1. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS --------------------- SOFTBALL

4. Between Inning Positions
THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
Between Inning Positions P
DMA
DMA

5. CLEANING PITCHER’S PLATE
THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
CLEANING PITCHER’S PLATE
3B Umpire cleans after 3rd out…
Unless… 1B Umpire is “off the line” with the 3rd out P
DMA
DMA

6. At The Start of The Game… Plate Umpire checks with Base Umpires
Note: Base Umpires will always square to HP… wherever positioned on the field

7. NO RUNNERS ON BASE UMPIRES ARE “ON THE LINE”
FOUL BALL COVERAGE U3 U1 P

8. Three-Person Umpire Mechanics
Responsibility and Priority for
Making Calls Down The Line:
First priority is Fair or Foul
Second priority is Catch or No Catch
Plate Umpire has fair/foul calls between Home Plate and 1st base or Home Plate and 3rd base; if a Base Umpire is “off the line,” Plate Umpire has the responsibility for the open fair/foul line.
Base Umpire(s) who are “on the line” will make a fair/foul call beyond 1st or 3rd base
Base Umpire who is “off the line” will NEVER have a fair/foul call

9. FOUL BALL COVERAGE: 3B UMPIRE is “Off The Line” with Runner on 1B Only

10. FOUL BALL COVERAGE: When 1B UMPIRE is “Off The Line”, he/she is Counter-Rotated… i.e., there is no rotation. U3 P

11. P Split The Pie / Split The Field U1 U3 FLY BALL COVERAGE:
No Runners on Base
Base Umpires are “On The Line”
1B Umpire U1
3B Umpire U3
Plate Umpire P

12. Base Umpires are “On The Line”
FLY BALL COVERAGE:
No Runners on Base
Base Umpires are “On The Line”
When 3B Umpire “goes out” on fly ball, revert to Two- Person Umpire System
1B Umpire may button hook in … Inside/Outside Theory… or “Work The Rim”
1B Umpire U1
3B Umpire U3
Plate Umpire P

13. P U1 U3 FLY BALL COVERAGE: No Runners on Base
Base Umpires are “On The Line”
When a Base Umpire “goes out” on fly ball,
revert to Two-Person Umpire System
1B Umpire U1
3B Umpire U3
Plate Umpire P

14. Three-Person Umpire Mechanics
FLY BALL COVERAGE: 3B Umpire is only “Off The Line” with Runner at 1B; Rotation is Clockwise, & for Infield Hits U3 P U1
DMA R1
DMA

15. Three-Person Umpire Mechanics
FLY BALL COVERAGE: 1B UMPIRE is “Off The Line”
with Runners on 2B only, 1B & 2B, *1B & 3B, 2B & 3B and Bases Loaded;
when 1B UMPIRE is “Off The Line” there is NO ROTATION on Infield Hits
When “Off The Line, 1B Umpire is giant step to side of F4 U1 U3 P R1 * F4

16. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
No Runners On
Base Umpires:
18 Feet Beyond Base
Walk The Line
DMA
DMA
3B Umpire: L foot next to chalk line 1B Umpire R foot next to chalk line

17. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
INFIELD HITS
90-Degree Angle
Basic Four
“Set” =“semi-set” position
Timing- see play complete
DMA U3 U1 F5 F3
DMA P

18. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
INFIELD HITS
90-Degree Angle
Basic Four
“Set”
Timing-see play complete U3 F4
DMA U1 F3
DMA P

19. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
CHECKSWINGS
L-handed… go to 3B Umpire
R-handed… go to 1B Umpire
…even if Umpire is “off the line”
DMA
DMA

20. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
No Runners On
Base Umpires:
18 Feet Beyond Base
Walk The Line
DMA
DMA
Umpires were not making deep enough button hooks to infield (if started at 21 ft.)

21. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
PICK-0FF PLAY:
15 feet from 1B
In fair territory
RUNNER ON 1B
DMA R1 U1
DMA

22. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
ALL BASE UMPIRES:
Go “set” with start of pitch, once there is one or more runners on base!
RUNNER ON 1B
DMA R1 U1
DMA

23. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
RUNNER ON 2B ONLY R1 F4
DMA
DMA

24. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
RUNNER ON 2B ONLY, or 1B & 2B R1
DMA F4 R2
DMA

25. 3B Umpire is 2-3 feet “off the line”/ 10-12 ft. beyond the base
THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
RUNNER ON 3B ONLY
3B Umpire is 2-3 feet “off the line”/ ft. beyond the base
DMA R1
DMA

26. RUNNER ON 2B ONLY or 3B ONLY
THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
RUNNER ON 2B ONLY or 3B ONLY
ATTEMPTED STEAL OF 3B: 3B UMPIRE IN FAIR TERRITORY
PICK-0FF PLAY: 3B UMPIRE IN FOUL TERRITORY
RUNDOWN BETWEEN HP & 3B: 3B UMPIRE IN FAIR TERRITORY R2 F4
DMA R1
DMA

27. (Shade To Lead Runner Theory)…
THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
RUNNERS ON 1B & 3B
1B Ump is between F4 and 1B
(Shade To Lead Runner Theory)… F4
DMA R1 R2
DMA

28. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
RUNNER ON 2B & 3B, and BASES LOADED
3B Umpire is 2-3 feet “off the line”/ ft. beyond the base R2 F4
DMA R1 R3
DMA

29. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
PLAY #1:
Batted ball hit to F5
R1 at 1B goes to 2B
F5 overthrows F3 at 1B
RUNNER ON 1B R1 F9
DMA F5 U1 R1
DMA F3 B R

30. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
RUNNER ON 1B
Overthrow at 1B, B-R is safe
R1 goes to 2B
Base Umpires button hook in
PLAY #1 R1 F9 U3
DMA F5 R2 U1
DMA HZ U1

31. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
RUNNER ON 1B
Overthrow at 1B, B-R is safe
R1 goes to 2B, may go 3B
Base Umpires button hook in
If Plate goes to 3B, U1 goes to HP
PLAY #1 U3 F9 R1
DMA F5 R2 U1
DMA HZ U1

32. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
R1 attempts to reach 3B
Plate Umpire has 3B
1B Ump hold/comes to 3B side of HP
3B Ump has 1B & 2B
RUNNER ON 1B F9 3
DMA F5 1 R1
DMA P B R 1

33. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
PLATE UMPIRE:
Trails Batter-Runner halfway to 1B with no Runners in scoring position
Assists (if asked) on…
a) pulled foot, b) swipe tag or c) bobbled ball
DMA
DMA

34. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
PLATE UMPIRE:
Uses “Holding Zone” with Runner in scoring position
Runner is in scoring position when she reaches 2B or 3B
DMA
DMA HZ

35. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
RUNDOWNS
Between 1B & 2B
DMA R
DMA

36. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
RUNDOWNS
Between 2B & 3B R
DMA
DMA

37. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
RUNDOWN
DMA
DMA R

38. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
PICK-OFFS
DMA R1
DMA

40. THREE-PERSON UMPIRE MECHANICS
DMA
DMA

41. Split The Pie / Split The Field
1B Umpire U1
3B Umpire U3 P
Plate Umpire