Beginning Umpire Presentation

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District 8 Beginning Umpire Clinic

David Nicoson, Indiana 8 Umpire Consultant

Clinic Agenda ●

9:00 Effective Plate Meeting



9:15 Conflict Resolution



9:30 Plate Mechanics



10:30 Rules



11:00 Wedge Theory



11:30 Lunch (Provided)



12:00 Base Mechanics



01:00 Finish

Conflict Resolution

Conflict Resolution The umpire’s goal is to resolve issues so that the game can continue ●

Listen to the manager’s issue



Briefly explain your ruling



Get input from your partner if you need it



Note formal protests in writing



Get the manager to go away

Conflict Resolution Umpires do NOT need to: ●

Convince the manager that he is wrong



Win an argument



Provide an exact rule citation

Not the Slot This is the second most dangerous place on the baseball field.

Not the Slot This is the second most dangerous place on the baseball field.

DON’T PUT YOUR FACE THERE.

The Slot (Right-Handed Batter)

The Plate Meeting ●

Line-ups



Equipment



Ground Rules



Sportsmanship

Rulebook Organization I -XII Regulations

Mostly someone else’s problem

1) Objectives of the Game 2) Definition of Terms 3) Game Preliminaries 4) Starting and Ending the Game 5) Putting the Ball in Play – Live Ball 6) The Batter 7) The Runner 8) The Pitcher 9) The Umpire Operating Manual

Definitely someone else’s problem

Rules Relationships

Rules Relationships Official Baseball Rules

Rules Relationship Official Baseball Little Cal Rules League Ripken

Pony

Dixie Youth

Rules Relationship Official Baseball Little Cal Rules League Ripken

Pony

National Federation of High Schools (NFHS)

Dixie Youth

1.00 Objectives of the Game

Objectives of the Game ●

1.00 - 1.03 (Basics)



1.04 – 1.08 Field Layout



1.09 Baseball Specification

1.10 Bat Regulations ●

1.10 Bat Regulations –

Bats made of one piece of wood are legal in all divisions.



Baseball ● ● ● ●



Tee-Ball: 26” or less Minor through Major: USA Bat up to 2 5/8” Intermediate and Junior: USA Bat or BBCOR up to 2 5/8” Senior: BBCOR

Softball: ●

BPF 1.20

1.10 Bat Regulations – All Divisions Bats made of a single piece of wood are legal in all divisions

1.10 Bat Regulations – Minor & Major Baseball

1.10 Bat Regulations – Tee - Ball

26 Inches or less

1.10 Bat Regulations – Intermediate and Junior Baseball

1.10 Bat Regulations – Senior Baseball

1.10 Bat Regulations – Softball

1.11 (Stuff you can’t wear)

1.11 (Stuff you can’t wear) a) –

(3) Any part of the pitcher’s undershirt or T-shirt exposed to view shall be of a solid color. The pitcher’s undershirt sleeves, if exposed, shall not be white or gray. Neoprene sleeves, if worn by a pitcher, must be covered by an undershirt. NOTE: A pitcher shall not wear any items on his/her hands, wrists, or arms which may be distracting to the batter, e.g. sweatbands.

h) No metal spikes for Major and below j) No jewelry k) no casts

1.12 – 1.16 Mitts, etc.

1.12 – 1.16 Mitts, etc. 1.12 Catcher may use a catcher’s mitt, not a glove. 1.13 First baseman may use a glove or mitt. 1.14 Other fielders may use a glove. 1.15 Pitcher’s glove can’t be white or gray (in softball, color of the ball) 1.16 NOSCAE certified helmets

1.17 Catcher’s Equipment

1.17 Catcher’s Equipment

Throat guard improperly affixed!

1.17 Catcher’s Equipment Catcher must have: ●

Dangling throat guard



Cup



Catcher’s Helmet



Chest Protector

A.R. Wearing of a catcher’s helmet with mask and dangling throat guard (even if the mask has a wire extension) is required during games, pitcher warm-up, and any form of infield or infield/outfield practice. A warm-up catcher between inning is not required to have a cup or chest protector. Only players may warm-up pitchers.

2.00 Definitions (Catch) A CATCH is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in the hand or glove of a ball in flight and firmly holding before it touches the ground, providing such fielder does not use cap, protector, pocket, or any other part of the uniform in getting possession. It is not a catch, however, if simultaneously or immediately following contact with the ball, the field fielder collides with a player, or with a wall, or if that fielder falls down, and as a result of such collision or falling drops the ball. . . In establishing the validity of the catch, the fielder shall hold the ball long enough to prove complete control of the ball and that release of the ball is voluntary and intentional.

