Baseball Umpires Level 1 Course Prepared by Ray Brown Development Officer - Baseball Confederation of Oceania Level 1 Umpires Accreditation Course This is an eight hour course that covers the fundamentals of umpiring.There will be a exam at the conclusion of the course. You must pass the exam with a 70% to receive your level 1 accreditation. Course Outline 1. Rules Know the rules and know how to interpret what the rule means. Most rules have a common sense answer and if you let your common sense be your guide you will probably make the right interpretation. Always carry your rule book, it is better to delay the game than have a protest and have to replay the game. continued on page 2 2 Most common rules 3 Working with your partner 4 Conditioning 6 Game Report 9 Signals 15 Ejection/Protest Report 1 Level 1 Umpires Accreditation Course continued from page 1 Most common rules A. strike zone guidelines Bottom of breast to bottom of knees - 17” wide - rule 2.00 B. fair or foul guidelines Wait for ball to stop - rule 2.00 - Infield Fly Rule C. 45 foot lane When does it come into play - incidental contact - rule 6.05 k - 7.08 a D. Safe or out - Don't anticipate, be sure fielder has control of ball - rule 2.00 E. Interference What is it - rule 2.00 Defensive- 6.08 c - 7.04 d - 7.07 Offensive - 5.09 f, g - 6.05 h, I, m, n, 6.06 c - 6.08 d - 7.08 b, f, g - 7.09 - 7.11 Batters 1. runners on 1st-2nd-3rd – back swing - batter with two strikes Who is out- what do you do - batters and catchers - spectators Multiple runners - rule-7.03 2. Passing Runners- rule - 7.08 h 3. Umpires - ball lodged in gear - hit by batted ball - rule 2.00 - 5.09 b, f - 6.08 d F. Appeals What are they ? how many are there ? missed base, batting out of turn, leaving base too soon on tag up, check swing. Are there any others ? - rule 2.00 G. Obstruction What is it and who commits it ? - rule 2.00 - 7.06 H. Awarding of bases - rule-7.05 Thrown object at ball - rule7.04,05,06 I. Balk What is a balk? An illegal move by a pitcher, with at least one runner on base guidelines for a balk - rule2.00 -5.09 -8.05 c -7.04- 7.07- 8.05 1. While in contact with the rubber, makes a motion to throw home but does not complete the throw. 2. While in contact with the rubber, makes a move to throw to first base but fails to complete the throw. 3. While in contact with the rubber, fails to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base. 4. While in contact with the rubber, throws or pretends to throw to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a play. 5. While in contact with the rubber, accidentally or intentionally drops the ball. 6. While giving an intentional base on balls, pitches when the catcher is not in the catcher’s box. 7. Without having the ball, stands on or astride the pitcher’s plate, or while off the plate feints a pitch [ usually while an infielder is trying to entrap a runner with the hidden ball trick]. 8. Pitches while out of contact with the pitching rubber. 9. Works from the stretch position without coming to a full stop in the set position. 10. Delivers the ball to the batter when not facing him. 11. Makes an illegal pitch. 12. Delays the game unnecessarily. 13. After coming to a legal pitching position, removes one hand from the ball other than in an actual pitch or in throwing to a base. 14. While a runner is on base, from the wind up position, steps of the rubber with his non pivot foot first. J. Using your rule book A. Rule enforcement - protests – ejections Home plate meeting - line up changes go through you - notifying score keeper 2 Level 1 Umpires Accreditation Course 1. Working with your partner 3. Positioning a) communication both verbally and with signs i) Behind Plate - right handed batter - left b) take responsibility for your calls - getting your handed batter own calls. ii) Rules for maintaining a consistent strike c) check swings, what are they - do you have to ask zone for help ? iii) Be in comfortable position iv) Don’t be afraid of the ball 2. Appearance v) Keep still {locked in} a) how you look says a lot about you vi) See all of home plate b) being on time – professionalism vii) Do not assume position before pitcher is c) conditioning and flexibility ready to pitch 3. Umpire and Coach Relations viii) Keep chin even with the top of catchers a) Dedication - take pride in what you do, respect head, this puts your head at top of strike the game. zone b) abusive behavior