Introduction to Umpire Basics 101 Philosophy Its not about you Its not about the parents Its not about the manager or coach Its not even really about baseball Its about kids and character development using baseball as a tool ID: 283019
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Slide1
North Kitsap Little League Umpire
Introduction to Umpire Basics 101Slide2
PhilosophyIt’s not about you
It’s not about the parentsIt’s not about the manager or coachIt’s not even really about baseballIt’s about kids and character development using baseball as a toolRule 1.01: Baseball is a game…Slide3
You are the
Role ModelBe a
professional
Dress
Decisions
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=soy8ppBkvsE
Be helpful and instructive
https
://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WEp7JBcDwQE
Set the example and enforce the rules, keep your eyes open
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=utBBCHBozpI
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9UywRu8QPXASlide4
Outline
What you need to do before a gameHow to make calls correctly
…how to tell everyone what you decided
How to make correct calls
…where to stand as you decide
Leaving
early
…the runners, not youSlide5
Some TermsBatter
Runner (R1, R2, R3)Batter-Runner (BR)Fielder (F1-F9)ProtestAppeal(Gripe)Slide6
Pregame: Gear
Plate UmpireHatShirtSlacksBeltIndicatorWaterBall bagMask
Chest Protector
Shin Guards
Cup
Plate shoes
Base Umpire
Hat
ShirtSlacksBeltIndicator
Water
Cleats/Turf shoes
Red Flag
Plate gear in the car!Slide7
Pregame: PartnerMeet 30 minutes before the game.
Discuss your game plan:Coverage—who’s looking for what.Signs: Infield fly, #outs, count, 1st-to-3rd, etc.What you’re working on improving; ask your partner to help you watch.Do this every single game.Be done by 15 minutes before game time.Slide8
Why the partner meeting is important:
We want to have an odd number of 1 umpire making a call. We really don’t like it when
this happens:
The pre-game meeting to review
responsibilities can avoid this…Slide9
Pregame: Equipment
BatsBaseball bats for baseball, softball bats for softballBPF 1.15 (1.20 for softball) unless woodComposite bats must be on the approved listThe manager must supply the listNo bat rings, (donut style bat weights), sleeves OKBatting helmets: look for cracksCatcher’s gear“Long model” chest protector no longer required
Dangling throat guard
Gloves
Uniforms
Jewelry: watches, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, etc.Slide10
Pregame: Field
Bases... Double first?Foul lines
Live ball/dead ball territory
Pitcher’s mound/rubber
Home run fenceSlide11
Pregame: Teams
Adults may not warm up pitchers
Before a game
During a game
After a game
Players standing near the bat during fielding practice must wear a catcher’s helmet.
Teams should leave their gear out of bags ready for inspection while they take infield practice.Slide12
Pregame: Plate meeting
Umpires and 2 managers (only!)Quick! Start 5 minutes before game time.Collect lineupsUmpires control the game starting at this pointYou are THE Little League Representative nowOnly you can stop a game once you take the home team lineupBrief synopsis of ground rules (specific to the field)Get game ballsConfirm that all players are legal and properly equipped
Expectations:
Hustle between innings (
warmup
catchers!)
Respect for players and umpires
Warm-up areasSlide13
Preparation Matters!
Be ready, speak carefully and confidently. Know the rules.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu9p9ykT8r8
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hhoWM42StvMSlide14
Between inningsQuick drink of water
Quick chat between umpires if neededNEVER after a controversial call, it gives the appearance of a lack of confidence in the call.Just to clarify a signal or rotation. Anything more can wait until postgame.Control the timeReturning pitcher only needs 5 pitches, allowed up to 8By rule, teams have 1 minute from the last out of the half inning to get ready.Slide15
Starting the game
9 or more players on each team. Fielders (except catcher) in fair territory.Batter in the box.No one on deck. All other offensive players in dugout.Base coachesCan be players! With helmets!One adult in the dugout always!3-coach limitDefensive manager locationSlide16
Live ball/Dead ball
Ball becomes live when the umpire points at the pitcher and says “Play!”Wait until the pitcher has the ball on the rubber.Wait until fielders are in fair territory.Wait runners are on the correct bases.Usually wait for a batter to be ready.Ball becomes dead
when the umpire says “Time” or “Foul.”
Sometimes it’s implied or obvious, stadium calls, hard off backstop…
Nothing can happen when the ball is dead. Almost.
No one except the umpire can call time.
The offense will not be granted time-out to confer with a player more than once per inning (except for injury).
