Softball Mechanic Tutorial

1. Softball Mechanic Tutorial • The following tutorial is for Softball Two Umpire mechanics • The following situations are meant to serve as a guide based on the field mechanic class • All situations assume a normal fielder setup • All situations assume no interference or obstruction • All situations have no umpire going out a fly ball

2. Responsibilities Plate Umpire Base Umpire Catch – No Catch Look Back Foul-Fair Leaving Early Strike - Ball Tag Up Missed Base Obstruction - Interference Obstruction - Interference

3. Softball Batters Box 3’ 4’ 3’ Batter's Box 3 feet x 7 feet 10’ Catcher’s Box 10 feet x 8 feet 5 inches 8’ 5” If lines are gone, you decide where the box is NEVER draw lines NEVER draw lines NEVER draw lines NEVER draw lines

4. Strike Zone ASA Rules Definitions 1.0 STRIKE ZONE When the batter assumes a natural batting stance adjacent to home plate, the strike zone is the area over home plate between batter’s A. (Fast Pitch) Armpits and top of the knees natural Arm Pits A STRIKE is any pitch that either enters the strike zone without first touching the ground or is swung at by the batter and missed. Official Strike Zone Top of knees Note Width of home plate is 17”. Diameter of the ball is approximately 4”. The effective width of the strike zone is 25” 25 inches

5. Bounding Ball Coverage w/ no runners PU has call to front of the base Plate Umpire makes call FAIR BALL B Base Umpire makes this call FOUL BALL P Plate Umpire needs to get on foul line as soon as possible Plate Umpire has call before the base Plate Umpire will straddle foul line as quickly as possible Base Umpire has call after the base P P

6. Plate Umpire Move perpendicular to ball Watch for obstruction Help with touch calls Base Umpire Button-hook inside Watch for tag up Watch runners touch Fly Ball Coverage

7. Fly Ball Coverage with no runners Plate Umpire has all catch/no-catch calls Plate Umpire moves perpendicular to the ball Base Umpire watches for tag at 1st B 1st 10-12 feet behind 1st base in foul territory P P

8. Fly Ball Coverage w/ runners Button hook in and watch for tag-up at 1st and be ready to make call at 2nd 10-12 feet of left shoulder of 2nd baseman B 2nd Plate Umpire has all catch/no-catch calls Base Umpire has tag up calls R Base Umpire has touch calls P Go up 3rd base line if to LF P Go up 1st base line if to RF

9. Plate Umpire Watch for obstruction Help with touch/tag-up Be ready to make call on bases Base Umpire Ball is outside – you go inside Ball is inside – you stay outside Move toward play Mechanics

10. Starting Base Umpire Positions based on Runner No Runners 2nd SS B 3rd 1st Start in foul territory 12-18 feet behind 1st base BR P

11. Starting Base Umpire Positions based on Runner Runner on 1st Start 10-12 feet behind and off the left shoulder of the 2nd baseman 2nd B SS 3rd 1st R BR P

12. Starting Base Umpire Positions based on Runner Start 10-12 feet behind and off the left shoulder of the shortstop Runner on 2nd Runner on 1st and 2nd R B 2nd SS 3rd 1st R BR P

13. Starting Base Umpire Positions based on Runner Start 10-12 feet behind and off the right shoulder of the shortstop Runner on 3rd Runner on 1st and 3rd Bases Loaded R 2nd B SS 3rd 1st R R BR P

14. Summary of Mechanics No runner Start in foul territory about 10-12’ behind 1st base Runner on 1st Start 10-12’ behind and off the left shoulder of the 2nd baseman Runner on 2nd Start 10-12’ behind and off the left shoulder of the shortstop Any time a runner is on 3rd Start 10-12’ behind and off the right shoulder of the shortstop

15. No Runner Take runner to 2nd if she continues Take runner to 3rd if she continues Ground ball to Outfield R B Buttonhook inside to see BR touch 1st B R B B Start in foul territory 12-18 feet behind 1st base P In case PU needs to help with call at 3rd Plate Umpire trails runner to ½ way to start of running lane P BR Exit to the left of the catcher PU heads back home to take call P

16. Runner at 1st w/ ground ball to infield 10-12 feet of left shoulder of 2nd baseman B Ground ball to SS 2nd SS R P PU will take play at 3rd if the first play is at 1st not 2nd Plate Umpire trails runner to ¼ way to start of running lane P BR PU heads back home to play home P

17. Runners on 1st & 2nd w/ ground ball to outfield 10-12 feet of left shoulder of short stop R B Ground ball to Outfield SS Move toward 3rd for possible play R BR PU heads back home to take call P Go up 3rd base line but watch for obstruction call at 1st P

18. Plate Umpire Positions for play at the plate Be aware of the situation Be ready to move on a passed ball Try to maintain a 45o angle to the play Avoid being part of the play There is no “PERFECT” position for a play There is a “BEST” position for a play

19. Plate Umpire Positions for play at plate After play, return to starting position Try to maintain 45o angle to play Watch to swipe tag P Do not interfere with play Ball in coming in from foul territory P Starting position behind the catcher

20. Plate Umpire Positions for play at plate After play, return to starting position Ball in coming in from fair territory P Try to maintain 45o angle to play Watch to swipe tag Do not interfere with play P Starting position behind the catcher