NCOA Sftball Sacrament 2018 Study Sessin #2 Questins & Mechanics Instructins: There are True/False and Multiple Respnse questins. Yu are t mark yur answer(s) t the questins n the quiz sheet. There will be mre than ne crrect answer fr the multiple chice questins. The number f crrect answers will be in parenthesis after the questin. Prvide the entire rule reference with yur answer. Review the mechanics sectin and be ready t participate in discussins. 1. It is legal fr the assistant cach r ther team persnnel t leave the dugut/bench area t recrd his/her players behind the backstp. a. True b. False 2. It is a ful ball when: (4) a. B1 s bunding ball last tuches the grund cmpletely in ful territry befre buncing ver 3rd base t the utfield. b. B1 s line drive passes ver 1st base in flight but lands abut a ft ful n the utfield side f the bag. c. B1 bats a ball ff the plate and the ball rebunds and strikes B1 s bat ver fair territry while B1 is hlding the bat while in legal batting psitin. d. B1 bats the ball that deflects sharply and directly ff F2 s chest prtectr and rebunds frward int the air and is caught in flight by a diving F1 in fair territry. e. B1 hits a line drive that strikes the pitcher s plate and deflects in the air t ful grund. f. B1 hits an untuched grund ball that settles tuching the 3rd base ful line between hme and 3rd. 3. B1 hits a grund ball t F6. B1 beats F6 s thrw t 1st base but she cmpletely misses the bag by stepping ver the base befre F3 catches the ball n the bag. What are yur calls? (2) a. B1 is ut because the ball gt t the base befre B1 tuches it. b. B1 is safe because she beat the thrw t 1st base and an umpire never pints ut a missed base. c. F3 culd have made a legal appeal f the missed base befre B1 returned t the base. d. The umpire will make n call r signal.
4. Which f these statements abut an infield fly are crrect? (3) a. A bunted ball cannt be ruled an infield fly even when batted high int the air. b. A line drive cannt prperly be declared an infield fly. c. It s nt an infield fly if an utfielder settles cmfrtably under the ball in the infield even if an infielder culd have caught the ball. d. The infield fly can be called with tw uts. e. Any runner is ut if struck by a declared infield fly while n base. f. Runners can tag up after declared infields fly the same as n any ther fly ball. g. The intent f the infield fly rule is t prtect the defensive team and help them btain uts n easy pp up flies. 5. The DP may be substituted fr at any time by the FLEX playing ffense. a. True b. False 6. An illegal pitch call always results in the batter being awarded a ball and all runners are awarded ne base withut liability t be put ut. a. True b. False 7. F1 re-plants her pivt ft cmpletely in frnt f the pitching plate and again pushes ff tward hme plate befre releasing the pitch. What are yur calls? (2) a. The ball is immediately dead. b. It is an illegal pitch. c. That technique is knwn as a crw hp. d. The pitch is legal if the pivt ft remains n the grund when the secnd push ff is made. e. That technique is knwn as a leap. 8. R2 is n 2nd base with ne ut and a 1-2 cunt n B3. B3 swings and misses the next pitch, but the pitch strikes B3. R2 advances safely t 3rd and B3 arrives at 1st. What are yur calls? (3) a. B3 remains at 1st base. b. R2 remains at 3rd base. c. B3 is ut n strikes. d. The ball is dead. e. R2 is returned t 2nd base. f. The ball is live and in play.
9. R2 ccupies 2nd base as B3 bats with a 1-1 cunt. On the next pitch, R2 breaks fr 3rd as B3 swings and misses but remains in the batter s bx. F2 s snap thrw t 3rd strikes B3 and deflects int fair territry as R2 makes 3rd base easily. What are yur calls? (2) a. That is interference by B3. b. The ball is immediately dead. c. The ball is delayed dead. d. R2 is declared ut fr B3 s interference. e. B3 is declared ut fr interference. f. R2 is returned t 2nd base. g. The play stands and R2 remains n 3rd base. h. B3 cannt be reasnably expected t instantaneusly avid F2 s thrw while within the batter s bx. 10. The batter is ut when the bat hits the ball a secnd time while the ball is n r ver fair territry. a. True b. False 11. Which f the fllwing are true f a declared infield fly situatin? (2) a. The infield fly rule shuld be called immediately after the ball is batted t give bth teams plenty f ntice. b. The infield fly rule shuld never be declared when an utfielder settles under a fly ball. c. If a declared infield fly ball falls untuched t the grund and bunces fair befre passing 1st r 3rd base, it is nt an infield fly. The batter is nt ut and a fair ball is ruled. d. If a runner interferes with a declared infield fly in fair territry, the ball is dead and nly the runner is ut. e. If a declared infield fly is intentinally drpped by a fielder, the ball is live and in play. f. Any runner(s) may tag up and advance n a declared infield fly after the caught fly ball is tuched by a fielder. 12. A baserunner is nt ut: (2) a. When the runner is inadvertently struck by a fly ball while in cntact with 2nd base. b. When the runner is inadvertently struck by a fly ball while nt in cntact with 2nd base. c. When the runner is inadvertently struck by a grund ball while in cntact with 2nd base. d. When the runner steps ff 2nd base t avid a fielder in the act f fielding a batted fly ball, but unintentinally interfere with the fielder, causing her t drp the ball.
