3-UMPIRE MECHANICS

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3-UMPIRE MECHANICS
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Umpires Are Communicators
We communicate with body language through our
SIGNALS and MECHANICS
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• Every move we make on the ball field
• is saying something to someone.
• How we stand
• What we do with our hands
• How we hold our head
• How we move about

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What people SEE affects what they BELIEVE, how
they FEEL, and how they will ACT.
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• Always know what your body is saying
• Learn to send the message you want to send
• Always move with briskness and purpose
• Never saunter or stroll
• Make all signals crisp and strong

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Mechanics is being in the RIGHT place, or the
BEST place, at the right TIME.
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Hustle is

• Knowing where you want to go.
• Figuring out the best route to get there.
• Efficiency of movement using your body to get
  you there in the most efficient way.

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Things You Look For In Choosing A Position Are
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• You want the ball in front of you.
• - Always watch the ball
• - Always front the ball
• Keep the base, the runner the fielder
• in front of you.
• 90 from the throw on a force play.
• 90 from the application of the tag on a tag play
• 15 18 from a force play.
• - You need the big picture.

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• 6-10 from a tag play
• - You need the details
• You want to be set for every play.
• Be outside the diamond if the ball is in the
  infield. Puts the ball in front of you.
• Be inside the diamond if the ball is in the
  outfield. Puts the ball in front of you.
• Move parallel with the runners or the flight of
  the ball.

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Angle is Always More Desirable Than Distance

• Angles are all over the field
• Angles change all the time
• Learn to recognize where angles exist and how
  they develop

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Distance Serves Three Purposes

• Zoom in
• Zoom out
• Credibility
• if you cannot get the angle, get closer

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Keep these axioms in mind when you umpire

• There is always a job to do.
• Never waste an umpire.
• There is always another play.
• Prepare for it!
• Adjust change as the play changes.
• Pause Read - Act

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Random Guidelinesfor Umpires
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• Call in your own area. See in all areas.
• Support your partners.
• Strong verbal calls are one of the best and
  easiest forms of game control.
• Do not retreat from a call. This is a negative
  movement and does not show commitment.

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• A holding position is oval.
• A holding position is never a calling position.
• Hold routine signals an appropriate amount of
  time not too short or too long but long
  enough to show conviction of the call

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• All umpires need to hold their positions at the
  conclusion of a play until the pitcher has the
  ball in the circle and all runners have stopped
  on a base.

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• Between innings, the plate umpire watches the
  offense, the base umpires watch the defense.

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• If you finish an inning with a controversial
  call and feel you will be a target for remarks by
  standing in your normal position, move somewhere
  else.

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• Do not move your feet when making a call. Keep
  your feet in a wide base. This is stronger, and
  you are then prepared to move efficiently to your
  next play.

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• If there is no play, no call is needed. Obvious
  uncaught fly balls do not need a No Catch signal.
• On tag-up plays, line up to see the tag and then
  move to a primary position.

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• Do not call Time, unless needed. The pitcher
  must have the ball in the circle and all runners
  must be stopped on a base before Time is
  called.

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• Sweep judiciously. Do not break the flow of an
  at-bat to remove a speck of dust from the plate.
  If you can clearly see the base, it does not need
  to be swept.

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• Do not touch ball players or coaches.
• Do not invite conversations
• Do not carry messages from a coach or player to
  your partner.

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PLATE MECHANICS MOVEMENT AWAY FROM THE PLATE
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Trail 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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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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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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• On an out-of-the-park home run when teammates
  converge at or around home plate to congratulate
  the hitter, the 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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• 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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• 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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Base Mechanics
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Before Every Pitch Ask Yourself

• When do I chase?
• Where do I go if partner chases?
• Where do I go on base hit to outfield?
• Where do I go on an infield hit?
• Is it my check swing responsibility?

