How can I be a good softball/baseball umpire?

October 20, 2009 11:14 AM

In softball/baseball, what areas of responsibility do the different umpire positions have? What tips or tricks should I know when I'm umpiring on the field?

In my casual softball league, players from other teams are needed to umpire games, and I may be called upon to do so. While I know the basic rules and what makes a player out or safe, my knowledge is purely from a player's perspective. All umpire experience will be learned on the field in a trial-by-fire fashion, and despite the league being casual, some players and teams are known to be overly-competitive, so I'd like to do as good a job as I can.

We have two umpires; one at home and one in the infield. I figure specific situations will determine which umpire focuses on what things, but I'm afraid I might get caught-up in trying to watch everything and miss the really important parts. What would I be responsible for as one of the two umpires?

Of course, I will be asking my teammates and other players how they do it, but I am still interested in whatever help the hive mind can offer. I know I can be confident and assertive enough to make an umpire call, but I'd hate to miss something important because I was paying attention to the wrong thing.

Thanks!

posted by CancerMan to sports, hobbies, & recreation (11 comments total)

The only thing I can think of that you haven't mentioned in terms of responsibility is that you should watch the flight of the ball when hit down the line to judge fair or foul. It might be good to do as the home plate umpire because you're already looking right down the lines, but the roving ump might have fewer obstructions. The general rule is that it has to cross over the bag at least to be fair. A grounder is fair as long as it's fair until it crosses the bag, while balls hit in the air have to land fair wherever.

An umping tip I've heard on bang-bang force plays at bases is that you should use your ears as much as your eyes to try and hear which arrives first, ball-in-mitt or foot-on-bag.
posted by Doctor Suarez at 11:25 AM on October 20, 2009

At its simplest, if there is one ump in the field, you are responsible for 1st and 2nd base. Also, you would observe the outfield to ensure that a ball is caught; not trapped.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:26 AM on October 20, 2009

What JohnnyGunn says. When there's no one on base, the ump in the field stands near first base to make that call. When runners are on base, you stand behind the pitcher, somewhere between the pitcher and the second baseman.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:31 AM on October 20, 2009

As somebody who plays and has umped once or twice, I think one of the most important things to do is to be authoritative. If you're not sure of a call, don't sit there and advertise that fact. Make a call and make it sound like you know what you're doing. There's nothing worse than getting called out after the ump sits there and waffles on which way to make the call. The league I play in is barely even softball, it's three pitch, and we're always happy when we get an ump who at least acts like they know what they're doing. Last season we had a few games that were called by somebody who, when unsure of what call to make, would just sorta sit there and look confused. Don't be like that, as it makes every call you make suspect.
posted by synecdoche at 11:44 AM on October 20, 2009

Follow the baseball. Everything* of note takes place in close proximity to the ball. Put yourself at good angles to visually judge the potential action.

*The one exception I can think of involves a runner failing to tag a base on a base.
posted by clearly at 11:49 AM on October 20, 2009

An umping tip I've heard on bang-bang force plays at bases is that you should use your ears as much as your eyes to try and hear which arrives first, ball-in-mitt or foot-on-bag.

Yes, this. WATCH the bag (to see when the foot hits, and to ensure the fielder keeps their foot on the base), but LISTEN for the pop of the ball in the mitt.

As somebody who plays and has umped once or twice, I think one of the most important things to do is to be authoritative.

This, a thousand times.
posted by Doofus Magoo at 11:50 AM on October 20, 2009

The home plate umpire will make all fair/foul calls, and call plays at 3rd base and home plate. Usually the home plate umpire will call infield fly rule outs, but really both umpires should be aware of when those calls need to be made. The field ump will call the plays at first and second bases, and the only other thing to watch for is the timing of tag-and-run sacrifice plays on outfield hits. Also keep in mind that missed bags by runners should be noted, but not called until the other team throws the ball to the base in question and appeals.
posted by rocket88 at 11:59 AM on October 20, 2009

In my own efforts to google, I could only find generic info sites, or one site of interesting articles that required registration.

