1. 4 UMPIRE Rotation BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL
Mechanics for the 60 Foot Diamond

2. Key Points
Following are the key points of the Four Umpire System. The Plate Umpire will review these responsibilities with the crew at the pre-game meeting, incorporating any recent Lessons Learned or additional Points of Emphasis.

3. Definition of Abbreviations
PU, U1, U2, U3–-Plate Umpire and Base Umpires
B/R, R1, R2, R3--Batter/Runner, Base Runners at Time of Pitch
F1 <-> F9--Standard Scorekeeping Notation for Fielders
HP--Home Plate, 1B--First Base, 2B--Second Base, 3B--Third Base
NRISP--No Runners in Scoring Position or RISP--Runners in Scoring Position
CtB--Chest to Ball
C/NC- Catch/No Catch
F/F- Fair/foul

4. Locations C B D A PO3 PO1 1BX 3BX POP Working Area Library
A—foul territory, right foot along the line, 12’-15’ behind the first baseman
B/C—along the outfield grass, on either side of 2B, out of the batter’s line of sight
D—foul territory, left foot along the line, just into the outfield grass
PoP – Point of Plate, 15’ behind HP;
1BX/3BX—First/Third Base Line Extended into Foul Ground
Po1--Point of First Base, area around 1B (approximately 7-10 ft from the base) in foul territory w/CtB
Po3--Point of Third Base, area around 3B (approximately 7-10 ft from the base) in foul territory w/CtB
Library-That area about 2/3 the way to 3B in foul territory w/CtB
Working Area- That area half way between the mound and second base w/CtB
Working Area D A
PO3
PO1
Library
1BX
3BX
POP

5. Fundamentals
When a play is Routine, each umpire is responsible for all calls at their base.
On plays involving Trouble Balls, one umpire reads the situation and moves to the best angle/distance to make the call on the batted ball (C/NC, F/F, whether a ball has gone out of play, etc). The rotation is initiated by verbal and hand signals agreed to during the Pre-game Meeting.
Three positions in the course of each play: Starting, Reacting, Adjusted
Starting--before the pitch position
Reacting--initial movement based on reading the ball and the need to rotate
Adjusted—follow-on movement after the rotation is completed required to achieve best position for a call
4. U2's area of responsibility extends from the left fielder to the right fielder; U1/U3 will cover the wings

6. Fundamentals
5. If two umpires initially take a Trouble Ball, the crew will defer to U2; the other umpire will recover and rotate.
6. When one umpire commits to cover a Trouble Ball, the three remaining umpires move to provide the best Reacting position (the "normal rotated" position called for by the runners and location of the ball) and Adjusted position (based on how the play develops) to cover the play.
NOTE: Trouble Balls include any Fly Ball where:
a. two or more fielders converging
b. fielder making the play has his back to HP or is heading towards a fence
c. catch expected to be made below the knee
d. ball may hit the fence in the air or on bounce
e. question of fair/foul

7. Basics for the Four Umpire System
NRISP
If U1 or U3 go out, PU covers the base vacated. If a play develops at HP, the umpire covering 1B vacates and covers HP. Other umpires adjust to ensure overlap.
If U2 goes out, the crew rotates clockwise (PU->3B, U3->2B and U1 covers B/R and 1B; if a play develops at HP, U1 releases to HP. Other umpires adjust to ensure overlap.
RISP
PU and U3 are locked at their high value base.
If U1 or U3 go out, U2 slides within the working area to cover the base vacated and 2B, giving priority to the lead base.
If U2 goes out, U1 comes inside, pivots and covers 2B/1B.

8. No Runners on base
A, B/C,

9. Ball Hit and Fielded in the InfieldU2
Ball Hit and Fielded in the Infield
PU clears F2 and trails B/R for lane violation and back up U1 on pulled foot/swipe tag
U1 reads the ball and establishes angle to make potential call at 1B
U2 goes CtB from the outside and anticipates break down at 1B
U3 comes down the line to Po3 U1 U3 PU

10. Ball Hit and Fielded in the InfieldU2 U1 U3 PU

11. Ball Hit and Fielded in the Outfield
Ball Hit through the Infield or a Routine Hit to the Outfield
PU clears F2, comes out 15-20’ in direction of the ball and goes CtB
U1 reads the ball and comes to Po1; observes B/R touch and play around 1B
U2 reads the ball and comes into Working Area if needed; go CtB and glance at B/R
U3 reads the ball, comes down the line to Po3 U1 U3 PU

12. Ball Hit and Fielded in the OutfieldPU

13. Routine Fly Ball to the Outfield (No one goes out)
PU clears F2, comes out 15-20’ in direction of the ball to rule on F/F and C/NC
U1 reads the ball and comes to Po1; observes B/R touch and play around 1B
U2 reads the ball and comes into Working Area if needed; go CtB and glance at B/R
U3 comes down the line to Po3 U1 U3 PU