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Base Umpire Priorities With The Pitch

• 1. Pitcher
• 2. Runner
• 3. Ball / Batter
• 4. Action

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On A Batted Fly Ball

• 1. Read the ball.
• 2. Look at your partner.
• 3. Glance at the runner.
• Pick up the ball.
• Move to your position or chase, depending on what
  you read.
• 6. Look at your partner again to make sure he/she
  chased or did not chase.

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FIRST BASE UMPIRE
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For a call at first base with no runners on,
(other than a bunt) never move more than 45
degrees off the line in fair or foul territory.
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On a bunt, with no runners on and a play at first
base, move into fair territory, no more than 90
degrees off the line to enable you to see the
fielders foot on the front of the bag.
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On plays from right field on the batter-runner at
first base, make your call no more than 45
degrees off the line in foul territory if you
have help ahead.
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• When counter-rotated, choose a position no closer
  than 15 feet to either first or second base.

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Base your choice of position on

• The location of runners.
• The probability of a steal or a pickoff.
• The current game situation.
• Your knowledge of the offense and defense.

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• Do not leave to cover home until the lead runner
  advances beyond second base. If she stops at
  second base, stay at first base with the
  batter-runner.

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• When leaving first base to cover home,
  communicate your departure to the third base
  umpire.

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THIRD BASE UMPIRE
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• With a runner on third, adjust your position to
  accommodate your checked swing responsibilities.
• Do not over-hustle your position. Often only a
  step or two is needed to achieve the best
  position.

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• When rotated, it is okay to be closer to the
  infield than the second base player.
• Give the first base umpire the right of first
  refusal to chase a fly ball to centerfield. You
  can more easily adjust from chasing to going to
  your position or vice versa.

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Working Between Pitches Pickoffs when ball is
not hit

• Read and react to any initial play on a runner.
• If no initial play, think and move to the lead
  runner who is the next probable play.
• Move to position if the base is defended.

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• If you are on the first or third base line, with
  a runner on either of those bases, there is no
  actual movement but remain alert and ready if the
  runner is off the base.

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Random Guidelines for Base Umpires
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• When walking the line take no more than two
  steps. End in a ready position.
• If pivoting, pivot to a depth of no more than 10
  feet beyond the baseline.
• Pivot opening towards the runner coming at you.

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• You are responsible for the obstruction/interferen
  ce coming at you.
• It is okay to work close - two to three steps -
  from an infielder. If you are bothering them,
  they will tell you.
• Do not ask outfielders if you are in their way.
  If you are, they will ask you to move. You need
  only move a couple steps.

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• As third base umpire, with no runners on, wait
  until the first base umpire signals the call on
  the batter-runner at first base before starting
  back to your position on the line.
• Working in foul ground prevents you from crossing
  any running or throwing lanes.
• Never let a coach be between you and the play
  when working foul territory at third or first.

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• Be set before the pitch with runners on base -
  except for a runner on third only, the first base
  umpire is not set.
• Go set according to the timing you need, do not
  choreograph with your partner.
• Recognize your next play and prepare for it.
• It is not your job to stop runners on foul balls
  or to tell them not to slide.

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• Do not signal/echo foul balls from the bases.
• Use middle infielders as guide for when to chase
  in the vee.
• It is not okay to routinely come back after
  chasing a fly ball.
• Do not signal Time if you have gone out on a fly
  ball.

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• When calling "Time, for an injured player, stay
  nearby until the coach or trainer comes out. Then
  leave the area.
• Do not attempt to help an injured player.
• There is no need to point to the plate umpire
  when you are ready to resume play after having
  called "Time, for a player to tie her shoe or
  dust off. The plate umpire can see this.

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WORKING BETWEEN PITCHES
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• Working between pitches is done on a non-batted
  ball.
• Umpires should work between pitches if fielder is
  defending the base.
• Watch the ball, not the runner.
• Be alert to a possible play.
• Adjust to the play according to how or if it
  develops.

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Questions?