MECHANICS National Umpires Association In the 1, 2 and 3 man systems

E on Rt Handed Batter or shallow E for 3rd only Alignments E on Rt Handed Batter or shallow E for 3rd only E on Lt Handed Batter A D Shallow A Shallow D Deep B Deep C B C UIC

GENERAL PRINCIPLES Look purposeful and confident. Hustle!!! Don’t walk from position to position. Don’t get too close (it explodes). Always trade angle for distance!!! Stop to make a call & keep head still. (camera still)… Always watch the ball. Chest up to ball. (It will take you to the play)… Take your time making a call. Make sure you get it right. (Talk or consult rule book if needed…) Make multiple calls in chronological order… Don’t over commit (stay in WORKING AREA)… Don’t over sell the obvious calls. Sell the close ones.

ONE MAN MECHANICS National Umpires Association

ONE MAN MECHANICS HUSTLE!!! Do the best you can… Try to get to the middle of infield with multiple base runners. Remind catcher to stay down on pickoffs. Take a couple of extra steps before making your call. Make calls quick (w/ multiple runners) in case of next throw. With multiple calls, do them in chronological order.

TWO MAN MECHANICS National Umpires Association

COMMUNICATION Fly ball coverage. (The Vee) PREGAME (while dressing) Fly ball coverage. (The Vee) Touch & Tag responsibilities (UIC: 3rd & home and U1 has 1st & 2nd) Bounding ball down the line (UIC up to front edge of bag) Rotations (signals) Call balks if you see it (angles) Infield Fly signal… Help with ball in dirt (third strike or foul tip)

FLY BALL COVERAGE No one on… (U1 in A) (trouble only) UIC

FLY BALL COVERAGE With runner(s) on… (U1 in B or C) UIC

COMMUNICATION (cont) Between Innings (keep game moving) Keep each other relaxed Talk about mechanics and communication Don’t talk about critical (heated) calls or arguments Discuss any possible problems coming up During play (can’t be too loud) Home plate umpire does most of the talking (base umpire reacts) Except when field umpire is leaving the infield or working in foul territory…

ROTATION SITUATIONS UIC will come up about half way to 3rd in foul. How to rotate in a two man system… UIC will come up about half way to 3rd in foul. Decide to commit to 3rd only if ball and runner are coming to third… Don’t yell tell U1 until you are committed to third or heading back home. COMMUNICATE ea. time… Flair into fair (infield grass) to make call @ 3rd. Be ready to rotate back home in case of overthrow. (May have to call play at plate in fair territory.) UIC only makes calls on plays when runner is coming into 3rd. If throw behind U1 has that call.

ROTATING TO THIRD ?

ROTATION SITUATIONS There are 4 situations when UIC is supposed to rotate to up to third base In two man, you must read. Only go if the ball and runner are coming to third In three or four man you go all the way up no reading (NO DECISION MAKING!!!).

ROTATION SITUATIONS (cont) Situation #1: No one on with a triple (HS) Signal: rotate hands or point to 3rd When: Batter Runner hits a triple Rotation: UIC man comes up to third on ball hit to fence (stay foul, let ball and runner take you into fair territory). Field umpire needs to be prepared to cover home on the in the park homerun. COMMUNICATE!!! May want to discuss this in pregame…

ROTATION SITUATIONS (cont) Situation #2: 1st only (any outs) (All levels) Signal: rotate hands or point to 3rd When: on clean hit Rotation: UIC man comes up to third on ball hit to outfield (stay foul, let ball and runner take you into fair territory). Exception: Reverse rotate if ball hit down right field line and UIC has to rule on diving catch or fair/foul. COMMUNICATE!!!

ROTATION SITUATIONS (cont) Situation #3: 1st & 3rd (any outs) (all levels) Signal: rotate hands or point to 3rd When: on clean hit Rotation: UIC man comes up to third on ball hit to outfield (stay foul, let ball and runner take you into fair territory). UIC has to watch runner touch plate over his/her shldr as moving up line. Exception: Reverse rotate if ball hit down right field line and UIC has to rule on diving catch or fair/foul. COMMUNICATE!!!

ROTATION SITUATIONS (cont) Situation #4: 1st & 2rd (less than 2 outs) (all levels) “BUMPING” (man to man coverage) Signal: fist on fist and point to third When: on outfield fly ball with R2 tagging Rotation: UIC comes up to third on fly ball hit to outfield (stay foul, let ball and runner take you into fair territory). U1 will watch tag at second and catch if in the Vee. If runner has third or no throw, UIC should get back home. UIC should communicate his/her location. Exception: Reverse rotate if ball hit down right field line and UIC has to rule on diving catch or fair/foul. COMMUNICATE!!!

