Parent Umpire Basics Clinic

Transcript

Parent Umpire Basics Clinic - MCLL Why are there umpires?      To avoid one team having an unfair advantage over the other To control and manage the game To interpret and apply the rules To execute judgment in determining fair/foul, ball/strike, safe/out To make the game fun What makes a good umpire?    How you carry yourself (attire/authority/voice/decisiveness) Mechanics (getting to where you need to be to make the right call) Knowledge/Application of rules Why it’s GREAT to be an umpire and particularly a MCLL Umpire        Set your own schedule of volunteer contribution 3rd leg of stool to understand the game (Player/Coach/Umpire) Mentally and physically active Exercises your use of decisiveness and authority MCLL best staff in the state – 6 active WRLL Umpire School Grads District, State, Regional and World Series experience Support – Training, umpire points, respectful parents and kids Agenda (See what makes a good umpire!) Section 1 Protocol and Procedure (Pre-Game, How you carry yourself, non play situations) Section 2 Mechanics (How you set up and move on the field) Section 3 Rules (Common rules issues you may encounter) Protocol and Procedure (Section 1) Sartorial Splendor all that ‘stuff’ – looking the part is ½ the battle Tour through attire and equipment        Warm base underneath dependent on weather – ‘wicked’ material Black shoes (heavy toe/steel toe/umpire) belt and socks, gray trousers (charcoal/heather), light blue polo, black shell, black cap (worn like an adult). Mask (Held in left hand - demo) Chest Protector (adjust correctly – worn beneath shell or polo) Shin Protectors (worn underneath) Indicator (left hand) – Challenge yourself to ‘blind’ operation Ball Bag (one or two)   Pen and Line-up folder CUP The Rule Book and ‘Make the Right Call’   Great reading! (Throne room or before sleep) Start with Rule 6 through 9 (batter, runner, pitcher and fielder) Before the Game        Arrive early (30 minutes – you have lots of stuff to do!) Coaches or other adults must not be catching youth pitchers in warm up Players must have catcher helmet and catcher mitt to catch for infield and outfield practice First item – check bats, helmets, catcher gear (Official Little League labeling, BPF 1.15, cracks, out of round, helmet cracks, stickers, writing, loose hardware, ‘extended’ chest protector) Infield – Visitors from 25-15 minutes before game, home from 15 – 5 minutes before game. Identify scorekeepers – position adjacent to you, establish rapport, no communication with benches, pledge of silence for out of order batting, be ready to support you with count. Plate Meeting – o At about three minutes before game both teams in dugouts o Call Plate Meeting. Plate umpire faces out, Field Umpires face in mask and sunglasses off o 1 Manager from each team (MGR of record) o Introductions and shake hands, use first names, intro base umpire, positive and affirmative, o Ask for line-up cards (home first), check for numbers, names, positions. o Ask for ineligible pitchers and make sure those are marked, o Provide copy to opposing team, keep scorekeeper and umpire copy and give back team copy. o Ask Home team manager to ‘take you around’ park to explain any field rules – add in what you know (gaps in fence, keep doors closed to dugout, etc…) o Ask “are all your players equipped legally per little league baseball?” and get a verbal ‘yes’. “ o OK Gentlemen, let’s have a great game. Hustle your players around this field and I’m sure we will” o NO REQUEST FOR QUESTIONS. (“Hustle out Home Team”) Basic Game Concepts/Rules Outside of Play    Umpires call time, coaches ask – ensure ball is settled before granting ONE coach (Manager who attended plate meeting) is your contact and has contact with any umpire Don’t get chatty with fans, score keepers, etc…             8 pitches maximum warm up but 1 minute is guideline between innings. Might be no warm ups. Pitcher can’t be warmed up by other team’s catcher BUT a player with catcher mitt and catcher helmet (and a cup) should be ready if catcher isn’t. Get friendly with catchers if you’re at the plate Batter contained within circle, coach within box – they get too chatty have batter keep toe in box, charge an