Generals Mechanics/Prfessinalism Sftball Umpires Clinic Outline Unifrm (Pwder Blue Shirt, Grey Pants, Navy Blue Hat, Black Belt, Navy r Black Ball Bag, Black Shes) Additinal Equipment (Umpires Mask, Indicatr, Chest Prtectr, Shin Guards, Prtective Cup, Plate Brush) Rules Knwledge Get The NFHS Rules Bk Learn the phrase In my pinin Mechanics Out/Strike (3 levels) Nn-Verbal - Everyne knws the call, yu just cnfirm Verbal/Signal Yur judgment (used 75% f the time) Sell Ludly verbally call/sell (In the field, briefly pause, quick replay, then SELL) Safe (3 levels) Same as ut/strike Plate Mechanics Base Mechanics What is the Strike Zne (Strike zne fr different levels f play, althugh, technically the same realistically different) Be methdical (Same repetitive mvements) Slt psitin (Get in the slt best view) Stance (The Bx r Wide Stance & Scissrs) The key is t have a lcked psitin Head Height Align n the plate Athletic Stance (Back Straight, Hand Psitin, etc ) Ball Tracking (Fllw with eyes, nt yur head then make the call wait til it hits the glve, then call) Cnsistency Strike (When t use verbal strike when t just signal, hw t sell the strike and hw ften t sell) The Cunt Give every ther pitch. The higher the level, the less yu need t give the cunt. Stp Signal Play Ball Signal Dead Ball/Ful Ball Clse play @ Plate psitining Infield Fly Signal (On/Off) A, B, C Mve t imprve (Angle ver Distance. G fr the angle ver getting clser t the play) Stp mving while making the call A Inside/Out (Fly ball cverage) B/C Allw players t get their spt 1 st, then get yurs (Talk with players) Safe n pulled ft (Signal Safe, then signal Side Swipe ) Hw t cver the pickle
Umpire Etiquette Punctuality 15 minutes early minimum. 30 Minutes is preferred and standard prtcl. Never disagree publicly with yur partner (yu are the nly 2 peple n YOUR team! Stick Tgether) Pre-Game Discussin with Partners Respnsibilities (3 rd base, fair/ful, fly balls) Cmmunicatin/Signals Special Plays yu ve seen. Pick smething yu want t get better @ each game. Verbally cmmunicate/pint during plays Hw t get cunt frm partner (Base Ump) Hw t get help n a check swing (Base ump, d nt ffer help until asked) If umpires need help r disagree, call a cnference give all available infrmatin, let the umpire wh made the call change the call. Otherwise the call stands, and the umpires stand tgether with the call! Cntinued Educatin Yu will learn frm each game yu call frm each persn yu wrk with and frm every mistake yu make. Yu will make mistakes. That s k! Just learn frm them. Official educatin never ends. Here are sme tls I use in my cntinued educatin Get WIAA Certified G t www.wiaawi.rg and click n Becme a Licensed WIAA Official Visit www.nfhs.rg Yu will find the fllwing 2 links n the right hand side f the hme page Officials Educatin Sftball Educatin Official Frum Yu will need t create a username/passwrd fr this but it s free and the discussin bards are a great place t learn rules and situatins. If yu can t find the answer t what yu are lking fr yu can always start yur wn discussin. YuTube There are sme very gd vides n here, just be careful fr the nes that aren t s gd. Try searching Sftball rules r sftball bad calls t learn what nt t d. Ggle Yu never knw where yu ll end up and what yu ll find. There are a TON f great rganizatins t find free infrmatin. Dn t be fled int having t pay t learn the secrets t be a great umpire. The secret is PRACTICE! Feel free t call r text me with any questins yu have @ 715-790-6080 r email me @ kevinhansua@htmail.cm I lk frward t wrking with each f yu t becme the best fficial yu can be!
