UMPIRE MANUAL TABLE OF CONTENTS 2009 UMPIRE MANUAL Mechanics Definitons .............................................................................................................217 Code of Ethics for Umpires.....................................................................................................218 CHAPTER 1 PRE-REQUISITES FOR GOOD UMPIRING Elements of a Success Umpire ..............................................................................................219 Professional Appearance .................................................................................................219 Communications ...............................................................................................................219 Conditioning .....................................................................................................................219 Game Management ..........................................................................................................219 Judgment ..........................................................................................................................220 Mechanics ........................................................................................................................220 Positioning ........................................................................................................................220 Rule Knowledge ...............................................................................................................220 Timing ...............................................................................................................................220 Difficult Situations ...................................................................................................................221 Appeal Plays ....................................................................................................................221 Ejections ...........................................................................................................................221 Forfeits .............................................................................................................................221 Protests ............................................................................................................................221 CHAPTER 2 COMMUNICATIONS AND SIGNALS Routine Safe & No Catch .......................................................................................................222 Sell Safe .................................................................................................................................222 Routine Out & Strike ...............................................................................................................222 Sell Out ...................................................................................................................................223 Fair Ball ..................................................................................................................................223 Dead Ball & Time Out & No Pitch & Foul Ball.........................................................................223 Hold Up Play & Play Ball ........................................................................................................224 Count ......................................................................................................................................224 Foul Tip ...................................................................................................................................225 Infield Fly ................................................................................................................................225 Four Base Award ....................................................................................................................225 Home Run ..............................................................................................................................226 Two Base Award or Ground Rule Double ...............................................................................226 Delayed Dead Ball & Illegal Pitch & Obstruction ....................................................................226 Umpire to Umpire Signals.......................................................................................................227 Requesting Help on a Check Swing .................................................................................227 The Infield Fly Situation is On ..........................................................................................227 The Infield Fly Situation is Off ..........................................................................................227 Requesting the Count .......................................................................................................228 Requesting the Number of Outs .......................................................................................228 205 UMPIRE MANUAL CHAPTER 3 Pre and Post Game Responsibilities Pre-Game with Partners .........................................................................................................229 Umpire Crew Entering the Field .............................................................................................230 Pre-Game Conference with Coaches .....................................................................................230 End of the Game Procedure ...................................................................................................231 Post Game with Partners........................................................................................................231 CHAPTER 4 Plate Mechanics Calling the Pitch in Slow Pitch ................................................................................................232 Stance ..............................................................................................................................232 Set Position ............................................................................................................................233 The Pitch ..........................................................................................................................233 Calling the Pitch in Fast Pitch .................................................................................................234 Stance ..............................................................................................................................234 Set Position ......................................................................................................................235 The Pitch ..........................................................................................................................235 Movement from the Plate in Slow Pitch and Fast Pitch ..........................................................236 Movement .........................................................................................................................236 Movement to Third Base ..................................................................................................237 Plays at Home Plate .........................................................................................................238 Difficult Situations ...................................................................................................................238 Slow Pitch .........................................................................................................................238 Fast Pitch .........................................................................................................................239 General Responsibilities Both Slow Pitch and Fast Pitch.......................................................241 CHAPTER 5 Base Mechanics General Responsibilities .........................................................................................................244 Starting Positions .............................................................................................................244 Preparation Prior to the Pitch .................................................................................................244 General Techniques on the Bases ...................................................................................244 Points Governing Decisions on the Bases .......................................................................245 Watching the Ball..............................................................................................................245 Base Calls ..............................................................................................................................246 Force Plays/Plays at First Base/Tag Plays .......................................................................246 Swipe Tag/Pulled Foot ......................................................................................................247 Inside/Outside ..................................................................................................................247 Fly Ball Coverage .............................................................................................................248 Difficult Situations .............................................................................................................249 206 UMPIRE MANUAL CHAPTER 6 Umpire Systems The One Umpire System ........................................................................................................250