TWO MAN MECHANICS Plate Umpire (General Principles) Don’t get caught in the plate area unless play is developing there. Move your ###!!! Fair/foul up to front edge of bag and beyond if no umpire on line. Help with interference, pulled foot, tag or overthrow at first on ground balls (with no threat of play at home). End up on foul line over half way to first. Move your ###!!! (Follow overthrow into foul territory…) Stay on left side of mound during a DP, watch for the force play slide rule at second.

TWO MAN MECHANICS: Plateman Fair Foul…

TWO MAN MECHANICS: Plateman Fair Foul… If ball ends up past 1st, it is U1’s call. UIC U1

TWO MAN MECHANICS: Plateman Help at first (move on overthrow)…

TWO MAN MECHANICS: A pos. Plays at first: Double Play U1 R1 Help with play at first Look for obstruction UIC

TWO MAN MECHANICS Plate Umpire (Continued) On pop ups, get as far out as possible in order to see the catch better. Do not run directly at the catch (get a side view). Also helps to cover if partner leaves. Move your ###!!! Plays at home should be called from 3rd to 1st baseline extended when possible (in the slice). Start straight back & move according to throw. Slowly circle the play as it develops.

TWO MAN MECHANICS: Plateman Get out as far as you can on flyballs…

TWO MAN MECHANICS: Plateman Be prepared to take the runner…

TWO MAN MECHANICS: Plateman Take plays at plate from slice of pie…

TWO MAN MECHANICS (cont) Field Umpire: A pos. (on line, in foul, 10’ behind) Take plays at first at 90o w/ throw 20-25’ from base. (do not get too close it explodes)… Call plays at 1st in foul territory when squeezed by 2nd baseman (UIC has runner into 2nd). Call the toss from the pitcher (from A position only) from just inside of foul line. Fair/foul over first and down line. Trail the ball??? Go out & call catches in outfield on trouble balls or fair/foul over your head. (PAUSE, READ & REACT.) Help with third strike in the dirt (point down).

TWO MAN MECHANICS: A pos. Plays at first: normal, toss, or squeezed U1 UIC

Pause, Read & React (applies to all) This is the hardest skill to get right... You can’t be wrong if you go out… Pause: (Is the ball in your area of responsibility?) Step in (toward plate). Helps partner’s read… Don’t be in a hurry. Read: (Five situations that you go on…) Line Drive at Fielder (go right away, no pause) Fair or Foul… Possible HR? Multiple fielders converging on play… Catch being made below the belt… React: (Go hard…Leave no doubt…) Get a side view of the catch (trade angle for distance) (never run directly at the play) Stop to make the call…

TWO MAN MECHANICS: A pos. Going out to the outfield: Take an angle… U1 Get a side view of catch… UIC

TWO MAN MECHANICS (cont) Field Umpire: B/C pos. (edge of dirt to plate) Get to the working area w/ multiple runners Always chest up to ball (watch the ball). Help with third strike in the dirt (point down). Walk forward to make a pick off call at first. Trail the ball, not runner, into a stolen base. (move forward & arc to the play) Arc to plays at third (steal or throw on bunt)… When calling catches in the Vee, move to the edge of grass on trouble balls. Try to get tag ups, touches and the catch in the same picture while working the Vee.

Working Area From B & C position U1 U1 UIC

B & C Position Movements Pickoff, Steal @ 2nd, Play at 3rd U1 U1 UIC

THREE MAN MECHANICS National Umpires Association

THREE MAN MECHANICS General Responsibilities See a balk call a balk. Move your ###!!! You run more in 3 man. General Rule: Keep an umpire on both ends of a standard double play. For UIC… Rotate all of the way (no read). Once your out, stay out (unless U1 to plate for in the park HR). Never cross dirt in HS from B or C. Only go out on trouble balls. Only go out from A or D position. PAUSE, READ AND REACT. Give a clear read… Leave not doubt (turn your back)… UIC has throwbacks into 1st only when no one on.

THREE MAN MECHANICS (cont) Plate Umpire (UIC) Fair foul up to the bag (if umpire on the line) or over the bag if base is unattended. If you rotate to third, rotate all the way (if all both partners are in). U1 will have the plate. Rotate in same situations as in two man. Has base touches at unoccupied base(s) (if they turn back) and at home. You have tag at 3rd if U3 leaves or turns back… Has fly balls to foul line if no umpire is on that line. Still comes out and up line (45’ line) on plays at first. Do not worry about force play slide rule. Check swings to umpire opposite of batter.

