Two-Man Fundamentals (1)

[HomePlate]

WITH NO RUNNERS ON

PLATE UMPIRE
1. Fair/Foul, Catch/No Catch, and then everything else is the order of precedence on any given play. Balls and Strikes are your number priority, whether or not you make it as an umpire depends on how well you call balls and strikes. On batted balls you will always decide if the ball was fair or foul before you make any other decisions. When you have made your decision then give a fair/foul mechanic and then start on the catch/no catch. Do not make any prejudgments, watch the play in its entirety then check for firm and secure possession. After the dust settles and you have watched the play in its entirety and you have determined if the fielder had or did not have firm and secure possession then give the appropriate mechanic.

2. Your fair/foul responsibilities are from home plate to 1st base (NOT INCLUDING 1ST BASE). On the 3rd base side your are responsible for home plate all the way to the left field foul pole.

3. On groundballs to the infield you bust out to the 45’ line, your main responsibilities are runner’s lane interference and an overthrow to 1st base. A pulled foot at first base is not your responsibility but if your partner would happen to come to you give him what you have.

4. On clean base hits to the outfield your only responsibility is to follow the direction of the ball about 30’ into fair territory. Stand there remaining chest to ball until the play is over.

5. On fly balls to the outfield your responsibilities will be all foul territory down the 3rd base side all the way to the CF. The exception will be when your partner goes out, you will take the runner all the way if necessary. Do not leave the runner until your partner has entered the immediate area and has acknowledged responsibility for the runner. You have all line drives that take the infielders away from the 1B line.

BASE UMPIRE

1. Your starting position will be hands-on knee set approximately 10-12’ behind the 1st baseman.

2. The biggest key to base umpiring is learning to pause, read the play, and then react, most umpires do not do this properly. Your order of precedence is fair/foul, catch/no catch, and then anything else that might happen.

3. Your fair/foul responsibilities are from the bag and beyond and all of the area from the RF toward the foul line including foul territory. Remember the three B’s (ball, base, beyond) or B cubed.

4. On ground balls to the infield you will pause, read, react. Your reaction will be to move toward the bag, find the 90° angle and settle in between 15-18’ from 1st base. You measure the angle from the point of origin of the throw, remember that there is a built-in 90° on 1st base. Before setting make sure you have a true throw and then set. Be ready to take a read step on the swipe tag or pulled foot. If you are in correct position you will see the pulled foot and swipe tag and you should almost never go to the plate man for help on this (Do your job and he won’t have to).

5. On clean hits to the outfield you pause, read, and react, come in and pivot. When the ball is hit your eyes are on the ball and glancing at the runner. When you read the runner back to 1st gain some distance back to the 45’ line for a better angle incase of a throw back behind the runner.

6. Trouble balls to RF – This situation is especially when pause, read, and react is key. With no runners on you are responsible for any batted ball that might present a problem to the CF coming in, going back, converging with another fielder or a possible trap and the RF coming, going back, converging with other fielders, in foul territory, or a possible trap. You will notify your partner your going with the verbal communication “I’m going out,” then go out and get an angle on the play, be set for any catch/no catch situations. If the ball goes to the fence stay out there with it until its on its way back to the infield. On plays when a batted ball is not caught, as soon as the ball is on its way to the infield bust your butt to get back and cover home plate. If the runner pulls up and stops at a base get in there and pick him up, let your partner know that you have the runner when you get close enough to make a call if needed. The proper communication is “Bill, I’ve got the runner,” its that simple. You have catch/no catch responsibility for all lines drives that take the 2B, and 1B toward the 1B foul line or straight back these are trouble balls also.