offensive time out (particularly if they come together in live ball time), call a ‘ball’ if catcher behind plate and pitcher at mound on plate for 20 seconds. Inquiries vs Arguments (Rules vs Judgment) MANAGER of record explains what they saw to umpire making call and explains how rule applies. (talk about ‘tag’ judgment) Conference if you are unsure after sending coach back to box or dugout. Make agreement. “Coach, I’m going to ask you to return to …. And then I’m going to share what you’ve told me with my partner. After that we will come up with a final decision. Are you good with that?” Discuss with other umpire. “Here’s what I saw, here’s what he saw, what did you see?” Offensive base coaches RUN out at throw down Weather – Coaches agree to play, Umpire(s) decide to suspend/stop. Recommended 30 minute minimum weather hold before calling Mandatory 30 for lightning strike before resuming Weather cancels and wipes a game under 1 full inning Suspends games either less than 4 innings visitors ahead or 3.5 innings home ahead or tied. (Add inning for Intermediate up) Plate Umpire Primary Duties     Balls/Strikes What’s a strike? o Any part of the ball passes through any part of the strike zone o A ball swung at and missed o A foul with less than 2 strikes o A foul bunt (even on strike 3) o Strikes the batter as they swing (dead ball) o Hits the batter in the strike zone (dead ball) o Becomes a foul tip (live) What’s the strike zone? o The area between the hitters armpits and the top of their knees directly above the plate o Hitter in a ‘natural’ hitting position o In answer to the coach – As defined in rule 2 o Consistent o Cognizant of time of year and level of play (first farm game maybe can the hitter hit it) What’s a Foul Tip o Is it a foul? (No) Is it Verbalized (No) Is it a live ball (YES!) "a batted ball that goes sharp directly from the bat to the catcher ’s hands and is legally caught.” o Mechanic – Left arm raised, with right palm stroke forearm upward Fair/Foul (Demo Mechanics) Catch/No Catch (Demo Mechanics) Power Hand Concept – Right hand signals outs, direct players – example appealed swing THINK AHEAD GAME SITUATIONS (Runners, Count, Score examples) Scores, Tags at 3rd, Touches at Third, Run Downs between third and home ‘Usually’ game UIC o o o       Plate Umpire Other Duties                Controls game---pace of game o ‘Minute’ between innings – no more than 8 pitches but can be zero. o ‘Hustle’ players on, off, up to bat o Slows down when needed – (Quick pitchers most specifically – “no pitch”) o Pitcher to rubber, batter addresses plate as you step in Get friendly with catchers if you’re at the plate Catching pitcher warm up pitches – who can do? (Properly equipped teammates only)? Substitutions (are they due?) Record Position on inning breaks - position 8-10 feet up line looking out at field between innings. ‘Visits’ – record – Offensive - 2 per inning, 3 per game per pitcher, defensive 1 per inning ‘Protests’ Rules only – How to handle Exchange balls with pitcher/catcher on passed balls, wild pitches in warm up. Passed balls/wild pitches NOBODY ON swap balls with pitcher. Fouls too selectively You are in control of pace of game – nothing happens until you say and sign play Mindset behind plate – ‘It’s a strike until it proves it’s a ball’ Mindset on calls at bases and plate – ‘They are safe until they’re proven out’ MUST HAVE CUP AT ALL LEVELS FOR MEN MUST WEAR ALL PROTECTIVE GEAR TO CALL FROM BEHIND Alternate positioning on shoulder of pitcher if no gear Field Umpire Duties         Safe/Out into bases and around bases Primary call on interference/obstruction beyond running lane Shared responsibility for infield fly, illegal pitch Touches at 1st and 2nd Tag ups at 1st and 2nd Early departure Steals Mindset on calls at bases and plate – ‘They are safe until they’re proven out’  Checked Swing (on appeal) Conflict Management      Even perfect umpires can have conflict because some fans, players or coaches aren’t as perfect… You can do MUCH to avoid conflict by following good mechanics, understanding the rules and carrying yourself as a professional ‘Chirping’ and other issues from dugout and crowd become concerns when they distract players, you or coaches. Too much