THREE MAN MECHANICS (cont) First Base Umpire (U1) A position (not too deep): poss. DP or no one on Fly balls to your side. (CF in & to you.) Only on trouble balls. Otherwise call it from where you are (hold up plate guy). Fair foul over your bag. Pick offs at first. (stay shallow) (20’ from bag) See pitcher over inside of runner. Tags & touches at first. Calls at first (tail end of DP). May have to back out. Must cover plate if UIC rotates up to third (try to get to point) Be in position to trail batter runner into 2nd if not in reverse rotation situation. (signal: behind back) Pivot (or get to the middle) if U3 leaves…

THREE MAN MECHANICS (cont) First Base Umpire (U1) (cont) Deep B position: man on 2nd only or 2nd & 3rd. Fly balls in small Vee (1/4). (CF to RF coming in) Do not leave infield grass (can in college). Pickoff and touches at second. Plays at 2nd or 1st. On plays at first, get as deep as you can (toward normal play in A position) Help with third strike or foul tip in the dirt.

THREE MAN MECHANICS (cont) Third Base Umpire (U3) D position (not to deep): man on 2nd & 3rd, 3rd only, or no one on. Fly balls to your side. (CF to you.) Only leave on trouble balls. Fair foul over your bag. Pick offs at third. (20 to 25’behind bag) Tags & touches at third. Calls & touches at second with no one on or 3rd only (& U1 leaves). You must rotate into infield. It is very difficult to leave runner.

THREE MAN MECHANICS (cont) Third Base Umpire (U3) C position: man on 1st only (deep), 1st & 2nd, or bases loaded. Fly balls in small Vee (1/4). (CF to LF in) Pickoff and touches at second. First play on infield at 2nd or 3rd. Steals at second & third. Watch for obstruction on DP (stay on it). Help with third strike in the dirt. You have throwback into first if U1 leaves

FLY BALL COVERAGE w/ on Lines U1 in Blue, U3 in Red & UIC in no color

FLY BALL COVERAGE w/ U3 in C U1 in Blue, U3 in Red & UIC in no color

FLY BALL COVERAGE w/ U1 in B U1 in Blue, U3 in Red & UIC in no color

No one on play at 1st from the infield U1 U3 UIC

No one on ball hit to outfield (no one leaves) UIC

No one on ball hit to outfield (U1 leaves) You have throwback… UIC

No one on ball hit to outfield (U3 leaves) UIC

Man on First Ball in Infield (DP) U3 R1 U1 UIC

Man on First Ball Hit to OF (no one leaves) U1 U3 R1 UIC Do not release until R1 commits to 3rd …

Man on First Ball Hit to OF (U1 leaves) You have throwbacks… U1 U3 R1 UIC

Man on First & Third Ball in Infield (DP) U3 R1 U1 R3 UIC

Man on First & Third Ball Hit to OF (no one leaves) U1 U3 R1 R3 UIC Do not release until R1 commits to 3rd …

Man on First & Third Ball Hit to OF (U1 leaves) You have throwbacks… U1 U3 R1 R3 UIC

Man on First & Second Ball in Infield (DP) U1 U3 R1 UIC

Man on First & Second Clean Hit to OF (no one leaves) U1 U3 R1 UIC

Man on First & Second Hit to OF (U1 leaves) You have tag at 1st & 2nd… Stay out… R2 U1 R1 U3 ? Take runner into 3rd if tagging (bump)… UIC Reverts to 2 man

Bases Loaded Ball in Infield (DP) R2 U1 U3 R1 R3 UIC

Bases Loaded Clean Hit to OF (no one leaves) R2 U1 U3 R1 R3 UIC Back up so you can see tag or touch at 3rd…

Bases Loaded Hit to OF (U1 leaves) You have tag at 1st & 2nd… Stay out… R2 U1 R1 U3 R3 UIC Back up so you can see tag or touch at 3rd… Reverts to 2 man

Man on Second Only Ball in Infield Shallow up for poss. steal… R2 U1 U3 UIC

Man on Second Only Clean Hit to OF (no one leaves) R2 U1 U3 UIC

Man on Second Only (tagging) Hit to OF Don’t be afraid to call from foul… You have tag… If U3 leaves, you take runner into 3rd… R2 U1 U3 UIC

Man on Second & Third Ball in Infield (DP) U1 U3 R1 UIC

Man on First & Second Clean Hit to OF (no one leaves) U1 U3 R1 UIC

Man on First & Second Hit to OF (U1 leaves) You have tag at 1st & 2nd… Stay out… R2 U1 R1 U3 ? Take runner into 3rd if tagging (bump)… UIC Reverts to 2 man

Man on Third Only Ball in Infield You are either into infield or out into outfield… No runner responsibilities at 3rd… U1 U3 R2 UIC

Man on Third Only Clean Hit to OF (no one leaves) U1 U3 R2 UIC

Man on Second Only (tagging) Hit to OF Don’t be afraid to call from foul… You have tag… If U3 leaves, you take runner into 3rd… U1 U3 R3 UIC

Credits…. 719 Clarendon Rd Troy, OH 45371 937-339-2798 Created on 1/20/2008 by: Deron W Brown 719 Clarendon Rd Troy, OH 45371 937-339-2798 deronwbrown@aol.com