So far my best result has been the Little League site on umpiring. Some of the articles there are still a bit generic, but others have some technical data that cover a few areas I wasn't initially aware of (like how to square up to see the play).

Is there a good way to keep an eye on both an outfield fly and runners tagging-up, or in following the ball yet looking out for missed bases?
posted by CancerMan at 12:05 PM on October 20, 2009

I am both a regular, semi-competitive (USSSA) softball player and a regular (ASA) umpire in a very competitive league, so I will be glad to answer any specific questions you have off-line. Feel free to send me a MeFi message.

The first thing I recommend is get a rules/umpire manual. My ASA association gave me one, but I'm sure you can find one online. In fact, it looks like Oregon's ASA association has come to your rescue: http://www.oregonasaumpire.com/training/. The unpire's manual will give you all the information to make 90% of the calls properly.

JohnnyGunn had it right. Basically, the field umpire is responsible for 1st and 2nd bases. Although, I disagree with CoolPapaBell: I wouldn't stand inside the baselines, especially if it is slow pitch. I like to stand somewhere between 1st and 2nd, behind the baseline, and in the position that will impede the second baseman the least.

One last general bit of advice is to make sure you communicate to your partner! There are some situations where it makes sense to cover a play that isn't typically yours. For example, a batter hits what will be a triple with a man on base. The home plate umpire should stay home, and you should cover the batter-runner all the way to 3rd base. Or if you go to the outfield to cover a ball being trapped or caught, the home plate umpire should come up the baseline to watch for a throw back to first base (whether there is a runner waiting to tag up, or if there is a throw behind a runner or batter-runner).
posted by LouMac at 12:17 PM on October 20, 2009

There are some causal-softball-specific things you have to watch out for.

Runners are usually not allowed to steal bases or lead off. Home plate ump can best tell when the ball crosses the plate, so you should watch the base runners to see if they take off before then. (It's common to give a courtesy warning to both teams before calling an out, as lots of people forget this rule).

You may have a rule to prevent collisions at home plate. For example, a line 10 ft from home which commits the runner to scoring and makes home plate a force-out, and then another line next to the plate where the runner has to cross before the catcher steps on home with the ball, or something like that. In this case the home plate ump has to watch the runner, and on a close play, be lined up watching the catchers foot (is it on the plate), the runner (did they cross the line), and the ball (does it go in the glove - listen for it).

Home ump calls fair and foul. When the ball is hit, immediately position yourself behind home plate so you're looking straight down the line. You call at the point where it lands or where it is touched, except for infield rollers, which can roll foul before being touched. You'll also usually have to call 'out of play' - an imaginary wall which is field-dependant. Before the game make sure everyone knows where the out of play line is. There may also be a home run fence you'll have to watch for.

The base ump should enforce any rules about outfielder positioning (some leagues have rules to prevent outfielders from moving too close to the infield for weak hitters). Somebody should pay attention to the pitcher, too (probably the base ump).
posted by PercussivePaul at 12:34 PM on October 20, 2009

Ump'd my first game the other day (well, more like the last 3 innings). I was the base ump for this and almost every play was rather obvious.

The only "questionable" call was one with a runner on first. Batter hits a liner to the shortstop, who (in my opinion) caught the ball, then dropped it as she tried to get it out of the glove to throw to first to pick-off the runner who was scrambling back. The defense claimed that the shortstop dropped the catch so it ought to be a double-play. Maybe that is what happened and I jumped the gun, but I called it a catch and ruled that she had initial control before losing the ball on the exchange. And thanks to AskMe, I was assertive and firm in my ruling, and nobody bothered me about it (to my face, anyway).

I think the next time it's my turn to umpire, I will try to be more patient in making calls. I think I have a tendency to anticipate the result, not the play itself.

Thanks, everyone!
posted by CancerMan at 9:14 AM on November 2, 2009