FOCUS means the umpire... FORM means the umpire... is aware f the game situatin lets nthing happens until having checked the cunt and is certain all fficials and players are ready t g is ready fr every pssibility has nt drpped int his stance until the pitcher has cmmitted t the plate. has have a clear, defined strike zne has a plate stance that is cnsistent and cnstant fr each batter is cncentrating n each pitch's lcatin is in psitin t maximize the view f the pitch calls a cnsistent zne fllws the pitch with the eyes, nt the head will make ne call, the right call will read, pause and then react mve t fllw the develping play cmes up aware f the ptential plays mves the game alng allws the game t establish its natural rhythm
Frty Sftball Rule Myths 1. The hands are cnsidered part f the bat. If a batter is hit with a pitch n the hands, it is simply a dead ball and the batter is awarded first base. Remember that anytime a batter is hit, it is ALWAYS a dead ball. If the batter is swinging and the ball cntacts her hands first, we have a DEAD BALL/ STRIKE. If the ball cntacts the batter in the strike zne same result if it is the third strike in either f these cases the batter is ut. 2. The batter-runner must turn t her right after ver-running first base. The runner is prtected back t first base regardless f which way they turn as lng as they dn t make an attempt r feint twards secnd base (umpire judgment). Merely turning t the left des NOT put the runner in jepardy f being tagged ut unless they make an attempt t advance t 2nd. 3. If the batter breaks her wrists when swinging, it's a strike. The umpire s first pririty n this play is (a) was the pitch in the strike zne if s, it is merely a strike. If nt, the umpire must then judge did the batter attempt t hit the ball (did she ffer at it). If in the umpire s judgment, she ffered, then the umpire shuld rule a strike. Caches, remember that smetimes catchers stand up and blck ur view, if we dn t see a swing and the ball is ut f the strike zne we are calling a ball. If asked by the catcher r pitcher, mst umpires will check with their field partner. If I was blcked and nt sure I will usually ask my partner withut an appeal. 4. If a batted ball hits the plate first it's a ful ball. Hme plate is in fair territry and a ball that first hits the plate it is fair/ful based upn where it settles r is first tuched nt by where it first hit the grund. 5. The batter cannt be called ut fr interference if she is in the batter's bx. A batter is safest frm being called fr interference by staying in the batters bx and ding nthing ut f the rdinary (r intentinally interfering with a thrw by the catcher) UNLESS there is a play at the plate. When there is a play at the plate the batter must vacate any space necessary fr the fielders t make a play. 6. The ball is dead n a ful tip. The term ful tip is ften used incrrectly t dente any pitched ball that is hit sharply ff the batter s bat in ful territry. The definitin f a ful tip is a ball that is hit and ges sharp and direct frm the bat t the catcher s glve and is caught in flight. There are sme intricacies that I will nt g int here, but a true ful tip remains alive and runners are free t advance at their wn risk. If the ful tip is strike three, the batter is ut and the ball remains alive. 7. The batter may nt switch batter's bxes after tw strikes. The batter may switch at any time in the cunt as lng as she des nt switch sides nce the pitcher is n the rubber taking her signs. 8. The batter wh batted ut f rder is the persn declared ut. The batter wh shuld have been at bat is the persn declared ut. Example: Able, Baker, Charlie due up. Baker bats in the place f Able and gets a base hit. Charlie then cmes t the plate. The defensive manager calls time and pints ut t the PU (plate umpire) that Baker batted ut f turn befre the next batter receives a pitch. The PU will then declare Able ut, remve Baker frm the bases and it is nw Baker s time at bat again. Once Charlie receives a pitch (legal r illegal) Baker s time at bat is nw legitimized, making Charlie the crrect batter. Able will nw have t wait until her next time t get t bat again. This ne can get very cmplicated when yu have multiple batters g ut f rder. 9. The batter may nt verrun first base when she gets a base-n-balls. The batter may verrun first but may be in jepardy t be put ut by either a tag by the first baseman if she makes an attempt t advance t 2nd base after she has passed 1st r if she is guilty by the Lkback rule. This is a very misunderstd rule. Here is a very basic breakdwn f the rule. The runner may cntinue t run the bases while the pitcher has the ball in the circle (even thugh the pitcher may nt be making a play) and she can stp ONCE t find the ball...nce she has stpped, she must IMMEDIATELY decide t either (1) advance r (2) return. The nly caveat abut the stp made by the runner is that nce they have stpped ON a base...they may nt cntinue...they are pretty much tied t the base. If she jukes at all during this stp...she is ut. If she lingers t lng during the stp...she is ut.
