2008 Reno Umpire Camp - October 17, 18 and 19 - Click for a PDF Flyer

2008 Between the Line School of Umpiring - September 19, 20 and 21: held at Sonoma State University. Click for more info.

Arguments and Ejections: If a coach or player make a statement or action that does not warrant an immediate ejection issue a “warning” first. Make sure you use the words “this is a waring...if you continue to argue or make statements about ... you will be ejected.” If the coach or player does not stop you have grounds for ejection. When submitting the ejection report please be specific with what was said or done. Also state that you issued a warning. A statement like, “the coach threw a tantrum” is not specific. If any cuss words were used, please include them in the ejection report.

A phone call to Jerry is required after the game and ejection reports are to be submitted online or faxed to Jerry before going to bed that evening. DO NOT mail ejection reports in. Ejection reports are needed to advise the school so the coach or player does not participate in the next contest.

Moving to get Angles: When a play is developing move first to get angle rather than moving to get close to the play. Once you have angle and you have time, then work on moving closer to the play. Don't just stand in one spot to make calls on the bases. You have to move towards the play (angle first) to get a better picture of the play in order to improve your judgment. Many times the play will be easy. It is those few close calls that you need to have the angle to make the correct call. So practice getting angles on the easy ones so it becomes second nature thus making the tough calls easy.

Click here for examples of movements.

Plate Umpire Moving: When the ball is put in play the plate umpire becomes a base umpire. You usually have home and third base. Here are some items of movement for the plate umpire:

a) Ground ball in the infield bases empty: Plate ump moving up first base line to help base umpire with pulled foot and swipe tags at first.
b) Gly ball bases empty: Plate umpire moving toward fly ball with slight angle to rule on catch/no catch (unless the base umpire goes out to cover trouble balls in right).
c) R1 or R1 R3 and batted ball gets thru the infield: Plate ump must move toward third base covering any possible play at third. If no play, then move back towards home. Let your partner know what you are doing - communicate!
d) R1 R2 less than two outs and fly ball to the outfield: Same as (c).
e) All other situations: Stay at home, but move back to get a view of the action watching runners touch bases and or tag ups. If a play at the plate is developing move toward the point of home plate-center field line extended (not first base line extended). Usually if there is a play at the plate you will move towards your right to get an angle on the tag.

Baseball Fly Ball Coverage: Some umpires are not subscribing to the 80/20 rule on fly balls with runners on base. Let's make 80/20 really simple:

a) With bases empty - plate umpire has ALL fly balls, unless the base umpire goes out to cover a trouble ball in right field.
b) With runners on base: Base umpire has ALL fly balls, unless the plate umpire calls him off because of a fly ball down the right or left field line.

If you have responsibility for the catch - stay with the catch! Do not worry about the runners unless you can put the runners in your peripheral view. The umpire not responsible for the catch will watch runners tag up or touch bases with the primary base being third, then second, then first. This is called division of labor. We don’t need both umpires watching the fly ball/catch. On a trouble ball if you are not responsible for the catch you can assist your partner, but know that he is primarily responsible for the catch.

Our Enemy - the Ball: The ball is usually the root of all our problems so it is an enemy. When an enemy is present and live you must be alert, attentive and keep your eyes on the ball most of the time. Only when the enemy is dead can we relax a little bit.

Always know the status of the ball - live or dead. When it is live things can happen. There are times we need to take our eyes off the ball - watching runners touch bases - but then we must pick up where the ball is. Keep the ball in front of you. You should never have your back to the ball, except when making the pivot at first on a base hit while watching the batter-runner tough first. Then turn to pick up the status of the ball as it comes into the infield.

When working inside the diamond keep the front of your torso within a 90 degree viewing angle on the ball. In other words, you might be moving to get an angle on the play with your body turned toward the potential play but your eyes are still on the fielder with the ball until he/she throws it.

Any time the ball is dead - it must be brought back alive by the plate umpire at the appropriate time.

TIMING: Remember - “One Play = One Call” Do not be in a rush to make a call. It is nothing until you call it. Make sure all the elements of an out is there before calling out.

Covering Primary Play First: Always cover the primary play that is occurring that you are responsible for first. Work to get angles on that play. Secondary plays will be covered after that primary play is done. Too many umpires are moving away from the primary play worried about what else might occur.

Only exception to the above is a routine double play ball in the infield. Yes you will be moving away from second base, moving towards first getting an angle on the play at first because chances are that will be the tougher call. If the play at second breaks down, move back towards second.

Umpiring Defined: Umpiring is moving to put yourself in position for a potential play. 95 to 98 percent of the time either nothing happens or it is an easy call. We are practicing this on the easy calls in order to improve our judgment on the few tough calls. Don’t get lazy on the easy ones. Practice on the easy ones so it becomes second nature.

Umpire Movement:

1. Bases Empty Routine Base Hit
2. Base Ump - Inside Diamond - Movement to First
3. Bases Empty - Play at First
4. Runner on First - Base Hit - Play at Third

Camps

Western States Umpire Combine

• Click here to Down Load the List in PDF Version

As of April 16, six more bats have been added to the banned bat list. They are:

• Easton SCN10BH Synergy+ Helmer Model
• Easton SCN6 Stealth Comp CNT+
• Mattingly Beast Unleashed
• Mizuno Wrath 2
• Worth M7JH
• Worth Mutant 120

Bats to look out for is a Catalyst FPC305, made by Lousville Slugger.
There are three yellow Catalyst bats:

• SB105 RED LETTERS........BANNED BAT
• FPC205 BLUE LETTERS...This is the one we see all the time at the
  college level...LEGAL BAT.
• FPC305 GRAY LETTERS.......BANNED BAT

  ---