Anderson Township Little League (ATLL)2013

Umpire CoordinatorLee Peterson

(with Dave Wingard & Ben Swinerton)August 13th, 2013

Agenda

-The basics

-Live Drills

-Rules Review & Questions

-Safety Update and Changes

The Plate Meeting

Time / Length of Game, including Mercy Rule

Field BoundariesMisc

JewelryOn Deck CircleHustle On / Hustle Off

Umpire Hand Calls

Safe / Out Ball / Strike Fair / Foul

Misc: Infield Fly Off the Bag Juggling the Ball Foul Tip Giving the Count

Umpire Hand Calls

Umpire Hand Signals

Infield Fly situation (0 or 1 out) Forgetting the Count or Outs Good Call

Pre-Game Conference to discuss signals and situations Arrive 15 minutes before game

Who’s on First?Who’s Abbott and Who’s Castello?

Don’t want 2 umpires covering the same play

1 Play = 1 UmpirePlate Umpire – HomeBase Umpire – 1B, 2B, and 3B

Getting into the best Position

Asking for Help

Leave your ego at home Umpire out of position can get help if they ask for

it. Make the call. If the other umpire sees

something different, huddle up and talk about it. Ultimately, it’s the original umpire’s call.

Create credibility for yourselfMistakes happen

Example: First Basemen pulls his foot off the bag

Plate Basics

Positioning behind the catcherBox stance (heel-to-toe)ScissorsKneeling

Plate Basics

Positioning behind the catcherChin no lower than the top of the catcher’s

headGet into “The Slot”Turn head toward the glove slightly

Calling Strikes / Balls and Safe / Out

• See It• Say It (to yourself)• Call It

section 2.00Definition of Strike – Part B

A strike is a legal pitch that is not struck at when any part of the ball

passes through any part of the strike zone.

section 2.00The strike zone is the space over home

plate that is between the batter’s armpits and the top of the knees when the batter assumes a natural stance. The umpire shall determine the strike zone according to the batter’s usual

stance when that batter swings at a pitch.

Foul TipSection 2.00

A foul tip is a batted ball that

• Is sharp and direct from the bat to the catcher’s hand or mitt

• Must be caught by the catcher not a catch if it is caught on a rebound unless it first hits the catcher’s hand or mitt

• Is a strike• Ball remains alive

Catch / No CatchField umpire has responsibility for fly balls

Field umpire can drift toward the side of the field the ball is on, but shouldn’t leave the diamond.Plate umpire covers bases temporarily (for tagging-up purposes)Signals: Catch = Out signal and say “catch”

No Catch = Finger pointing on ground. Don’t verbalize.

• Secure possession• Complete control of the ball• Voluntary release of the ball

CATCH – if the ball is dropped in the act of throwing.NO CATCH – if the ball is dropped as a result of a collision or falling or if the ball touches an offensive player, the ground or fence, or an umpire.

Definition of Catch

Definition of Fair Ball

A fair ball is a batted ball that:Settles or is touched on or over fair territory

between home and 1B or home and 3BBounds past 1B or 3B on or over fair territoryWhile on or over fair territory touches the

attached equipment or clothing of a player or umpire

While over fair territory, passes out of the playing field

FAIR / FOUL Quiz 1

A batted ball settles on home plate. What is your call?

FAIR or FOUL

FAIR / FOUL Quiz 2

A batted ball first hits foul ground and without touching any foreign object, rolls into fair territory between 1B and home where it comes to rest. What is your call?

FAIR

FAIR / FOUL Quiz 3

FAIR

Reducing the Margin of Error

Positioning + Timing = Good Judgment Angle First, Then Distance

If you have to, sacrifice distance for angle Get Set – Be stopped for all plays Watch the ball, Glance at the Runners Timing Hustle

Set Position

PositionLower your seat; don’t just bend overPlace hands on knees or thighsKeep your head up; don’t drop your chin

Getting SetSet position assumed BEFORE every pitchSet position assumed BEFORE calling most

playsMay be situations that mandate a

standing “set”

Set Position

Umpire Field Positions

Position A

Position B

Position C

Number of pitches League age:

7-8 = 50 pitches per day9-10 = 75 pitches per day11-12 = 85 pitches per day13-16 = 95 pitches per day17-18 = 105 pitches per day

A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of the game.

Legal Bats

• Check bats before the pre-meeting

• For 2-1/4 diameter, they can be Aluminum, Metal alloy or Composite. They MUST have an "approved for little league" decal on them.

• For 2-5/8, Composite bats must BBCOR. All bats for this diameter must be "Minus 3“. No “approved for little league” decal is required.

IMPORTANT

Carry your Rule BookIt is better to consult the Rules and hold up the game

long enough to decide a knotty problem than to have a game protested and possibly replayed.

2011 Official Regulations and Playing Rules p.95

3 scenarios

While Incorrect batter is up - Correct the batter and resume the count.Immediately after the Incorrect batter reaches base – Batter is ruled out.A pitch or more after the Incorrect batter reaches base – Permanent Line-up Change.

