WSLL 2018 Umpire Training

WSLL 2018 Umpire Training

So, You Want To Be an Umpire? Introduction. Why become an umpire? Umpiring is a profession and a craft. Today, we learn how to think like an umpire. Next time, we learn how to act like an umpire.

Approach??? What you ll learn What you know

WSLL 2018 Umpire Training Unconscious Competence Right Intuition Conscious Competence Right Analysis Conscious Incompetence Wrong Analysis Unconscious Incompetence Wrong Intuition

Important Marks and Measurements Lines All spaces include the lines that border them, so foul lines are fair; on the line is in the batter s box. Edge of plate sets foul lines. All bases and FOUL Pole = Fair

Important Marks and Measurements Important plate dimensions: Width = 17 Channel = 4 Ball = 2.5 Bat = < 33

Rule 5 - Live Ball/Dead Ball Rule 5.09 and Rule 2 (Dead Ball). While ball is dead, no outs can be made, no runs can be scored, and no bases can be run, except by umpire award, like a hit batter. Umpire makes ball live by saying play when pitcher is on rubber and batter in box.

Rule 5 - Live Ball/Dead Ball Two kinds of dead balls. Rule 5.09. Delayed: see what happens. Logic: don t penalize victim. Immediate. Logic: No further play possible, so kill it.

Rule 5 The Ball Becomes Dead When: Most you know, like foul ball or hit batter. Any interference. See those rules. Umpire calls time.

Rule 5 - Live Ball/Dead Ball Most plays have 2 consequences: Operational or game: strikes/balls, outs, base advance, runs. Live/dead ball: no advance except by rule.

Strike? HBP? Foul? Dead?

The Batter

Balls & Strikes (Rule 2) Any part of ball passes through any part of strike zone. Must be in flight. Bunt alone is not a strike, unless bat moved at ball. Swinging hit batter. Non swinging batter hit in strike zone. Foul tip.

Fair/Foul (Rule 2) Three rules for foul balls. Ball that settles in IF, including line. Bounding ball. Fly ball to OF.

Fly Ball Rule Judged by position of ball WRT line where touched or where lands.

In infield, where ball settles or touched WRT line

Batter Outs Two Kinds Batter is out when. Rule 6.05. 12 of them! Batter is out for illegal action. Rule 6.06. 4 more! Batting out of order.

Batter Out When Bunting foul on 3 rd strike. Attempt to hit 3 rd strike and HBP. Touched by batted ball b4 touching fielder. Bat hits ball 2 nd time not bat rolling into ball. Running outside running lane + Interference with fielder receiving throw.

Batter Out When Key Definitions Catch In flight ball (batted or thrown). Securely held in glove or hand. Simultaneous or immediate contact dislodging ball counts Voluntary release shows catch. Compare to tag as far as control. Treat them the same.

Batter Out Illegal Action Rule 6.06. Hitting ball with any foot touching ground completely outside of batter s box. 6.06(a). Touching plate alone? Interfere with C by: step out of box, unusual movement, fail to vacate plate area when has reasonable time to. 6.06(c).

Infield Fly (not in 2A). R1, R2 or bases loaded + < 2 outs + high fly ball + can be caught with ordinary effort. Logic: protect runners on base. How? Not meant to protect batter. Why? Another rule protects batter: fielder may not INTENTIONALLY drop line drive. Very rare. How?

Batting Out of Order Rule 6.07. 3 rules. Rule 1: Caught while at bat? Fix it. Rule 2: Caught after at bat? Must appeal < next play or pitch. Proper batter is out. Improper batter s play nullified.

Batting Out of Order Rule 3: if no appeal, improper batter resets lineup. If s/he is B4, B5 next up. General rule. Defense must appeal (ump and score say nothing).

Batter Awards Rule 6.08. Batter may advance with no liability to be put out. Name 2 obvious ones. Catcher Interference. Rule 6.08(c). Offense gets to choose and not immediate dead ball. Why?

