Community Baseball League Umpire Association Umpire Clinic Handbook and Training

Welcome Administration matters for our umpires –Matt Nedolast is our Scheduler – –Umpires will be scheduled for age appropriate H, G & F league games –Attire – Wear long pants and blue shirt – Equipment in sheds –Compensation: H-league-$20/Game G-league-$25/Game F-league-$30/Game Fees will be paid twice a month on the 15 th and 30 th

Situations Baseball is a game of situations Making the proper ruling on the dozens of different situations that occur is where the expertise of the umpire come in to play. For example: –how many bases are awarded on an overthrow? –If the batter is hit by the pitch on their hand, is it a strike or an awarded base? –Is a foul tip a dead ball or can the runners steal? –What is an infield fly and when is it in effect? –Can a batter attempt to steal first base on a dropped third strike when there is already a base runner on first?

Position by the Umpire It is important to be in the proper position when making calls. To do this, you must be aware of the number of outs and the runners on the field. For example: –If there are no runners on the field and the batter hits the ball and runs to 1 st base, you should step onto the field in the direction of 3 rd base so that you have a good angle on the base runner’s feet, the base and the 1 st baseman. –If a play is being made at 2 nd base and there are no other lead runners, you should run towards the pitcher’s mound to get a better vantage point on the play.

Confidence & Control The umpire is the person who must be in control of the game. It may be necessary for the umpire to call time to allow players, coaches or spectators to compose themselves after a controversial or emotional play. You set the pace for the game. If you constantly let pitchers and batters take their time getting set or if you continuously allow the catcher time to speak to the pitcher or if you constantly grant “Time” to the batter to step out of the batter’s box, you may give the appearance of a lack of control over the game.

Unruly Coach or Fan Your main objective is to umpire the game You need to be in the proper position to make your calls In no situation should you allow a coach or fan to enter the field or approach you during play It is okay to call “time” and think about the proper ruling. You may even decide to open your rulebook Be swift, consistent and decisive You must remain in control of the game on and off of the field Warning – Ejection - Forfeit

Judgment by the Umpire Any umpire’s decision which involves judgment, such as, but not limited to: –whether a batted ball is fair or foul –whether a pitch is a strike or a ball, or –whether a runner is safe or out, is final No player, manager, coach or other participant shall object to any such judgment decision.

Lightening Rule A game will immediately stop at the FIRST sign of lightening, whether an umpire, coach, player or other observer sees it. Safety first! All participants should seek immediate shelter. A game may resume if lightening has not been seen for 30 minutes. Infringements on this rule should be immediately reported by the umpire to the proper authority (Matt Nedolast)

Play Ball to Dead Ball Play begins when the umpire calls “Play” The ball is alive and in play and remains alive and in play until for legal cause, or at the umpire’s call of “Time” suspending play, the ball becomes dead Dead Ball where Runners Advance: –Pitched ball touches a batter, or his clothing –A balk is committed. If there is a runner at 3 rd, they score –A pitched ball gets stuck in either the catcher’s or umpires mask or equipment Dead Ball where Runners DO NOT Advance: –The plate umpire interferes with the catcher’s throw. However, if the catcher still gets the out, then no interference is called the runner is out. –A ball is illegally batted (i.e., batter is out of the batters box when the ball is put in play) –A foul ball is not caught

Umpire Calls “Time” In your judgment, weather, darkness or similar conditions make immediate further play impossible When an accident incapacitates a player or an umpire A coach requests “Time” for a substitution or for a conference with one of his players “Time” shall not be called while a play is in progress Play is resumed when the pitcher has the ball, is on the pitcher’s plate and the umpire calls “Play”

The Batter The Strike Zone is that area over home plate: –The upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and –The lower level is a line at the hollow beneath the kneecap. –H-league modification – “Chin to Shin” The Strike Zone shall be determined from the batter’s stance as the batter is prepared to swing at a pitched ball. If a batter strikes the ball while outside of the batter’s box, (e.g., stepping on the plate, stepping behind the box, etc.), the batter is out. Batter’s are out when they interfere with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping outside of the batter’s box. If the catcher still makes a play and puts a runner out, then it is assumed that the interference did not disturb the catcher or the play from being completed. In this case, the runner is out, not the batter.