10. The batter is ut if she starts fr the dugut befre ging t first after a drpped third strike. A batter is nly declared ut when leaving the baseline t avid a tag r if they have entered their team area (dugut). Simply nt advancing t first base des nt make the batter ut. Example: Batter swings fr 3rd strike with nbdy n base and the catcher drps the ball. Batter gets abut ½ way tward her dugut and realizing that it was a nt caught third strike situatin runs directly t 1st base befre she is tagged by the catcher r F2 thrws t F3 fr the ut. This is LEGAL the batter wuld nt be declared ut by the umpire until she entered her team area. 11. If the batter des nt pull the bat ut f the strike zne while in the bunting psitin, it's an autmatic strike. (NFHS Rule Change 2008) Leaving the bat in the strike zne is a strike whether an ffer r attempted hit is made r nt. 12. The batter is ut if a bunted ball hits the grund and bunces back up and hits the bat while the batter is hlding the bat. A batter wh is hit by their wn batted ball while still in the batters bx is cnsidered t be a ful ball...if the ball bunces up and hits the bat (while the batter is still in the batters bx) the result is the same. 13. The batter is ut if her ft tuches the plate. NOT a myth in Sftball. If the batter cntacts the ball (either fair r ful) while ne ft is whlly utside the lines f the batters bx r is in cntact with hme plate the batter is ut. 14. The batter-runner is always ut if she runs utside the running lane after a bunted ball. The batter-runner is nly ut if in the judgment f the umpire, she interfered with the fielder taking the thrw at first base. If the pitcher r catcher makes a hrrible thrw and the BR is utside the lane, it will nt likely be called interference. The ball must be thrwn fr interference t be called als. 15. A runner is ut if she slaps hands r high-fives ther players, after a hmerun is hit ver the fence. A runner is nly ut if a player (wh is nt a runner) r cach physically assists a player in running the bases. As yu can imagine, a highfive culd nt be judged as physically assisting. 16. Tie ges t the runner. Every umpire is taught: either the runner beat the thrw, r the thrw beat the runner. Every nw and then, yu might have a play that is just s clse it is difficult t make a decisin. In the back f my mind is always the questin..."wh made this play t clse t call? If F5 makes a spectacular back-hand stab and fires and the ball and the runner get there at the same time...give the ut t the defense...they earned it. If F4 bbbles and drps an easy grunder...give the benefit t the runner 17. The runner gets the base she's ging t, plus ne n a ball thrwn ut-f-play. Example: batter singles and has runded first and sees F7 make a great stp and starts back twards 1st when F7 uncrks a hrrible thrw that sails int the bleachers. We have a 2 base award frm the time the ball left the fielders hand that administered frm the last legally held base that each runner had at the time f the thrw. Sme believe that since the batter was heading back t first that she is awarded the base she was heading t (1st) and 1 base s she wuld wind up n 2nd. The prper award wuld be 3rd base. 18. Anytime a cach tuches a runner, the runner is ut. See rule myth #15. 19. Runners may never run the bases in reverse rder. A runner is entitled t run the bases in reverse rder (and smetimes required) when backtracking t tag up n a caught fly ball. Example speedy runner n first and she is ff at the crack f the bat the ball is hit t DEEP center the runner is already past third when the ball is caught she MUST nw run the bases in reverse rder t safely get back t 1st. She may NOT cut acrss the diamnd but MUST retuch the bases in the reverse rder she tuched them advancing. 20. The runner must always slide when the play is clse. The runner must avid a fielder wh has the ball when waiting t make a play. She des nt have t slide. She may slide int the fielder, attempt t run arund the fielder, she may run back t the last legally held base r she can simply give up
21. The runner is always safe when hit by a batted ball while tuching a base. A gd qute t explain this ne :: A runner is nt ut when struck by an infield fly (r any fly ball) if she is tuching the base unless she intentinally interferes with a fielder trying t catch a ball. 22. A runner may nt steal n a ful tip. The ball is live n a ful tip. Runners may steal because the ball is alive. A ful tip is a ball that ges sharp and direct t the catchers glve and is caught. A sharply hit ful ball that des nt meet this definitin, is just that, a FOUL BALL. 23. It is a frce ut when a runner is called ut fr nt tagging up n a fly ball. Failing t retuch is nt a frce. If a runner is called ut fr the 3rd ut n appeal fr nt retuching (tagging up), any preceding runs scre unless the appeal is made befre they crss the plate. 