Batter Awards Rule 6.08(d) batted ball hits runner or an umpire with ball before it touches or passes an infielder (other than the P). See out rule for runner. Batter gets 1B. So, stay out of grass infield.

The Runner

Runner Outs Two Kinds Runner is out when. Rule 7.08. 14 ways. How many can you name? Interference. Rule 7.09. 11 more! Batter-runner covered here too. 3 are due to coaches and team mates.

Runner Out When 3 foot rule. 7.08(a)(1). Abandon (diff for batter). 7.08(a)(2). Tag (Compare to catch definition). 7.08(c). Fail to slide OR avoid fielder with ball awaiting tag. 7.08(a)(3). Head first slide to advance base. 7.08(a)(4). Touched in fair by batted ball. 7.08(f).

Runner Out When Intentionally interfering with thrown ball. 7.08(b). Hindering fielder making play 7.08(b). Failing to tag up and tag up timing. 7.08(d). Touched by batted ball. 7.08(f). Batter interfering with play on R3 at home. 7.08(g). Passing preceding runner. 7.08(h). Failing to retouch after overrunning first or missing home. 7.08(j/k).

Runner Is Out When - Force Safety of a base once acquired. Rule 7.01. Lost only when forced or leaves. Same and Rule 7.06(c), 7.08(e) and Rule 2. What is a force? How removed? 4 multiple runner tag scenarios. Solution: with force, tag counter clockwise (lead runner 1 st ). No force and 2 on base, get trail runner.

Runner Interference Hindering play after retired. 7.09(e). Willfully and deliberately interfere with dble play. 7.08(f/g). 3B coach physically assists. 2 kinds of dead. 7.09(h). Touched by ball deflected or immediately behind fielder. 7.09(k).

Out on Appeal (Rule 7.10) Tagging early or missing a base with or without a play being made. Identify runner (unless obvious) + tag runner or base. Miss base when play being made (like at 1B on ground ball). Umpire signals safe or out on timing. Defense must appeal miss.

Runner Awards - Overthrows Award = 2 bases. 7.06(g). Except for throw by P in touch with rubber (then one base). 7.06(h). Question: from where (TOP or TOT)?

Runner Awards From Where? Rule: TOT Except when 1st play by an IF No exception when all runners have reached their advance base.

Runner Awards - Types Rule 7.06 (a): Play being made on runner. Immediate dead ball. Award next base.

Runner Awards - Types Rule 7.06(b): Play not being made on R. Delayed dead. Award what R would have gotten. At least one base. Any base attempted beyond that is at R s risk.

Leaving Base Early - Rule 7.13. 1. Can t leave base before ball reaches plate. 2: No one called out for leaving early. 3. ALL Rs must return. 4. Ball remains live until end of play. 5. Any outs made stand.

Leaving Base Early With Hit Judge hit value without errors. Advance runners to nearest unoccupied base. If BR reaches on bunt, IF hit, or uncaught 3 rd strike, no runs may score. Example: double with R1. Result: R2, R3. bases loaded double. Result: R2, R3, 2 runs score.

Leaving Base Early Disappearing runner rule: 7.13 (c). Bases loaded, ball hit in the IF. If no outs made, R3 removed to dugout. Bases remain loaded If Batter is hit or walked, the rule has no effect and a run scores. Rule 7.14

Scoring a Run (Rule 4.09) With 2 outs, no run scores unless all forced runners safely advance. All runs must score before the 3rd out is made. Example: 2 out, R2, B2 singles, but is tagged out at 2B before R2 scores. R2 s run does not score.

Scoring a Run Appeal Is 3 rd Out If runner called out on appeal, any runs scored from behind that runner are erased. Example: R2. Batter homers. Successful appeal on R2, who missed 3rd on way home for 3rd out. No runs score.

WSLL Gray Book Generally aimed at sharing playing time and speeding up play. Read the time limits, run limits, and inning limits before every game. Some limits are drop dead, some no new inning after. For drop dead, finish the batter at the plate. Different rules for each level. Most complicated: AA stealing rule.