ix) Develop good timing c) attitude towards coaches and players x) Have a strong and firm voice d) first aid xi) Follow the pitch with your eyes, don’t have e) liability - who is responsible tunnel vision. f) main failings - emotions - prejudices - settling xii) Calls of accounts Strikes and Balls Count 2. Positioning with the two man system Fair or Foul one follows the ball; the other the runner Check swing a) plate umpire - no one on - runners on base, 1st - Balk 2nd - 3rd b) combination of runners - fly b balls tag ups - 4. Responsibilities where to position yourself (1) ground balls - no one on - runner on c) base umpire - no one on - runners on base, 1st - (2) fly balls - no one on, down the line - in 2nd - 3rd the gap - runners on, down the line - in d) combination of runners - fly balls - tag ups - the the gap - pause - read - react two stances Base Umpire Umpires On Field Mechanics Check List 1. Pre game meeting at home plate Plate Umpire i) Responsibilities are to assist plate umpire 1. Pre game meeting at home plate a. who meets at home plate? 2. Positioning b. how long before game starts? c. how to exchange line ups i) no one on base - runner on 1 st - 2nd - 3rd - d. cleaning home plate multiple runners ii) calls - safe - out - check swing - fair - foul 2. Putting ball in play iii) delayed calls - balk - interference - a. start of game obstruction - appeals b. during game c. dead ball 3. Responsibilities d. time out a. ground balls - runners on base e. appeals b. fly balls - no one on, down the line - in the f. delayed calls gap - runners on, down the line - in the gap - Balk pause read - react Obstruction Interference Player changes 3 Level 1 Umpires Accreditation Course Surgical Tubing Stretches 1. Shoulder Adduction arm at your side, body facing sideways, hold tubing behind your back and extend it to full range of motion 2. Shoulder Flexion arm at your side, body facing straight ahead, hold tubing at your side and extend it forward using full range of motion 3. Shoulder Horizontal arm across your chest with elbow bent, extend tubing full range of motion Extension 4. Shoulder External elbow at your side with bent arm, pull tubing through full range of motion Rotation 5. Shoulder Extension arm at your side, body facing tubing, hold tubing at your side and extend it backwards using the full range of motion 6. Shoulder Internal and use throwing motion making sure you complete full range of motion External Rotation 7. Tricep Extension hold tubing with one hand behind your back, hold other end of tubing and extend it upwards using full range of motion 8. Chest Expanders hold tubing in front of your chest with both hands and extend it sideways using full range of motion Conditioning The conditioning of players is usually an area that some coaches tend to neglect. These coaches don't consider the positive aspects of conditioning, so very little time, if any is spent. If we make the player the focal point of our decisions than we realize that conditioning is important to not only his playing ability but also his health. A player that is not in good playing condition is more likely to sustain injury, than a player that has been implementing a daily conditioning program in his practice schedule. As coaches we must remember that a well conditioned athlete is going to be stronger, more flexible, in better athletic condition and able to perform the skills that are required during practice and games. Most professional baseball clubs, have a professional trainer work with their players on a daily conditioning program. That program helps keep the player in the line up on a daily basis. A good conditioning program should include - stretching - aerobic and anaerobic training. Stretching should be involved so we can reduce the chances of pulling muscles and improving flexibility. Aerobic training should be used so that we can improve our endurance level and anaerobic training should be used so that the recovery time from the short sprints that are used in baseball can be improved upon. Aerobic Training - Any exercise that goes for at least a 15 minute period. Give examples Anaerobic Training - Any exercise that makes the player get to a point of exhaustion in a short time. Give examples. How To Stretch Stretching is easy to learn. But there is a right way and a wrong way to stretch. The right way is a relaxed, sustained stretch with our attention focused on the muscles being stretched.