The Batter Batter’s are out if they have 2 strikes and then bunt a foul ball. Batter is out if an infield fly is called. If a pitched ball hits the batter or touches his uniform while he is in the batter’s box, he is awarded first base. Any runners that are forced to advance, do so. If the batter is swinging at the pitch and the ball hits the batters hand, it is NOT a “hit by pitch” event. If the batter does not try to avoid the pitch, it is a strike if it is in the strike zone and a ball if not in the strike zone.

Foul Tip vs. Foul Ball Foul Ball The position of the ball is what determines whether it is foul or not. The fielder may be standing in foul territory when they touch the ball. That ball may still be fair if the ball itself is in fair territory Foul Tip Foul tips that are legally caught are in play and the runners may steal Foul tips that are tipped and then skip on the ground before being caught by the catcher are foul ball and not foul tips. Play is dead Foul tips that are tipped and hit the catcher’s body or equipment (not the hand/mitt) first and then secured in the catcher’s hand/mitt are NOT foul tips. Ball is dead and this is ruled a foul ball.

Infield Fly Is a fair fly ball (not a line drive or bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when 1 st and 2 nd or 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd bases are occupied, before two are out (i.e., zero outs or 1 out). An outfielder running in to the infield on the play is still considered an infielder for this rule. If an outfielder catches the infield fly outside of the infield, it still may be called an infield fly if, in the umpire’s judgment, an infielder close by could have easily made the play. –Don’t let the grass be the boundary! If an infield fly occurs, the Umpire calls “Infield Fly”. The ball is alive and runners may try and advance or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, that same as on any fly ball. Runners are safe going back to their base and cannot be put out. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated like any other foul ball. If the fielders intentionally drop the infield fly, the batter is still out, but the ball is still in play, not dead

Dropped 3 rd Strike Is a 3 rd strike that is NOT legally caught by the catcher. If there is a runner at first base, the batter may NOT attempt to run to first base. However, if there are 2 outs, the batter may attempt to run to first base. If bases are loaded and there are two outs, on a dropped third strike, the catcher can complete the third out by stepping on home plate. No dropped 3 rd strike in H-league

The Runner Runners have the right to the baseline. Are out if they deviate by more than 3’ outside the direct baseline to avoid a tag A runner who is hit by a batted ball is out unless: –The ball is deflected from a fielder first; or –The ball goes through or near a fielder attempting to field the ball If a runner misses a base, they can return to that base by re-tracing their steps. –If they have crossed home plate, they cannot return to their missed base. –If a new pitch occurs, no appeal by the defensive team can be made. Only 1 runner may occupy a base at a time. The lead or preceding runner has the right to the base

Bases to award for Overthrows 1 base award: –Pick-off plays from pitcher to 1 st or 3 rd. Pitcher’s foot must be on the rubber. If not on the rubber, they are considered a fielder and wild throws get 2 bases. 2 base award: –Typical situation, batter gets to go to second or third on overthrows that go out of play –If a fielder deliberately touches a fair thrown ball with his mitt, cap, mask or any part of his uniform detached from its proper place (i.e., throws something at the ball to stop it). 3 base award: –If a fielder deliberately touches a fair batted ball with his mitt, cap, mask or any part of his uniform detached from its proper place (i.e., throws something at the ball to stop it). Home run award: –Kind of like the goal tending rule in basketball – if the fielder throws hit mitt, hat or any apparel at a ball that, in the judgment of the umpire, would have gone out of the playing field (i.e., over the fence).

What runs score on 3 rd out? 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.

The Pitcher & the Balk The pivot foot is the pitcher’s foot that is touching the rubber. The purpose of the balk rule is to prevent the pitcher from deliberately deceiving the base runner –While on the rubber, the pitcher may throw to a base. However, they must “step ahead of the throw”. A snap throw followed by the step directly toward the base is a balk –The pitcher, while touching his plate, makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch and fails to make such delivery –If the pitcher swings his free foot behind the rubber during his Windup, he can only turn and throw to 2 nd base or commit to the batter –The pitcher, while touching his plate, fakes a throw to 1 st OR 3 rd Base and fails to complete the throw –The pitcher does not have the ball but is either on the rubber or astride it (hidden ball trick) –The pitcher is not on the rubber and fakes a pitch

Questions?