tolerance leads to escalated confrontations later, too little tolerance leads to loss of respect, authority and fun immediately. Addressing issues – o If you can, address between innings and warn o Never address ‘crazy’ fan – Simply alert managers that game may be/will be suspended until that fan calms down or is removed. o Judgment should never be questioned – Comments like “Blue, you completely missed that call” actually can result in an immediate ejection and one game minimum suspension o Emotional outbursts in or out of dugout (swearing, slammed bat, thrown equipment) might also be an immediate ejection o What’s the ‘magic’ word? ‘You’ as in ‘You are crazy’ or ‘You are the worst umpire ever.’ o Warnings – ‘Coach, next time I come over here on this issue someone is going immediately home’, Live up to that promise. o ‘Where’s that pitch’ asked to ‘catcher’. You answer to the coach (because he really meant it for your ears) ‘I didn’t like that pitch’ or ‘I called it a ball coach’ or ‘it was in the ball zone coach’. Avoid directional calls as a rule unless catcher or batter asks. o In case of ejection a report to the league president (copying UIC) is required. Umpire Basic Mechanics (Section 2) ‘The Basic Six’ From Plate – Strike On the rubber (step in), Set in the Slot (Crouch), (Pause, Stand) STRIKE! ( 90 degree arm, grab air and knock, Step out) From Plate – Ball On the rubber (step in), Set (Crouch, Pause) BALL! (Stay Crouched, Pause, Step out)) From Field – Out On the rubber (Standing), Set (Hand on knees), Call it! (Same as Strike) From Field – Safe On the rubber (Standing), Set (Hand on knees), Call it! (4 parts, Straight arms together down, together 90 degrees in front, Straight out to 180, back together and down) From Plate – Time (Raise-Left or both hands at pitcher, WATCH PITCHER, TIME!, (Point at who requested) cross step to opposite side of batter keeping body forward. From Field – Foul Hands up (Push a Tall man away at the shoulders), FOUL BALL, hands back down, Point to foul side. Extras? Add Foul Tip, Checked Swing, No check Swing, Appeal (Strike-Yes he went!), Yes he went, first to third, timing play Clear the Catcher and Trail the Play (bases empty infield play)     Starting from the ‘Slot’ ‘Ball is hit’, removing mask, button hook to your left clearing BR and Catcher (though a catcher shouldn’t get in your way) Line up with RF Foul Line Look for running lane violation, interference, obstruction. Field 2 Man Mechanics       Basic concept – one step ahead of the ‘lead runner’ Ball Out, you go in – Ball In, you stay out A, B and C positions. Chest to play, eyes to ball, angle & distance, drop steps and pivots ‘Still’ camera concept Proper use of eyes – creates proper timing Go, Stop, Call it! Hands on knees, left foot first, jog, stop, call it (Alternate outs and safe, across field) Soft Toss Drill Minimum 4 participants (pitcher, batter, catcher, umpire) Proper slot, head, heel-toe, tracking, call timing, signalling and voice commands) Need---Base template, Ball, mask, Shiskaball) Umpire Basic Rules (Section 3) Supremacy of Little League Rule Book ‘No local rule shall supersede, overturn or change rules found in the little league rule book.’ Local ‘ground’ rules may apply to address field issues but rules such as no advance until ball hits the backstop, no steal or no advance if pitcher is at the mound are not allowed without district and regional approval. Infield Fly      Less than 2 out runners on 1st and 2nd Pre play signs between umpires Ball easily caught with ‘ordinary’ effort by infielder At Apex of flight, either umpire calls ‘Infield Fly, batter is out’ or ‘infield fly if fair’ Runners are protected at current bases but may advance at their peril Slide or Attempt to Avoid / Head First Slide     There is not a ‘must slide rule’, can ATTEMPT to avoid Attempting does not mean succeeding Coming in to base must not be an intentional dive (disregard a tripping face plant) Hook slides that are ‘sideways’ are OK assuming that are attempt at the base. (see interference) Obstruction / Interference / ‘Nothing’     Fielders have the right to Field Struck Balls with reasonable space (generally a body space) Runners have the right to ‘Base Paths’ (Defined – from where they