• Adjustments to your position in the slot can be
  required based on batter and catcher positioning

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To be properly located in The Slot your nose
shall be between the catcher and the batter no
matter which stance you choose.
Mirrored from side to side
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Umpires Head (chin) shall be Above the Catchers
Head
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The Slot Position

• By setting up outside the zone and by looking
  down through the zone
• Umpire gets unobstructed view of entire zone
• If your head is too low in the zone you can
  easily call pitches outside off the plate strikes
  
• Especially the low away pitch

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The Stance

• Acceptable
• Heel/Toe
• Box
• Gerry Davis
• Scissors
• Knee

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Getting Set

• Pick the stance that works the best for you
• Head (chin) above catchers head to see the whole
  zone every pitch
• Completely set BEFORE pitch is released so you
  can set up your zone
• Motionless when pitch is delivered. You must be
  still (locked) to see the pitch come through

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Getting Set

• Your set must allow you to see (not sense) the
  outside corner and the knees
• Visualize the bottom of the zone from the knees
  over to the outside. Doing this becomes a check
  you can, in fact, see both the knees and the
  outside edge.

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The Set Position

• Must be Balanced
• Must be Comfortable
• But it is Not a Relaxed position
• You Relax Between Pitches

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Tracking

• From the set position observe the release and the
  entire flight of the pitch
• Until right before it reaches the zone
• Switch focus to the four sides of the zone you
  have set up
• Follow the ball with your nose - head movement is
  naturalIt is not a location indicator.

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Timing

• Ensures the pitch is completely over before a
  decision is made
• Giving yourself time to accurately assess all the
  merits of the pitch
• Change your timing You Create Doubt

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Rhythm

• Consistent timing
• A dedicated routine
• Sets the tempo
• Reflects your control
• Inspires confidence of teams fans

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Parts of Rhythm

• Same stance
• Same set
• All balls the same
• All strikes the same
• Timing Rhythm stay the same
• Only the Emphasis changes

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Calling Strikes

• Be Aggressive in calling strikes
• Assume the pitch is a strike
• Make the pitch convince you it is a ball

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Mechanics of the Strike

• Final decision after catcher catches
• Verbalize, stand signal OR
• Stand, verbalize/signal (same time)
• Either is acceptable
• do the same thing all game long
• Verbal to hammer should flow with no perceptible
  break or pause

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Mechanics of the Strike

• Catcher and batter hear the verbal only a second
  or so before the whole world sees the hammer
• This is not a place for individualism nor is it
  acceptable there is no advantage or reasoning
  for being slow or spacing out the two parts of a
  single mechanic.

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Check Swings

• Always go for help on a checked swing (required
  by rule)
• To open side Umpire if both are on the line
• To Umpire on the line in all other situations
• This is not something that can be changed in
  Pre-game

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The Timing

• Between making the decision and the final
  hammer must be
• Precise stages
• Flow smoothly - not too quickly nor too delayed
• Consistent throughout game

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The Feet

• Stand straight up (big as you can)
• DO NOT move your feet until the hammer is over
• After the hammer, step back (out of your stance),
  relax, prepare for the next pitch
• Maintain this rhythm throughout the game

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The Hammer
Minimum Preferred
The strike signal may be out in front, slightly
off to the side or may be more directly in front
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The Left Hand/Arm
Does it have to be here?

• No! Just
• under control
• in close to the body
• not dangling out there
• no distraction from the strength of the hammer

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90º or Better
Better than 90 Degrees
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The Strike Zone
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1.108 Strike Zone

• The area above home plate between the bottom of
  the batters sternum and the top of her knees
  when she assumes her natural batting stance. When
  the top of the ball is on or within the
  horizontal plane and either side of the ball is
  on or within the vertical plane of the strike
  zone, a strike is called unless the ball touches
  the ground before reaching home plate.
• the strike zone shall be determined from the
  batters stance as the batter is prepared to
  swing at a pitched ball. That is to say, not
  when the batter first stands at the plate (folded
  in like an accordion attempting to convince the
  umpire how short he is), and not when the batter
  is in the act of swinging at a pitch.
• Note Home plate is the white rubber plate and
  does not include a black border.
• See diagram at the end of Rule 11.)

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THE STRIKE ZONE

• REMEMBER, THE POSITION OF THE BATTERS BOX MAKES
  NO DIFFERENCE.
• THE PLATE AND THE BATTERS NATURAL STANCE ARE
  THE CONTROLLING FACTORS
• WHEN DETERMINING BALL OR STRIKE

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(No Transcript)
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Top of Front Knee
Top of Back Knee
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Sternum Top of Zone
Top of Back Knee Bottom of Zone
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The Zone

• The strike zone is not just a two-dimensional
  rectangular frame (as depicted in the rules
  book).
• The STRIKE ZONE is a living/breathing,
  three-dimensional zone.
• You must determine the top and bottom of the zone
  with each new batter that enters the batters box.
  
• The top and bottom of the zone will float
  conforming to each batters height and knee
  level, and follows the batters stride until she
  is prepared to swing.

