BRSLL Umpire Mechanics

This document is for training and reference in Belmont-Redwood Shores Little League.

BRSLL Umpire Mechanics. 1

Making Calls and Signals. 1

Umpire Positions & Duties. 2

Umpire Mechanics. 3

Home Plate Umpire Mechanics. 3

Field Umpire Mechanics. 3

On the Field Tips. 3

Goofy Kid Stuff 3

Making Calls and Signals

Key tip: Wait and think before making any call

Definitions:

· An umpire’s “Call” is the decision he makes about a given play

· An umpire’s “Signal” is the way he indicates his call (voice and hands)

Note: Signal all close/unclear calls loud and clear for all to see and hear. Speak extra clearly through Home Plate umpires mask.

Call	Body Signal	Vocal Signal
Play	Point to pitcher	“Play!”
Time Out	Raise both hands high	“Time!”
Strike	Raised right hand, pump fist, pound on the door	“Strike”
Ball	Relax to standing, arms down, no indication	“Ball”
Give Count	Raise ball count on left hand and strikes on right	Say # of balls then # of strikes
Foul Ball	Raise both hands, just like Time Out	“Foul!”
Fair Ball	Point down toward 45 degrees to fair territory	Optional: “Fair ball”
Out	Right hand, pump fist (pound on the door), optionally point with left hand to player out	“He’s Out”, “Out at first”, “Out on the tag”
Safe	Wave both arms straight out, shoulder high	“Safe!”
Caught fly ball	Same as Strike and Out	“He’s out on the catch!”
Infield Fly Rule	Point straight up while ball is high	“He’s out on infield fly if fair”
Ground Rule Double	Raise left hand showing two fingers	Nothing
Home Run	Raise right hand index finger and make circles	Nothing
Swing	Same a “Out”	Nothing
No Swing	Same as “Safe”	Nothing
Off the Bag	Signal Safe, then sweep both arms together	“Safe!”
Juggled Ball	Signal Safe, then juggling hands motion	“Safe!”

Signaling tips:

· Try saying “He/She’s Out!” or “Out at Second Base!” instead of just “Out!”; it stands out better from “Save!” and distinguishes runners

· Pick a system and stick to it (Ex: right hand high pump for out)

· Don’t destroy a kid when signaling them out; especially young ones

· No one calls timeout but an umpire; they may request it

· Call “Time” loud and clear – even if someone didn’t hear you, it stands

· Explain calls any time you can for education purposes

· MOST IMPORTANT: WAIT before making calls; See, then Think, then Signal; let the play be complete and give yourself a moment to think about what you saw

· You don’t always have to signal; but always if close play or affects on-going play

· Announce the number of outs every time it changes, more often if needed – signal with fingers, but call it out too, “TWO OUTS!”

Umpire Positions & Duties

Key tip: Be in position before each pitch (a steal or pick-off can change your position)

Position	Duties
Field Umpire 1
“A” position: When no runners on base Just outside 1B line, 10-20 feet behind 1^st base; pivot to line for fly ball down line	Batter count per division – back up Home Plate umpire Out/Safe – all 3 bases Retouch (tagging up) on flies; touch 1^st base if rounding Leaving base early; check swing calls Tag plays, pickoffs – all 3 bases Home Run & Ground Rule Double Obstruction & interference in field “A” position only: Fair/Foul down 1B line
“B” position: ~Behind 2^nd baseman When runner on 1^st only
Majors & AAA 2-man crew only: “C” position: ~Behind Short Stop Anytime a runner on 3^rd (regardless of whether runners or not on other bases)
Majors & AAA – Home Plate Umpire
Box position: Behind catcher for pitches Pivot out of catcher’s way when needed Move into field during a play to see better For plays at home, get best angle	Balls & strikes; Batter count & outs All fly ball catch/no catch calls All Foul/Fair calls except 1B linewith Field ump “A” or 3B Field ump “D” All Out/Safe calls at Home Interference at home plate – catcher or runner Batted ball touched by batter or bat
Farm & AA – “Home Plate” Umpire
Right-Handed Batter: Start behind batter’s back off the foul line – IMPORTANT: behind batter is safest from foul balls Move into field during a play to see better For plays at home, get best angle Left-Handed Batter: Same but line up behind batter’s back on 1^st base line	Pitch count and strikes (swinging + fouls) Batter count & outs All fly ball catch/no catch calls All Foul/Fair calls except 1B linewith Field ump “A” or 3B Field ump “D” All Out/Safe calls at Home Interference at home plate – catcher or runner Batted ball touched by batter or bat
Field Umpire 2 (3^rd umpire in 3-man crew)
“D” position: Like “A” but behind 3B foul Any combination of runners	“D” position only: Fair/Foul down 3B line Similar to Field Umpire 1 for 3^rd base primarily

Notes and tips:

• For LL’s small fields, Field umpires always begin a play outside the bases
• For batted balls that go beyond the infielders, Inside-Out à Field ump to inside bases
• Field umps be in “ready” position with hands on thighs during pitch
• Pivot on one foot to change angle; angle to the play is more important than distance

Umpire Mechanics

Key tip: The angle of your view is more important than distance for making a good call

Home Plate Umpire Mechanics

Box position:

• Right foot forward for Right-handed batters, reverse for Left-handed batters
• Tight behind catcher
• Relax until pitch
• During pitch:
• Lock head on top of strike zone
• Follow pitch with eyes from pitcher to plate
• Pivot out of way of catcher – either way – as needed

Indicator in left hand

Face mask (small-brimmed hat forward), slightly loose, pull off with left hand

Show count left & right, call out loud and clear, balls first, then strikes “3 balls, 1 strike”

Move into field during a play to see; for plays at home, get best angle

Wait for play to truly end and think about what you saw before signaling your call

Field Umpire Mechanics

Proper position before each pitch – shift as needed after steals, pick-offs

Indicator always in left hand

Ready position: Hands on thighs or standing

Move to 90 degrees to the throw to the base

Always wait, see and think before signaling

In “A” and “D” positions pivot 180 degrees and “put buckle on the line” to call deep foul balls

On the Field Tips

Know where to position yourself before and during each play:

· Know the situation before every pitch – Outs, runners, force plays, count

· Don’t get too close; 10-20 feet away from play can be better than 2 feet away

· Stand in foul territory when possible to avoid umpire interference

· Get a good angle; 90 degrees to the throw to that base is best

· Go “inside-out”; i.e. when the ball is in the outfield, move to the infield, and vice versa to keep runners, ball, bases and most involved fielders in your view

· Use the lines as drawn on the field even if not straight or misaligned and announce before the game

Goofy Kid Stuff

Weird things kids do and don’t do that you should watch for:

· Foot missed the base or plate

· Runner stopped or slowed way down just before reaching the base

· Runner ALMOST retouched a base on a fly, but not quite

· Runner failed to retouch third base, went home and into the dugout, but the defense made neither a play nor an appeal (safe, run scores), same for runner missing home plate

· Have to go to the bathroom (batting order, etc)

· Shoelace untied or being tied and didn’t ask for time – call time, help tie it