Mechanics Tpics Outline Week 2 1. Understanding Arbiter Lifeline t grup cmmunicatins! a. Accessibility b. Functins i. Prfile pht - stress prfessinal head sht f just the fficial; n picture, n assignments! ii. Switch views iii. NFHS, NCOA, JSS - Central Hubs, Assignments, Testing iv. Calendar v. Blcks vi. Reprts vii. Travel Limits c. RefPay Plate Umpire Cnducts a shrt and well-planned plate cnference. Training Pints and examples f desired perfrmance: Pace f the game The ingredients f a gd plate cnference. Intrductins Careful lk at lineup Cnfirm length f game, if turnament. Caches, are players legally and prperly equipped? Grund rules discuss ahead f time with the cach if need be. Any safety issues? N stries, n pet-peeve warnings, let s play. Dn t use the wrd I Establish gd wrking relatinship fr the game. Read the rm. Be aware f what s ging n arund warm-ups. Once the plate cnference begins, the base umpire des nt distract caches frm plate umpire s cmments. Listen and nly add infrmatin if requested r if needed t clarify. Keeps the game mving Anticipate and be prepared fr the unexpected. Anticipates lineup changes and be ready when caches are cming ut. Enfrces the five pitches r ne-minute rule between innings. Lks fr pprtunities t get game balls frm the dugut r clean the plate, withut hlding up the game.
Breaks up catcher/pitcher cnferences quickly (after cleaning the plate). Has a gd rutine fr handling cnferences. Training Pints and examples f desired perfrmance: Call time, sweep plate, get lineup card ut ready t write G up the baseline where the cach will be cming ff. If it s an fficial cnference, write it dwn and infrm the cach. If cach is taking t lng, apprach the circle What d yu say? (Dn t need t say anything usually, be visible.) Observe and talk with partners fr ther ideas Mves with a purpse when cming back frm the circle r 3 rd base. Has gd lineup management. Makes lineup changes quickly and crrectly, withut hlding up the game. Gives changes t ppsing cach and then screkeeper. Has cmmand f substitutin rules, especially with regard t pitchers, and DP/FLEX. Training Pints and examples f desired perfrmance: Has Lineup card and pen at the ready. Knws what needs t be recrded. Has a system and tweaks it t imprve Is in cntrl f all issues arund hme plate. Training Pints and examples f desired perfrmance: Plate Mechanics Desn t let pitcher quick pitch. Is aware f caches r players ut f the dugut r balls n the field. Keeps caches and their buckets inside the dugut even when they want t use t signal catchers Call plays in their area, but has eyes n the ther plays t. Fllws prper NFHS plate mechanics. Training Pints and examples f desired perfrmance: Sets up in the slt, heel/te alignment, lking dwn and thrugh the zne. Can see the cmplete plate and then the ball frm the pitcher s hand.
Can see the plate befre the pitch, but can we see it as the ball appraches? If nt, are we clse enugh? Are we lking ver the catcher, r thrugh the catcher? Shuld be abut 10-12 inches away frm the catcher (depending n the catcher) as a general rule. MANY f ur umpires are t far away and d nt have enugh slt. They cannt see the plate thrugh the catcher s helmet r glve. Visualizes the zne then fcus n the ball as it is being released frm the pitcher s hand. Is set and lcked at the start f the pitch (when the hands separate after cming tgether). Hands in frnt f bdy bdy is set and lcked. Hands may be n the knees/legs r held free. Tracks the pitch in with nly slight head mvement. Desn t drp head fr lw pitches r turn away n utside pitches. Timing: Waits until the ball reaches the glve r hits the grund, pauses, then calls the pitch, allwing time t make the right call. Cnsistent with timing, vice, and zne. Re-sets after each by stepping back, be still, face the pitcher, with clear, high ball-strike signals when needed. Understands when we shuld give balls and strikes (pending change, delay ) Desn t stare at indicatr each pitch, usually ntches indicatr. Recgnizes illegal pitches. Studies the rule. Knws what t say t the cach, using verbiage frm the bk. Gd mvement away frm the plate. A gd umpire must be ready, (willing) and able t mve during the game. Hustles and is n tp f any ptential play. Emplys the swinging gate n ppups r passed balls, watching the catcher instead f the ball. Gets t the ful line, backstp, and fence fr credible calls. Training Pints and examples f desired perfrmance: If the catcher ges, yu g! Get all the way t the screen, dn t just fllw catcher.