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The Zone

• The zone follows the upward projection of home
  plate, all five sides.
• Using the sheet hanging on the clothes line
  metaphor, if the sides of the strike zone are the
  edges of your sheet and any pitch direct from the
  pitchers hand making any contact with the sheet
  is a strike.
• The strike zone has only one shape and one width
  but a variety of heights.
• How well we adjust to the different heights is
  the determining factor of our success or level of
  difficulty behind the plate.
• As an umpire you will develop your comfort level
  with balls and strikes over time.

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The Zone
It is NOT okay to call a pitch a strike that is
really a ball even if you do it every timeor
vice versa
Im consistent is a COP-OUT for umpires who
cannot or will not call an accurate zone
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Comments on the Strike Zone

• The public's perception/evaluation/judgment of a
  plate umpire is the strike zone.
• The plate umpire has a million other things to
  do - like manage the game.
• The participants and spectators see and remember
  is the strike zone.
• If an umpire does everything else perfectly, but
  has a wide or low or small or inconsistent strike
  zone
• - the poor strike zone is all that will be
  noticed and remembered.

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Comments on the Strike Zone

• Those millions of other things that plate umpires
  do have to be second nature and fully integrated
  into their umpiring personality.
• Then, an umpire can truly focus on the strike
  zone
• - pre-game and during the game.
• All of the different facets of umpiring can be
  broken down into
• 1) Priorities
• 2) Focus
• - Generally, when one is the plate umpire,
  the overriding priority is Strike Zone.

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Comments on the Strike Zone

• An accurate strike zone is a function of proper
  stance, plate mechanics and actually seeing the
  entire zone.
• Being consistent is a function of focus and
  concentration.
• Focus and concentration come from conscious
  decisions to focus.
• Pre-game
• -the umpire should consciously think about the
  strike zone.
• He/She should visualize an accurate zone from
  his/her plate stance
• - This should be done considering different
  batter's sizes and stances and different catcher
  styles.

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Comments on the Strike Zone

• The umpire should take the time to visualize
  different pitches coming through and around the
  zone.
• Often people don't take the time to close their
  eyes and visualize because they think they should
  be "doing something."
• Active visualization IS doing something -
  probably the best something an umpire can do to
  prepare for a plate game.

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Comments on the Strike Zone

• During the game, the plate umpire must
  consciously work one pitch at a time.
• Some may like to think of themselves as a
  computer.
• -After each pitch, do a soft reset.
• One pitch at a time.
• When the pitcher is on the rubber, getting ready
  to deliver, the only priority is that pitch.
• One pitch at a time.

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Some Common Goofs

• Holding the pitcher when there is no need
• This is your STOP sign. Save it for when you need
  it
• Could go a whole game and never have to use it

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Some Common Goofs

• The Point is one of your strongest most valuable
  signals
• Do not waste it
• Do not point at a batter who swings through the
  pitch - even if it is the 3rd strike
• Do not point at a batter who is obviously
  bunting/slapping

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Some Common Goofs

• This STOPS everything - both arms, up high, be
  big
• Use good verbal
• Hesitate slightly after the signal before making
  your ruling (ensures you have their attention)

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MOVEMENT AWAY FROM PLATE
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Trailing the batter-runner

• Only when the play will go to first base.
• Trail no more than 15 feet up the line.
• Be on the line in fair territory.

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Trailing the batter-runner
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Front of the Circle Holding Position
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Secondary Holding Position
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Point of-the-Plate Holding Position

• This is the area where the umpire sets up to read
  how the play at the plate will develop prior to
  choosing a calling position
• -either the traditional default position or
• third base line extended.
• This is not a calling position.
• This holding position is only to be used when the
  plate umpire has no responsibilities at third
  base.

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Point-of-the-PlateHolding Position
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Positioning for Plays at the Plate
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Random Guidelines for Plate Umpires

• Plate umpire has all Fair/Foul decisions unless
  a base umpire chases
• This includes ground balls and bounding balls
  over first or third base
• This is not an option to be to be changed in a
  pre-game discussion

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Random Guidelines for Plate Umpires

• Plate umpire initiates or wipes off the infield
  fly signal each time a new batter steps into the
  box or wipes it off if necessary
• Plate umpire initiates timing play signal each
  time a new batter enters the box

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Random Guidelines for Plate Umpires

• On an out-of-the-park home run when teammates
  converge at or around home plate to congratulate
  the hitter
• Plate Umpire should move inside the diamond
  between the plate and the circle to see the
  runner touch home while watching for any touching
  of the runner by her teammates
• Once the runner has touched home plate, give a
  new ball to the pitcher and prepare to resume
  play.

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Random Guidelines for Plate Umpires

• Do not trail unless the play is going to first
  base.
• Do not needlessly Hold the pitcher. Most pitchers
  wait until the batter is ready.
• Use the Hold signal to control a situation that
  needs controlling.

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Random Guidelines for Plate Umpires

• Write down all conferences.
• Report changes to the official scorer and to each
  dugout without disrupting the flow of the game.
• Do not point at your partners to see if they are
  ready prior to start of the game or an inning.
  Look at them. If they are in position, then play
  ball.

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Thank You
The bulk of the information provided within this
presentation has been sourced from Emily
Alexanders original Working the Plate
presentation. There have been slight adjustments
made to accommodate changes that were made within
the NCAA Umpire Manual pertaining to approved
stances.
Thank You Emily