16Slide17
Balls and strikesIt’s a
strike if:The batter attempts to hit the ball and misses.The batter hits a foul with less than two strikes.Any part of the ball crosses any part of the strike zone before hitting the ground.Otherwise, it’s a ballSlide18
Hit by a pitchThe ball is always dead (“Time!”)
Usually, the batter goes to firstIf the batter swung, it’s a strikeIf the ball was in the strike zone, it’s a strikeIf the batter didn’t attempt to avoid the ball, it’s a ballThe batter was born with hands. The bat wasn’t.If it hits the hands it is dead ("Time")No runners may advance even if stealingSlide19
Fair or Foul?
If the ball is in flight until after 1st/3rd, it depends on where it first touches a person, an object or the ground.If the ball settles or is touched before it passes 1st/3rd, it depends on where it is touched or settles.
“Touched” means by a person or a
foreign object
.
There are no foreign objects in fair territory.
If the ball bounces before 1
st
/3rd, but passes the base before it’s touched, it depends on where the ball is when it passes the front edge of the base.Slide20
Fair or foul?Slide21
Catch or No-Catch?
It’s a catch when the ball is in flight and the fielder shows:Secure possession of the ball in the hand or glove.Complete control of the ball.Voluntary release of the ball.It’s a no-catch once the ball is no longer
in flight
:
It has hit the ground.
It has hit the fence or any other object.
It has touched any person other than a fielder.
When it’s a catch, the batter is out.
It can be a catch in foul territory (ball stays live).Slide22
How to call safe and outOrder is important!
Play is about to happen: stop moving.Play happens: watch.Think about what you saw.Find the ball. Make sure it’s where you think it is.Decide what your call is going to be.
Announce the result to everybody
“
It ain’t
nothing
‘til I call it.”Slide23
Basic 6Some calls are rare: once per season, or once per career
6 calls happen over and over again every game:BallStrikeSafeOutTimeFoulSlide24
How a Runner Can Be Put Out
Runner is tagged while off a base.Runner or next base is tagged when runner is forced.Runner passes a preceding runner.With a fielder waiting to make a tag, runner goes more than 3 feet to the side of a line from the runner to the base.Runner abandons the bases.Runner slides headfirst while advancing
Runner fails to either slide or attempt to get around a fielder waiting to make a tag
Missed touching a base (appeal play: later).
Failing to retouch after a catch (appeal play: later).
Interference (later).Slide25
Force PlaysA
force starts when a batter hits a fair ball.A runner is forced if he must advance to make room for the BR going to 1st, or for another runner who is himself forced.A force ends when the runner in question reaches the next base or when a following runner is put out.Example: R1, R3. When the batter hits the ball, R1 is forced to 2nd, but R3 is not forced. If the BR tries for 2
nd
, R1 is not forced to 3
rd
. If the BR is put out at 1
st
, the force on R1 is removed.
A forced runner can be put out either by tagging the runner or by tagging his next base.To tag the base, the fielder needs possession of the ball (in hand or glove) and contact with the base.Slide26
Tag playsUnless forced, runners can only be put out by being tagged.
A tag requires control of the ball by the fielder.A tag may be made with the ball itself or with the glove when the ball is inside.If the ball comes out during the tag, the fielder didn’t have control.Slide27
Scoring runsUsually, a run scores when a runner touches 1
st, 2nd, 3rd and home in order.No runs can score on a play involving the 3rd out on the batter before reaching 1st or a force play.
Tagging a forced runner
is
a force play.
If the 3
rd
out is not a force, runs count if the runner touches the plate before the tag happens.
Appeals covered later…Slide28
Leaving Early
On 60’ diamonds, runners must maintain contact with their bases during a pitch.Requirement starts when ALL of these are true:Pitcher has ball and is in contact with the rubber (softball: in the circle, not threatening to make a play) Catcher has his mask on and is behind the plate facing the pitcherThe runner is not currently advancing.Requirement ends when EITHER:The pitcher disengages the mound
The pitch reaches the batter
Or in softball, on the release by the pitcherSlide29
Leaving Early: SoftballImmediate dead ball ("Time!", no pitch).
The runner is out.If two or more runners left early, you can only call one out.Pick the most advanced runner.Majors and higher:Runners may leave when the pitcher releases the ballSlide30
Leaving Early: Baseball
If any runner leaves early, all runners left early.When the play is over and nothing else is going to happen, call time.If the batter hit the ball, the plate umpire judges the base value of the hit. Don’t give the batter extra bases because of errant throws or because he advanced while a play happened.Be guided by where the batter was when the ball was thrown back to the infield.All outs stand.Return all runners to their starting bases unless this would push the batter further back than the value of his hit.Slide31
Questions?
CreditsWA-D9 and Drew Carlson without which this would not have been possible.D9ump.org