BRSLL Umpire Game Management

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

BRSLL Umpire Game Management 1

Safety. 1

Appearance and Authority. 1

Pre-Game Preparation. 1

How to start and end a game. 2

Working With Scorekeepers (AAA & Majors) 3

Crowd Control 3

Bottom Line: YOU Make the Call 4

Safety

Weather: If weather threatens the safety at the game, call off the rest of the game.

Light rain is ok, lightning and thunder are immediate danger.

Player injury:

• Minor: Let play continue, then call time when done
• Serious: Stop play immediately, allow coach on field
• Help prevent injuries by marking field dangers and checking player equipment

NEVER put yourself in harm’s way unless needed to protect a child.

Appearance and Authority

When umpiring games the more professional and competent you appear, the less trouble you will encounter. Key pointers:

• Do not dress in a sloppy manner; jeans ok, falling down baggy/holey jeans not ok
• Keep BRSLL Umpire shirt on the outside – wear layers underneath
• Clean your clothes and shoes for games
• Make sharp, crisp, clear signals – and only after you are sure of your call
• Be confident of your calls so you can easily explain them if needed
• On tough close calls:
• As always, wait to see the play completed and take time to think about it
• Then signal loud and clear with authority – helps prevent dissent
• Keep calm and polite at all times, keep others calm and polite
• Always conduct a pre-game meeting with managers, you own this meeting
• Know you positions and hustle to be able to make the best possible call and to demonstrate your effort to do so

Pre-Game Preparation

Confirm: Site, date, time, division, teams, co-umpire(s)

Pack: Umpire hat/shirt, indicator, rule book, cup for Home Plate, non-cleat shoes, notes

Optionally bring water, snack, extra clothes.

Field and Equipment Preparation

Before each game:

· Check the field for rocks, trash, sprinkler heads, gopher holes, etc.

• Check bases, lines, pitching machines, fences, cones
• Check all bats and helmets for proper size and good quality – no cracks or dents
• Get 2 game balls from home team, place near home plate

Pre-game Meetings

Every game will flow better and be less contested if you set up a relaxed social atmosphere of familiarity and set expectations before the game begins:

· Choose a head umpire (always Home Plate ump if there is one)

· Meet and Greet: Always meet all coaches, umpires and scorekeepers; introduce yourself and your role confidently (“I’ll be umpiring today”), shake hands, ask/learn/use first names and keep it all friendly and positive

· Clarify rules exceptions or interpretations before the game with managers and umpires including rules updates, recently unclear rules, field conditions, weather

· Let them know you expect good behavior

How to start and end a game

Arrive 30 minutes before scheduled start.

Inspect field for dangers, problems, alignment of lines and bases.

Home Plate umps suit up from shed.

As a crew, always meet & greet managers before the game.

15 minutes before start of game ask visiting team to take 5 minutes infield practice.

10 minutes before start of game ask home team to take 5 minutes of infield practice.

Starting the Game and Innings

Confirm fielding team has right number of players in the field and the rest in dugout.

Confirm batting team is in dugout except first batter and both dugouts closed

Confirm umpire crew and scorekeepers ready and have scorekeepers record actual time

Head umpire signals “Play!”

Between Innings

When the third out has been made or a run maximum has been reached, that half of the inning ends – the next half inning officially begins at that moment

No swinging of bats – ever, unless up to bat at the plate

Pitchers have 1 minute of warm up

Start the next inning same as Starting the Game

Ending the Game

End game immediately if there are any dangerous conditions such as thunder/lightning.

Scorekeeper(s) should let umpire know if time limit or run differential is reached.

Umpires:

· Confirm that the scorekeepers have everything they need

· Home Plate umps: Clean and store protective gear in shed bins.

Working With Scorekeepers (AAA & Majors)

Games should have at least one scorekeeper, sometimes one from each team.

The home team’s scorekeeper is the official one.

Home Plate umpires should work with scorekeepers as follows:

• Ask scorekeeper(s) to record actual time just before start of the game
• On last plays of innings, confirm which runners scored
• Make calls & signals loud & clear: ball/strike, fair/foul, safe/out, count

Official scorekeeper should instruct Chief Umpire of:

• Pitch count max reached for current pitcher
• Batting out of turn
• End of time limit per BRSLL Supplemental rules
• End of inning due to run count differential

Crowd Control

Noone should be allowed to stay at a Little League baseball game who:

· Swears or is otherwise verbally abusive

· Shows excessive lack of sportsmanship

· Drinks alcohol or is intoxicated

· Is violent or threatening violence

· Abuses the kids or anyone else in ANY way

The umpire should try to keep the peace but also may eject anyone from any game. Refusal of someone to leave the area results in a game forfeit of that person’s team.

Ejecting someone should be last resort – it is ugly business and it’s always better and easier to calm a person down than to try to remove them.

NEVER put yourself in harm’s way unless you are an adult protecting a child.

Before it gets bad, set it up to be good:

· Precede each game with the Meet and Greet

· Make sure players know that you are the umpire, not a coach

· Help everyone understand:

o Umpires are there to make the game fair and safe

o Umpires are also there to instruct players/etc about rules

· Demonstrate that you care about both teams

· Keep it fun: Have a laugh with the fans, talk with the coaches

Kill ‘em with kindness – it is hard(er) to argue with an umpire who:

· Introduced himself to you and shook your hand

· Smiled and acted politely to you

· Is nice to your child and other players

· Actively encourages a positive atmosphere

Bottom Line: YOU Make the Call

In every baseball game at every level:

· Umpires have compete authority over the game including players, coaches and spectators

· The umpires who start a game complete it and, barring injury, cannot be replaced

· The umpire responsible for each call owns that call unless he asks for help:

o No coach, player, or even other umpire may force the ump whose duty it was to change their call

o Umps may request help from other umps, but keep the game moving

· Umpires are not required to be perfect or even correct; they are asked to do their best and to call the best game they can

And the absolute bottom line is…

Little League baseball games are for the kids!