2.00 Definitions (Catch) CATCH (continued) ●

With hands



Before the ball has touched the ground



Ground CAN cause a fumble



Voluntary release

2.00 Definitions (Force Play) ●



A FORCE PLAY is a play in which a runner legally loses his right to occupy a base by reason of the batter becoming a runner. A FOUL TIP is a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to the catcher’s hands and is legally caught. It is not a foul tip unless caught and any foul tip that is caught is a strike, and the ball is in play. It is not a catch if it is a rebound, unless the ball has first touched the catcher’s glove or hand.

2.00 Definitions (Infield Fly) An INFIELD FLY is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who stations himself in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule. When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an Infield Fly, the umpire shall immediately declare “Infield Fly” for the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the baselines, the umpire shall declare “Infield Fly, if Fair.” The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul.

2.00 Definitions (Infield Fly) INFIELD FLY RULE ●

Rule is designed to protect the offense from easy double plays



Fair fly ball



Can be caught with ordinary effort



Runners occupy first and second bases



Less than 2 outs



Not a bunt



Runners may advance.



A catch creates the obligation to retouch (tag-up).

2.00 Definitions (Strike Zone) The STRIKE ZONE is that space over home plate which is between the batter’s armpits and the top of knees when the batter assumes a natural stance. The umpire shall determine the strike zone according to the batter’s usual stance when the batter swings at a pitch.

3.00 Game Preliminaries 3.01 a) Check equipment b) Check the lines c) Get baseballs d) Know where to get more e) Put the alternative balls into play appropriately 3.02 Players may not intentionally damage the ball.

3.00 Game Preliminaries 3.03 Substitutions ●







All player are in the batting order for Minors and Teeball. A local league may require Continuous Batting Order in any division. A substitute may not be removed until his Mandatory Play is complete. A player must return to the same spot in the batting order he or she previously filled.

Game Preliminaries 3.04 – 3.09 3.04 No courtesy runners. 3.05 Once a player is entered in the line-up as a pitcher, he has to pitch to somebody. 3.06 Managers should report substitutions. 3.07 Announce the substitutions 3.08 . . . but if you don’t, it doesn’t matter much. 3.09 Manages and coaches shall not warm-up pitchers.

Game Preliminaries 3.10 3.10 a) The managers must agree to the fitness of the field before play starts. b) The umpire decides when play should stop or resume. ... 3.16 If a spectator interferes, fix it. ...

4.00 Starting and Ending the Game 4.01 Get line-ups at the plate meeting. 4.02 Umpire says “Play!” Then they do it. 4.03 All fielders other than the catcher must be in fair territory before the ball is put in play.

4.00 Starting and Ending the Game

4.04 - 4.07 4.04 Bat in order. If using the Continuous Batting order and a player has to leave, just skip. (No penalty) 4.05 Players (with helmets) can be base coaches. 4.06 Warn and eject when people behave badly. 4.07 People have to leave when they are ejected.

4.08 A run is not scored if the runner advances to home base during a play in which the third out is made (1) by the batter-runner before he touches first base; (2) by any runner being forced out; or (3) by a preceding runner who is declared out because he failed to touch one of the bases. An appeal for failure to retouch on a caught fly ball is NOT a force out.

4.10 – 4.19 4.10 (Majors and Below) A game called by the umpire after 4 innings (3.5 if the home team leads) is an official game. 4.11 – 4.13 (Rules for completing and resuming games) 4.14 Don’t play in the dark. ... 4.19 A manger should lodge a protest when he believes the rules have been misapplied. –

During the regular season, note the protest in the book and play on.



During the tournament, escalate immediately through the chain of command.

5.00 Putting the Ball in Play – Live Ball Umpire should say “Play” and “Time” appropriately. 5.08 If a thrown ball accidentally touches a base coach, or a pitched or thrown ball touches an umpire, the ball is alive and in play. However, if the coach interferes with a thrown ball, the runner is out. 5.09 . . . (b) If the umpire interferes with a catcher’s throw, it’s a do-over. Unless the ball gets by the catcher, then it’s the catcher’s problem.

5.00 Putting the Ball in Play – Live Ball 5.11 ●

Pitcher has the ball.



Pitcher on the pitching rubber. PLAY!

6.00 The Batter

Batter struck by a pitch

Batter struck by a pitch 6.08 (b) ●

The ball is always dead. Call TIME! first.



If the umpire judges an attempt to strike the ball, then it’s a strike.



If the ball is in the strike zone, then it’s a strike.