24. An appeal n a runner wh missed a base cannt be a frce ut. A runner wh misses a base they were frced t and it is prperly appealed fr the 3rd ut, can nullify any runs that scre. 25. A runner is ut if she runs ut f the baseline t avid a fielder wh is fielding a batted ball. A runner is declared ut fr running ut f the baseline ONLY if she is aviding a tag by a fielder with the ball. 26. Runners may nt advance when an infield fly is called. Runners may advance with the risk f being tagged while ff their base, and being called ut n appeal fr leaving a base t sn (if the IF (Infield Fly) is caught). The runners ARE NOT frced t advance if the IF is drpped. 27. N run can scre when a runner is called ut fr the third ut fr nt tagging up. This is a time play ppsite f Rule Myth #23 and is answered in Rule Myth #22. 28. A pitch that bunces t the plate cannt be hit. Prbably frm Slw pitch sftball, where the ball becmes dead when it tuches the grund. In FP, the ball remains alive when it hits the grund and may be hit by the batter. 29. The batter des nt get first base if hit by a pitch after it bunces. A batter is entitled t 1st base if hit by a pitch even thugh it hit the grund first (unless they made n effrt t get ut f the way). 30. If a fielder hlds a fly ball fr 2 secnds it's a catch. The umpire will need t determine if, in his r her judgment, the fielder had held the ball lng enugh t prve cmplete cntrl. The rule als states It is nt a catch, if a fielder, cllides with anther player, umpire r a fence, r falls t the grund and drps the ball as a result f the cllisin r falling t the grund (vluntary release). There is n mentin f time here. The myth in #30 is that there is a time test - there isn't. 31. Yu must tag the base with yur ft n a frce ut r appeal. Any prtin f the fielder s bdy may be made when tagging a bag n a frce ut. Even if the fielder has the ball in her hand and tuches the base with her empty glve this wuld be an ut. 32. The ball is always immediately dead n an illegal pitch. This is a delayed dead ball. If the batter hits the pitch the batter (and all runners) advance at least ne base, the illegal pitch is ignred.. If the batter hits the ball but the criteria t nullify the illegal pitch is nt met, the ffended cach may take the result f the play r the penalty fr the illegal pitch (a ball n the batter and all runners are advanced ne base). 33. If a player's feet are in fair territry when the ball is tuched, it is a fair ball. It is the psitin f the BALL that determines whether it is fair r ful NOT the psitin f the fielder. See definitin sectin fair r ful ball.
34. The ball must always be returned t the pitcher befre an appeal can be made. In mst sftball gverning bdies, appeals may either be made during live ball situatin i.e. tagging a base that a runner failed t tag up, tuching a base that a runner missed (with a request t the umpire that is what the defense is appealing), tagging the runner fr a base running infractin are all live ball appeals. The defense may als make an appeal n a runner after play is stpped n any base running infractin. This is dne by any infielder requesting t the prper umpire that they are appealing the infractin. The umpire wuld then rule n the appeal. 35. The pitcher's hand may nt pass her hip twice. The pitching rules essentially allw fr 1 time past the hips in the BACKWARD directin and NOT MORE THAN TWICE in the frward directin. A related myth is that the s-called "Califrnia" r "Chinese" changeup is legal. This is a pitch where the pitcher releases the ball and makes an additinal arm circle after release. N revlutin fllwing release is allwed and this is interpreted t mean nthing beynd reasnable fllw-thrugh. 36. The pitcher's ft must remain in cntact with the pitching plate until release. The pitcher's PIVOT ft (right fr RHP, left fr LHP), must remain in cntact with the grund; it may push ff and drag away frm the pitcher's plate but nt frm any ther place. 37. If a fielder catches a fly ball and then falls ver the fence it is a hmerun. This is just a catch and an ut. If the fielder cmpletely enters dead ball territry ver the fence, all runners are awarded 1 base (unless the catch is the 3rd ut). 38. The ball is dead anytime an umpire is hit by the ball. On a 60 diamnd, it is almst impssible fr an umpire t interfere with a batted ball. The nly way interference wuld be ruled is if the umpire was struck with a batted ball BEFORE it passed an infielder (ther than the pitcher). Since sftball umpires wrk behind the infield this scenari is unlikely. If an umpire is hit with a batted ball after it has passed an infielder r struck with any thrwn ball, the ball remains alive and in play. 39. The hme plate umpire can verrule the ther umps at anytime. NO umpire has the authrity t set aside r questin decisins made by anther umpire within the limits f the respective duties as utlined in the rules. 40. It is illegal fr tw base runners t ccupy the same base. Tw runners may ccupy the same base, but ne f them is in jepardy f being put ut. If a runner is frced t advance t the next base the lead runner wuld be ut if tagged. If the lead runner is nt frced.she wns the base and the trail runner wuld be ut if tagged.