are to where they are going within a ‘step and a lunged’) Obstruction – o Fielder delays runner intentionally or unintentionally (loitering baseman, awaiting catch as opposed to awaiting tag or) o Immediate Dead Ball when play on obstructed runner (“Time, That’s Obstruction, You 2nd Base) and award other bases as appropriate. o Delayed Dead Ball when off the play. (At end of play, award bases as needed, negate outs as needed.) Interference – o # of types – Catcher (defensive), Coach (Bench), Batter, Umpire, Runner, Fan o With exception of catcher most are immediate. o Coach – the assisted runner is out and assisted runners are frozen (physical push, aid in a ‘real’ situation). Coach must attempt to avoid hit and thrown balls but are part of the field on thrown balls unless an overt act. Verbal distraction can also be an interference. o Batter – Batter is out with exception of less than 2 out, runner on third. (batter protected in box but must not overtly interfere) o Runner – Out when hit by a batted ball having not passed by an infielder with a play or deflected by pitcher/infielder. Out when too close or screening a fielder.  2nd Base hook slides beyond bag are an out and CAN be turned in to a double play. ‘Screams’, etc… are interference. o Umpire – Dead ball on struck ball – bases awarded. Live on thrown or passed. Dead if stuck in equipment o Fan in live territory – Dead ball – award outs/bases as believed. Nothing – o A collision doesn’t mean O or I – sometimes it’s ball players doing what they are supposed to do (the tangle on the bunt/swinging bunt, swipe tags/off line throws) o Thrown ball hitting a runner is live. Runner hitting a thrown ball (with assumed intent) is interference o “That’s nothing!” Run Through at First or Going to Second?    BR is entitled to run through first and may end up in fair or foul territory. BR is entitled to return directly to 1st base without risk of being tagged out. (Exception is obvious appeal of missed bag) ANY ‘move’ to 2nd (even quickly aborted) whether from fair or foul territory erases right to return to first freely. (Pregnant is Pregnant!) Illegally Batted     Set up with any part of foot outside box Struck ball with either foot completely on ground outside box Dead ball – batter is out IF MADE CONTACT The Plate is OK to touch if the batter had part of box Illegal Pitch    Off the pitcher’s plate, 2 (or more stops), double gloved, dropped ball (except in Softball) is generally what you see (address pitching from the ‘well’) “Illegal Pitch”, “Time, That’s an illegal Pitch, One ball to the batter, One ball to the batter” If pitch is delivered and hit offensive coach may accept result of the play Ball Out of Play / Error on throw / Improper use of Equipment       “Time” collect thoughts, “You (point), 2nd base” On first play on ball 2 bases from where runner was at time of hit (on a single this gets them to second) On second throw, 2 bases from where runners were at time of throw (which means almost certainly all runners will score) Pitcher’s throws (unlikely in Majors and under) but one base from mound and 2 from off mound. Intentionally using hat, thrown glove or other piece of uniform or equipment on a fair struck ball is a 3 base awards. (example – catcher fields a bunt with mask) Intentionally using hat, thrown glove or other piece of uniform or equipment on a thrown ball is a 2 base award. (1st baseman throws mitt hitting ball on overthrow.) 2 Runners, One Base  2 runners may not occupy the same base with immunity from being but out by tag  The preceding runner ‘owns’ the bag and the trailing runner can be put out by a tag EVEN if in contact with the base. Contact in the batter’s box (body or bat) & ‘step and ½ rule’ Did the ball hit the bat or the bat hit the ball?   