14. Routine Fly Ball to the Outfield (No one goes out)PU

15. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U2 goes)
U2 reads the ball, goes out and rules on C/NC
U3 comes to the Working Area to pick up 2B and assumes 1B if U1 goes to HP
PU clears F2 and comes to Po3 and goes CtB; adjust as the play at 3B requires
U1 comes to Po1 and sees B/R touch and play around 1B; if B/R commits to 2B, release and move to PoP to assume all plays at HP U1 U3 PU

16. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U2 goes)PU

17. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U1 goes)
U1 reads the ball, goes out and rules on F/F and C/NC
PU clears F2 coming up the line for B/R touch/plays at 1B; return to HP if B/R goes to 2B
U2 comes to the Working Area, responsible for 2B; assumes 1B, if PU goes to HP
U3 comes down the line to Po3 U1 U3 PU

18. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U1 goes)PU

19. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U3 goes)
U3 reads the ball, goes out and rules on F/F and C/NC
PU clears F2 and comes to Po3 and goes CtB; adjust as the play at 3B requires
U1 reads the ball, sees B/R touch and plays at 1B; move to HP if B/R goes to 2B
U2 comes to the Working Area if needed, responsible for 2B U1 U3 PU

20. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U3 goes)PU

21. Runner on First base
A, B,

22. Ball Hit and Fielded in the InfieldU2
Ball Hit and Fielded in the Infield
PU clears F2 and trails B/R for lane violation and back up U1 on pulled foot/swipe tag
U1 reads the ball and establishes angle to make potential call at 1B
U2 reads the ball and sets up for play at 2B working to get look at ball, glove and R1
U3 comes down the line to Po3 to observe plays at 2B and 1B U1 U3 R1 PU

23. Ball Hit and Fielded in the InfieldU2 U1 U3 R1 PU

24. Routine Ball Hit and Fielded in the Outfield
Ball Hit through the Infield or a Routine Hit to the Outfield
PU clears F2, comes out 15-20’ in direction of the ball and goes CtB
U1 reads the ball and comes to Po1; observes B/R touch and play around 1B
U2 reads the ball and comes into Working Area if needed; go CtB and see touch/plays at 2B
U3 reads the ball and comes down the line to Po3 anticipating R1 advance U1 U3 R1 PU

25. Ball Hit and Fielded in the OutfieldR1 PU

26. Routine Fly Ball to the Outfield (No one goes out)
PU clears F2, comes out 15-20’ in direction of the ball to rule on F/F and C/NC
U1 reads the ball and comes to Po1; observes R1 re-touch, B/R touch and play around 1B
U2 reads the ball and comes into Working Area if needed; go CtB and see touch/plays at 2B
U3 comes down the line to Po3 observing plays at 2B and 1B U1 U3 R1 PU

27. Routine Fly Ball to the Outfield (No one goes out)PU

28. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U2 goes)
U2 reads the ball, goes out and rules on C/NC
U3 comes to the Working Area to pick up R1 coming into 2B and plays at 2B; assumes 1B coverage, if U1 goes to HP
PU clears F2 and comes to Po3; adjust as the play at 3B requires
U1 comes to Po1 and sees R1 re-touch, B/R touch and play around 1B; if B/R commits to 2B, release and move to PoP to assume all plays at HP U1 U3 R1 PU

29. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U2 goes)PU

30. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U1 goes)
U1 reads the ball, goes out and rules on F/F and C/NC
PU clears F2 coming up the line for R1 re-touch, B/R touch and plays at 1B; return to HP if B/R commits to 2B
U2 comes to the Working Area, goes CtB and has all plays at 2B and assumes 1B coverage when PU returns to PoP
U3 comes down the line to Po3 anticipating R1’s advance to 3B U1 U3 R1 PU

31. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U1 goes)PU

32. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U3 goes)
U3 reads the ball, goes out and rules on F/F and C/NC
PU clears F2 and comes to Po3; adjust as the play at 3B requires
U1 reads the ball, sees R1 re-touch, B/R touch/plays at 1B; move to HP if B/R goes to 2B
U2 comes to the Working Area if needed, goes CtB and has all plays at 2B and assumes 1B coverage, if U1 goes to HP U1 U3 R1 PU

33. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U3 goes)PU

34. Runner on Third base
A, B/C,

35. Ball Hit and Fielded in the InfieldU2
Ball Hit and Fielded in the Infield
PU clears F2 and goes 1BX to see R3 touch HP; help U1 on pulled foot/swipe tag
U1 reads the ball and establishes angle to make potential call at 1B
U2 reads the ball from the outside and goes CtB
U3 comes down the line to Po3 to observe plays at 3B U1 U3 R3 PU

36. Ball Hit and Fielded in the InfieldU2 U1 U3 R3 PU

37. Ball Hit and Fielded in the Outfield
Ball Hit through the Infield or a Routine Hit to the Outfield
PU clears F2 and goes to 1BX to see R3 touch HP; help U1 on pulled foot/swipe tag
U1 reads the ball and comes to Po1; observes B/R touch and play around 1B
U2 reads the ball and comes into Working Area if needed; go CtB and cover plays at 2B
U3 reads the ball and comes down the line to Po3 and has plays at 3B U1 U3 R3 PU