BATTING OUT OF TURN Rule 6.07

Infield Fly Rule Rules 2.00, 6.05d, and 7.08f

Rule is to protect the offensive teamBut most often argued by the offensive

manager Must be less than 2 outs Not a line drive or a bunt Can be caught by any fielder “around the

diamond” by ordinary effort Runners on 1B and 2B or bases loaded

Umpire declares batted ball to be an infield fly Batter-runner is called out

Eliminates all force playsBase protects the runner hit by an infield fly

(but not in non-infield-fly situations)

Must be fair If the umpire is unsure, yell “If Fair, Infield Fly, Batter’s

Out”

Infield Fly Rule Rules 2.00, 6.05d, and 7.08f

If caught, play on as a normal situation If dropped, it’s like a “steal” situation.

Runners may advanced, but they’re not forced

The batter is not in the play (he is out)

Infield Fly Rule – 2 scenarios

Important Notes – Rule 7.08(f):

If a runner is touched by an Infield Fly when not touching a base, both runner and batter are out.

If a runner is touching a base when touched by an Infield Fly, that runner is not out, although the batter is out.

However, in a non-infield-fly situation, base does not protect the runner on a fair ball.

Infield Fly Rule

An act by a member of the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders, or confuses any fielder attempting to make a playRunning into a fielder trying to make a

catchYelling at a fielder trying to make a catch

Offensive Interference

Only 2 waysInterference with catcher’s throw

delayed dead ballbenefits the defensive team

Umpire hit by a batted ball before passing a fielder immediately call a dead ball benefits the offensive team

Umpire Interference Rules 5.09(b), 5.09(f), 6.08(d)

The catcher or any fielder interferes with the batter

No interference call when the batter reaches first base AND all other runners advance at least one basedelayed call by umpire

Catcher’s Interference

Obstruction Rule 7.06 (a) and 7.06(b)

Fielder’s Obstruction: When fielder is not making a play on the ball, the

runner has the right to the base-path. Delayed Dead Ball

Runner’s Obstruction: The fielder has the right to the ball, trumping the

runner’s right to the base-path. Dead Ball, Runner is Out, Batter and runners do not

advance

Dead Ball Runners Return

Foul ball not caught – Rule 5.09(e) Illegally batted ball – Rule 5.09(d)

foot out of the batter’s box at the point of contact Plate umpire interference unless runner is thrown

out – Rule 5.09(b) Batter interference of the catcher unless runner is

thrown out – Rule 6.06(c) if base runner is safe, return to the previous base

Batter called out for batting out of turn – Rule 6.07(b)

Dead Ball 1 base awarded

Runner attempting to steal when catcher’s interference occurs – Rule 7.04(c) batter also is award 1B

Pitched ball lodges in umpire’s mask or equipment - Rule 5.09(g) and 7.05(h)

Pitched or thrown ball by the pitcher from the rubber goes into dead territory - Rule 7.05(g) pickoff – ball goes into bleachers ball stuck in backstop or fence ball goes into the dugout

Balk

Dead Ball 1 base awarded

After catching a fly ball, the fielder falls into dead territory – Rule 7.04(b) dugout stands over a fence into dead territory

Hit batsman – Rule 5.09(a) Fair batted ball strikes an umpire – Rule

5.09(f)

Dead Ball 2 Bases Awarded from Time of Pitch

Thrown ball into dead territory on first play by an infielder – Rule 7.05(g)

Fielder deflects a wild pitch into dead territory while retrieving it – Rule 7.05(f)

Fair ball bounces over the fence – Rule 7.05(f) Fair ball is deflected into dead territory

Dead Ball 2 Bases Awarded from Time of Throw Rule 7.05(g)

Thrown ball into dead territory on 2nd play by an infielder attempting a double play

Thrown ball into dead territory by an outfielder Any relay throw into dead territory by any

fielder

3 Bases Awarded

If a fielder deliberately touches a fair ball with a cap, mask or any part of that fielder’s uniform detached from its proper place on the person of said fielder, three bases are awarded and the ball is in play. – Rule 7.05(b)

Each runner including the batter-runner may advance three bases if a fielder deliberately throws a glove at and touches a fair ball; the ball remains in play. – Rule 7.05(c)

Delayed Dead Ball Situations

Catcher’s interference followed by a batted ball – Rule 6.08(c)

Batter’s interference followed by a play or throw – Rule 6.06(c)

Plate umpire interference followed by a play or throw –Rule 5.09(b)

Appeals Rule 9.02b

If there is reasonable doubt that any umpire’s decision may be in conflict with the rules, the manager may appeal the decision and ask that a correct ruling be made.

Such appeal shall be made only to the umpire who made the protested decision.

Must be made before the next pitch, play, or attempted play

Must be a live ball for appeals to be made Must be made before the defensive team leaves the

field

Failure to retouch properly – Rule 7.10(a) Missed base – Rule 7.10(b) Batting out of order – Rule 6.07

Appeals Types of Appealed Plays

Remember who it’s all about!!!

Questions

Direct questions to the following email addresses:

General ATLL Umpire (scheduling): andersontownshipumpire@gmail.com

Dave Wingard Jr.: wingard.dave@gmail.comBen Swinerton: benman120@aol.com

For other questions related to ATLL umpiring opportunities (such as volunteering), contactLee Peterson: mleepeterson@gmail.com