Otherwise, if the batter made any effort to avoid the ball, then award first base. If the batter made no effort to avoid the ball, then it is a ball only, not hit by pitch. A ball is not considered “batted” with a body part.

Batter struck by pitch

Batter’s Box 6.03 The batter’s legal position shall be with both feet entirely within the batter’s box. 6.06 The batter is out for illegal action when –

a) hitting the ball with one or both feet on the ground entirely outside the batter’s box

Batter’s Box

Baseball-rules.com

Batter’s Box

OK!

Batter’s Box

Batter’s Box

illegal

Batter’s Box

Batter’s Box

Batter is out if he hits the ball

6.07 Missing your turn at bat The consequence for not following the batting order is different depending on when it is discovered. ●

During the at-bat of the improper –



Proper batter takes over

After the at-bat but before the next pitch –

Player who misses his turn at-bat is out on appeal. Return runners.

After a pitch is thrown to the next batter. –

Nothing.

6.05 (b) Uncaught third strike ●



Batter becomes a runner when a third strike is uncaught if –

Two outs OR



First base is unoccupied

Batter is out if –

First base is occupied and less than 2 outs



Minor or Tee-Ball Divisions

Uncaught third strike If the batter becomes a runner due to an uncaught third strike ●

Extend your right arm and hold it there



Say “No Catch” (unless it’s obvious) If the batter is out but runs anyway



This is not interference.



Declare the out, especially at the Major Division

Uncaught third strike

7.00 The Runner

Interference 7.08 b ●



Runners must give the fielders space to make a play on a BATTED BALL. Runners who INTENTIONALLY deflect a throw have interfered.

Two Runners on a base ●

A base protects only one runner. When two runners are on a base:







The leading runner is in jeopardy if he is forced. The trailing runner is in jeopardy if the lead runner is NOT forced. No one is automatically out. A tag must be made to get an out.

Obstruction

Obstruction ●









Fielders who do not posses the baseball (and are not fielding a batted ball) must not hinder the runner’s progress. If obstruction occurs during a play, the ball is dead. Award at least one base. Otherwise, let the play proceed and award bases according to your judgment. A runner obstructed away from the play may still be put out if you rule that he would have been put out absent the obstruction. (Not a free pass.) A fake tag is obstruction.

Runner is out when . . .

Runner is out when . . . 7.08 Any runner is out when (3) the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder with the ball waiting to make the tag

Out of base path 7.08 Any runner is out when (1) He runs more than three feet away from his base path to avoid being tagged unless his action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball. A runner’s basepath is established when the tag attempt occurs and is a straight line from the runner to the base he is attempting to reach safely

Ball thrown out of play

Ball thrown out of play 7.05 (g), 7.05 (h) When a fielder throws a ball out of play, award the runners 2 bases from the base last touched at the time the ball was released except when: ●



Throw or pitch by the pitcher while engaged with the rubber. (Award one base.) The first play by an infielder AND all runners have not yet advanced one base. Then the award is two bases from the time of the pitch.

7.08 (f) Runner struck by batted ball When a runner is struck by a batted ball, he is OUT except when: ●





The batter-runner is struck by a batted ball while in the batter’s box (Foul) The runner is struck in foul territory The ball has passed through or by an infielder AND no other infielder has a chance to play on the ball



A fielder deflects the ball into the runner



An Infield Fly strikes a runner standing on a base

8.00 The Pitcher

Balks

Balks Common balks: ●

Failure to come to a complete stop in the set position.



Feint to first base from the rubber.



Failure to step toward a base before throwing



Simulating a pitch while not engaged with the rubber



Starting a pitching motion toward home and not completing the pitch.



Dropping the ball while on the rubber

Not Balks

Not Balks Things managers will try to convince you are balks but aren’t: ●

Anything weird the pitcher does with no runners on base



Anything in the Major Division and below



Anything in softball

Illegal Pitches in Softball



Leaping



Crow-hop



Step outside the width of the rubber



Backward step AFTER hands are together

Umpire Positioning

Positioning A good angle is more important than proximity.

60’ Base Umpire Starting Positions

No runners

60’ Base Umpire Starting Positions

Runner on first Base

60’ Base Umpire Starting Positions

Runner or runners on second or third

Base Umpire Pivot

If the ball goes out, umpire comes in

Ball in the Infield

If the ball stays in, the umpire stays out

Force Plays ●

Point your chest toward the ball



Stand so that the ball passes across your eyes



Listen for the ball to strike the mitt



Stop running before judging a play.

Force Plays

Wedge Theory ●

Follow the catcher around



Look where he is looking