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Umpire Mechanics

Training tips and mechanics have been provided in part by a generous contribution from the Arizona Umpiring Academy.

• An Introduction (right)

• Being Heard

• The Delayed Call

• Basic Umpire Signals

• Safe/Out

• Play/Time (coming soon)

• Fair/Foul (coming soon)

• Basic Umpire Stances

• Hands on Knees Set

• Standing Set

• Basic Equipment Procedures

• Holding the Indicator and the Mask

• Putting on the Mask

• Taking off the Mask

An Introduction

Being Heard

As an umpire, no one will know whether or not you made the right call if it cannot be heard. It is unnecessary for an umpire to verbalize a call on all plays, however a general rule of thumb can be considered the closer the play the louder the call. If a runner is obviously out at first base, an umpire can simply make the proper motion (see below) with his or her hand, rather than verbalizing an already "known" call. However, on close plays, it is necessary for an umpire to loudly and clearly verbalize the call, so that everyone on the field immediately knows what is going on. Often times, players react to situations based upon an umpire's call, and loudly verbalizing your calls (especially close ones) is essential. In addition, umpires need to project confidence in their own calls. This confidence will enable you to convince everyone on the field that you made the correct call, simply by your demeanor. The louder and more confident you are when you make the call, the more convinced everyone on the field will be that you made the right one.

The Delayed Call

Especially in youth baseball and softball, a player may often drop a ball even when he or she is expected to make an easy play. In order for the runner to be out, the defensive player must remove the ball from his or her glove voluntarily, or make an otherwise secure and obvious catch. In order to avoid losing face and causing confusion on a dropped ball, umpires are advised to wait between two and three seconds before making a verbal call, in order to ensure the ball is either caught or not caught. An easy way to ensure you wait these two to three seconds is to first point at the play that is occurring, then observe, then react. The point not only informs players as to where you will make your call, it also allows the two to three second delay that is necessary to ensure the right call the first time. This is similar to the Read, Pause, React method taught to many professional umpires. 

Basic Umpire Signals

Section generously provided by the Arizona Umpiring Academy.

Safe Signal The umpire's fingers must be together and elbows locked as the arms come up parallel to the ground. The arms are not to go higher than the umpire's shoulders. Keeping the arms parallel to the ground extend the the arms outward. The umpire's verbal mechanic should be at the same time the umpire is giving the safe signal..."SAFE!" The key to the safe mechanic should be: Crisp Confident Smooth Visible
Out Signal The umpire should always use the right hand for all single arm signals. Here the umpire brings the right hand out similar to the start of shaking another persons hand.
Having the palm open and fingers together, bring the right hand up even to the face.
The bringing down the hand and making a fist in front of the body. The motion is similar to "banging on the door" with the bottom of the fist.
The umpire's verbal mechanic should be at the same time the umpire is giving the out signal..."Out!" Most umpires use this technique for all out calls, regardless of how it may seem. For closer calls, most umpires will not modify the motion at all, rather they will simply make the motion swifter, harder, and perhaps with an extended follow through.
Basic Umpire Stances Section generously provided by the Arizona Umpiring Academy.
Hands on Knees Set This umpire is in the Hands on Knees Set. Notice the width of the stance. The feet are more than shoulder width apart. This creates an athletic stance incase the umpire must unexpectedly have to hustle to a different position and/or to run ahead of the runner. This stance is used by the base umpire often, and is recommended.
Standing Set These two umpires are in the Standing Set. Notice the width of the stance in both. The feet are more than shoulder width apart. This creates an athletic stance incase the umpire must unexpectedly have to hustle to a different position for the play. The standing set is used by both the base and plate umpire, but the hands on knees set is hardly used by the plate umpire. A main reason is the plate umpire holds a mask and would be almost impossible to get hands on knees set.
Basic Equipment Procedures Section generously provided by the Arizona Umpiring Academy.
Holding the Indicator Place the indicator in the palm of the left hand as shown in the photo.
Hold the indicator with the ring finger and the pinkie finger.
Holding the Mask Still remembering to use the left hand, place the index finger and middle finger on the lower side portion of the mask.
Clamp down around mask pads front and back. Don't forget that you are still holding your indicator.
Putting on the Mask Making sure the elastic back straps are still pulled up, place the top pad of the mask over / above the hat bill and against the top portion of the hat. The bottom pads should be touching the chin firmly.
Once the bottom pads are comfortably placed on the chin and top pads are placed on the portion part of the hat, pull straps over and down the back of the head.
Taking off the Mask First and most important, the umpire must keep the head and eyes up and looking forward to all possible plays and responsibilities. Bring your left hand up to the mask and grab the mask as describe above.
It is important that the umpire do this step-by-step. First, pull mask out from the face. Do not pull the mask up yet, only out. The reason for only pulling the mask out from the face is to clear the bill of your hat.
Once the umpire has pulled the mask out away from the face and is clear of the bill of the hat, lift straight up and slightly out.
The umpire must make sure that the head and eyes stay up and forward. The picture to the right is an example of what not to do. The game of baseball is extremely fast, and only takes a half of a second to miss a fair or foul or even an obstruction or interference situation.

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Last updated: 10/12/2008 05:38:45 PM