38. Ball Hit and Fielded in the OutfieldR3 PU

39. Routine Fly Ball to the Outfield (No one goes out)
PU clears F2, sets up to rule on F/F and C/NC from behind HP and has plays at HP
U1 reads the ball and comes to Po1; observes B/R touch and play around 1B
U2 reads the ball and comes into Working Area if needed; go CtB and has plays at 2B
U3 comes down the line to Po3, observing R3 re-touch at 3B and plays at 3B U1 U3 R3 PU

40. Routine Fly Ball to the Outfield (No one goes out)PU

41. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U2 goes)
U2 reads the ball, goes out and rules on C/NC
U1 comes inside and pivots seeing B/R touch 1B and plays around 1B; if B/R commits to 2B, take B/R to 2B and assume responsibility for 2B/1B
U3 comes to Po3, has R3 re-touch at 3B and any follow on plays at 3B
PU clears F2 and has plays at HP U1 U3 R3 PU

42. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U2 goes)PU

43. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U1 goes)
U1 reads the ball, goes out and rules on F/F and C/NC
U2 comes to the Working Area, seeing B/R touch at 1B and assumes plays at 2B/1B
U3 comes down the line to Po3, has R3 re-touch at 3B and any follow on plays at 3B
PU clears F2 and has plays at HP U1 U3 R3 PU

44. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U1 goes)PU

45. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U3 goes)
U3 reads the ball, goes out and rules on F/F and C/NC
PU clears F2 and sets up to observe R3 re-touch at 3B from behind HP; has plays at HP
U1 reads the ball, sees B/R touch and plays at 1B
U2 comes to the Working Area, goes CtB and has all plays at 3B/2B, except re-touch at 3B U1 U3 R3 PU

46. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U3 goes)PU

47. Runner In Scoring Position (R2, R1/R2, R1/R3, R2/R3, R1/R2/R3)
A, C,

48. Ball Hit and Fielded in the InfieldU2
Ball Hit and Fielded in the Infield
PU clears F2 and goes 1BX to cover HP; help U1 on pulled foot/swipe tag
U1 reads the ball and establishes angle to make potential call at 1B
U2 reads the ball from the outside and goes CtB covering all plays at 2B
U3 comes down the line to Po3 to observe plays at 3B R2 U1 U3 R3 PU

49. Ball Hit and Fielded in the InfieldU2 R2 U1 U3 R3 PU

50. Ball Hit and Fielded in the Outfield
Ball Hit through the Infield or a Routine Hit to the Outfield
PU clears F2 and goes 1BX to cover HP
U1 reads the ball and comes to Po1; observes B/R touch and play around 1B
U2 reads the ball and comes into Working Area if needed; go CtB and covers plays at 2B
U3 reads the ball and comes down the line to Po3 and has plays at 3B U1 U3 R3 R1 PU

51. Ball Hit and Fielded in the OutfieldR3 R1 PU

52. Routine Fly Ball to the Outfield (No one goes out)
PU clears F2, sets up on the appropriate foul line to rule on F/F if necessary, otherwise move to PoP for C/NC and plays at HP
U1 reads the ball, comes to Po1 and observes re-touch at 1B, B/R touch and play at 1B
U2 reads the ball, comes into Working Area if needed and observes re-touch at 2B and plays at 2B
U3 reads the ball, comes down the line to Po3 and observes re-touch at 3B and plays at 3B U2 R2 U1 U3 R3 R1 PU

53. Routine Fly Ball to the Outfield (No one goes out)PU

54. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U2 goes)
U2 reads the ball, goes out and rules on C/NC.
PU retreats to PoP and has plays at HP
U1 J Hooks down foul line seeing R1 re-touch at 1B, B/R touch 1B and plays around 1B if B/R commits to 2B, take B/R to 2B and assume responsibility for 2B/1B
U3 goes to working area and has retouch of R2 at 2B and will slide with R2 if he/she advances to 3B R2 U3 U1 R1 PU

55. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U2 goes)PU

56. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U1 goes)
U1 reads the ball, goes out and rules on F/F and C/NC
PU clears F2, retreats to PoP and has plays at HP
U2 comes to the Working Area, seeing re-touch at 1B, B/R touch at 1B and assumes plays at 2B/1B
U3 comes down the line to Po3, has R3 re-touch at 3B and any follow on plays at 3B U1 U3 R3 R1 PU

57. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U1 goes)PU

58. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U3 goes)
U3 reads the ball, goes out and rules on F/F and C/NC
PU clears F2, observes R3 re-touch at 3B, retreats to PoP and has plays at HP
U1 reads the ball, sees re-touch at 1B, B/R touch and plays at 1B
U2 comes to the Working Area, has all plays at 3B/2B, except re-touch at 3B R2 U1 U3 R3 R1 PU

59. Trouble Ball to the Outfield (U3 goes)PU

60. This presentation was developed with extensive input from:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This presentation was developed with extensive input from:
Tony Escarzaga
West Region

61. The End