If the bat hit’s the ball a second time within fair territory it’s a dead ball out If the ball rolls up against the bat in fair territory (umpire’s judgment) ball is live and play continues Leaving Early   Softball o The ‘Death Penalty’ o “Time, the runner was off base, She’s OUT!” o ‘Mercy’ rule off base – not interference that could lead to an ejection Baseball Majors and under o Red Flag / Hat dropped or possible simply “Time” at end of play o All for One/One for All – One runner means all runners involved o If a better reached their hit is awarded as seen before any errors o All runners backed up as far as they can go without going back further than they started o On an awarded single it’s possible a scoring run will ‘disappear’ (Every umpire’s FAVORITE call!) Steals, Continuation BOB runner and ‘constant vigilance’   Baseball o A base runner or BOB runner may take off to second whether or not pitcher is on mound or even on rubber o With runner on third he may show less than full energy but cannot ‘mock’, ‘wave hands’, etc… to entice a throw (see interference) o Do not call unneeded “Time” on walks o HBP IS a ‘Time Call’ and can’t result in a continuation. Softball o As above but runner must not stop and must continue toward 2nd until a play is threatened or made on her. Look at runner – pitcher – runner “Time, Hesitation, the runner is out!” Batting Out of Order    Recognized before out of order batter is done with at bat (‘too early’) o Correct batter take their place and count Recognized after next batter takes a pitch (‘too late’) o Legitimizes previous batter – assuming at bat batter is next in batting order then we’ve established batting order this time around and go on from there o Should incorrect batter’s actual position come up when they are now on base, they may be skipped over in the order without penalty. Recognized after incorrect batter has batted but no pitches to next batter (‘Just Right’) o Batter who should have batted is declared out o o Any advance or score as a result of incorrect batter’s action is reversed Correct batter is now up (even if this is the same batter who was just up and got wiped off the score sheet.) Missed Base Touch  Ignore – call as if touched until an obvious appeal – having passed the base should be signaled safe and no indication given of missed touch (See appeal below) Dropped Third Strike     Majors and Up Softball and Baseball 1st base vacant OR 2 out (Know your situation) Short hopped or dropped Mechanic – strike mechanic (verbal if called) immediately followed by safe sign and “No Catch, Ball’s on the ground” pointing at ball  Also why important when 1st is occupied less than 2 out to signify a ‘dramatic’ strike three. Be prepared for “No runner! No runner!” Mandatory Play and Substitutions       More a concern for scorekeepers and coaches but questions arise 6 consecutive outs on defense and one at bat required Applies to all players but starters need not fulfill at start of game Starters can return to any position AFTER their sub has fulfilled requirements In minors 5 offensive runs will be considered 3 defensive outs IF player was out entire inning. NOTHING in this rule is changed by use of continuous batting order Appeal Plays       Situations = missed touch, leaving on tag up too early, failure return to touch home, batting out of order Appeal must be run in live ball situation Must be the NEXT play after no or a single time Pitcher should engage pitcher’s plate, get ball live, properly disengage and throw ball for appeal. Can be verbal ‘The runner missed third’ with the third baseman standing on third with ball or simply unmistakeable appeal Cannot sequentially ‘check’ each base for missed touch but conceivably could appeal 2 runners in sequence on 2 bases Communications with/Access to the Dugout      3 coaches/adults MAXIMUM 1 under 18 coach allowed ALL adults in dugout are roster list coaches 1 adult coach ALWAYS in dugout (implications – less than 3 coaches then kids will be base coaching) Dugout ‘leaches’ – ‘coach 4, 5 , 6 are at the fence – stop it nicely    Scorekeeper should be in easy communication range to you not communicating with dugout. Electronic Communications – NO, Tools, yes (Scorekeeping, pitch count, coaches tools) NEVER on a phone call, text, email Warning/Ejection Final Thoughts o o o o o o o o 7Ps rule Be approachable but not social Be consistent (zone, treatment of players and coaches, hustle, etc…) Think ahead but don’t assume (Situations based on base runners, count, etc… Examples – Runner on 1st , 1st and 3rd , 2nd with 2 out, 1st and 2nd - 1 or no outs, 2 strikes) No make-up calls You’re seldom going to make more than ½ the people happy CLEAR history Have a plan