Ful balls, straddle line r baseline extended and be stpped. Wrks t quickly get int psitin fr activity at hme plate. Trails the batter-runner (unless the play takes yu elsewhere) slightly inside the ful line abut ne-third f the way t 1 st base. Is stpped t see play. Training Pints and examples f desired perfrmance: When n runners n, r when runner n 1b nly. Knws hw t help, if asked, n pulled ft, swipe tag r bbbled ball. If PU is then needed at 3b, ges quickly and directly t a calling lcatin 10-12 feet, 90 degrees frm the play. Helps n bstructin at 2b Recgnizes lead/trail respnsibility as it changes during the play. Training Pints and examples f desired perfrmance: With multiple runners n base, a base hit t the utfield and a runner scring with n play at the plate: watches the runner scre frm the hlding zne in ful territry alng the 3b line, and then mves t take the new lead runner ging int 3b, while the 1U handles ther trail runner(s) at first and secnd base. Dn t frce the base umpire t handle the batter runner AND a play at third base. Calling psitin is 10-12 feet frm 3b, 90-degree angle, inside the diamnd. Knws which hlding zne t g t. Training Pints and examples f desired perfrmance: Gets ut t the circle n balls t the utfield (when n runners in scring psitin) Gets t 3 rd base line hlding zne with runner in scring psitin Lks t see when partner is chasing a fly ball and reacts t either cver the infield r mve parallel t the flight f the ball t make the call when partner buttn hks. Handles issues arund the plate in a decisive manner that gives caches and players cnfidence in all calls. Training Pints and examples f desired perfrmance: Hit by pitch. Lud verbal Dead Ball and signal. If the ball was in the strike zne, call a strike. (Reminder: n attempt t get ut f the way is required in NFHS if ball in the batter s bx.)
Manuals are silent abut the advanced mechanics fr this, r if there shuld be a pint when awarding first base. The fllwing advanced mechanics is suggested fr discussin in Study Grups and cnsideratin. Keep the caches in the dugut with decisiveness. Indicate dead ball, then a pint t first base if needed. Mve ut in frnt f the plate and takes a few steps tward first base with the batter t diffuse any ptential issues. Is in gd psitin t see all clse plays at the plate, and makes a decisive call. Lines up the runner scring with a 2-ut tag play at anther base, t determine if the runs scred befre the third ut. Lineup Management http://www.cactusumpires.cm/tutrials-infrmatin.html; click n Lineup Management System this pwerpint presentatin is 120 slides and cvers (in detail!) substitutins and DP/FLEX this dcument is als available n the NCOA Sftball Central Hub DP/FLEX Strategies http://nca.arbitersprts.cm/grups/107475/library/files/sftball/2017/dp_fle X_Strategies.pdf this NFHS dcument cvers Basic Utilizatin Strategies fr Caches and may be helpful fr yu t understand their thinking. DP/Flex flexibility and participatin married tgether thrughut the game must be stated at the pregame cnference t be valid cannt add the flex after the line up cards have been made fficial when are line up cards fficial?? when using DP/Flex, team can end up with either 9 r 10 players at the end f the game Flex must be in the 10th psitin f the line up card always cnfirm DP/Flex relatinship with the cach at the pregame cnference "S the Flex, Mary is tied t the DP Sally in the 6 psitin, right?" A starting r substitute DP may re-enter the game ne time as lng as they remain in the riginal psitin n the line up card DP can be replaced legally by the fllwing: pinch hitter pinch runner Flex substitute
When the DP leaves the game, ne re-entry is permitted (nrmal substitutin rule) If the FLEX bats r runs fr the DP, the DP has left the game and the team drps t 9 players If DP re-enters, team is nw back tp 10 players DP can play defense fr the FLEX; FLEX has left the game, dwn t 9 players DP can play defense at ANY psitin If the DP plays defense fr ther than the FLEX, that player is still bats and has nt left the game; batting rder des nt change! The FLEX can ONLY bat fr the DP The rle f DP/FLEX is never terminated in a game where they are present A team can g frm 10 t 9 t 10 players any number f times during a game The game can end with 10 r 9 players The DP can never be n defense nly The FLEX can never be n ffense nly The DP and FLEX can NEVER be n ffense at the same time The DP and FLEX can play defense at the same time Develp a methd fr yur line up card that wrks fr yu