Umpire Checklist

1. Umpire Checklist Umpire positioning Line-up card validation Line-up card with DP/FLEX Ball field dimensions and layout Eastern Officials Association - Softball

2. Quick Mental Check-List ALWAYS: • HUSTLE • Move on all pitched , batted, or thrown balls. • Keep your eye(s) on the ball. • Make close calls (BANG BANG Play) with a lot of voice and enthusiasm • Take positions that will keep you out of the player’s way. • Call all your plays in fair territory except when the play dictates for you to be in foul territory. • On double play, take two steps toward the 1st force out base (2nd or 3rd), then run down the base path towards the 2nd force out base. Keep your eyes on the ball at all time to allow the flight of the ball to take you to the play. • Talk to your partner, Pre-game and during the game. Do Not • Make a call until the catch or play is completed. • Let players, coaches, or fans make the call for you. • Make a big call on the obvious out, safe, fair, or foul calls. Eastern Officials Association - Softball

3. Base Umpire Placment & Movement Base R1 Nobody on: 15-20 ft down the 1st base line Runner on 1st, Right field slot behind 2nd basemen B1 B1 Ump Ump R1 Base Base R2 R1 Runner on 3rd, Left field slot behind SS glove hand. Runners on 1st and 2nd, Left field slot behind SS, glove hand. B1 B1 Eastern Officials Association - Softball Ump Ump

4. Plate Ump: • On ground balls hit close to the foul line, stay at home plat on the line and make the call • On infield hits, move up the first base line observing the play, and be prepared to help your partner. • Field Umpire: • Responsible for the Batter-runner all the way to third base Base Ump • Positioning: No Runners on • Batter safely hits the ball in the infield: Fly-ball or ground ball • Position between 1st and 2nd base, outfield side of the base path as not to interfer with defense. • Button hook towards 1st • Touch base • Interference/Obstruction • Keeps Base Umpire out of path of thrown ball • Open view of base and the fielder’s foot/catch at 1st. • Positioning: No Runners on • Batter safely hits the ball out of the infield: Fly-ball or ground ball • Position between 1st, Pitchers Mound, favoring 2nd base side. • Button hook towards 1st • Touch base • Interference/Obstruction • Enables proper position if runner continues onto 2nd base and a play occurs • Positioning: No Runners on • Batter safely hits the ball out of the infield down the right field line (or short right): Fly-ball or ground ball • Position right foul line towards 1st base coaches box. • Button hook towards right field • Touch base • Interference/Obstruction • Enables proper position if play is made at 1st. • Home Ump rotates up for any continuation play. No Runners Eastern Officials Association - Softball

5. One Runner on • Plate Umpire: • On batted balls to the infield leave to the left of the catcher moving up first base line to observe the play, then fade toward third base to cover the advancing runner. • On steals where there is a wild throw at second base, pick up the runner advancing to third base, and be prepared to take their runner home. • Field umpire: • Take a position about halfway between 1st and 2nd and outside the base line. This position will normally place the umpire two or three steps behind and to the left side of the 2nd baseman. • If the runner attempts to steal second, move toward the base staying behind the fielder. Should the throw be wild, move inside the base paths. • On base hits to the outfield, immediately come inside the diamond, button hook and take the batter-runner all the way to third base. • On a dble play, take one step toward second base, follow the flight of the ball and move toward first base as the ball takes you into the play. • Have tag responsibility for runner at 1st base, and takes single runner all the way to 3rd base after the catch Base R1 Ump • NOTE: • Do not interfer with 2nd baseman’s direction for play • Allow R1 (runner) to pass prior to crossing the basepath to inside the diamond. • Head on a swivel, • 99% of all button hooks here will turn right (2nd/3rd /Left Field) • 1% of button hooks to the left will be due to a “bang bang” play at 1st. • Ball hit into the outfield (fly/grounder) • Button hook towards ball • Take position between Pitchers mound and 2nd base, inside the diamond. • Ball hit within the infield • Do not cross basepath • Have the throw take you to the play • It could take you to 2nd or 1st, or both depending. Eastern Officials Association - Softball

6. Two Runners on • Plate Umpire: • On base hits take lead runner into 3rd base and home. • On steals where there is a wild throw at second base pick up the runner coming into 3rd base. • Be ready and in position to make a call at 3rd base by going down the left field line in foul ground. When you are about 15 ft from 3rd base quickly move into the infield for a good position on the tag play. • On hits, move toward 3rd base. If the lead runner comes home and there is no play mad on her, drift toward third but watch the runner touch home plate. • Responsible for the tag at 2nd base. • Field Umpire: • Take a position two to three steps behind and to the left of the shortstop. Be cautious so as not to interfere with the outfielders view of the batter or a play by the infielders. • On any ball hit to the infield, take the first throw unless it is to home plate. If the first throw is to 1st, 2nd, or 3rd base, any subsequent throw to third base is covered by the plate umpire. • If the runner attempts to steal 3rd, move toward the base to make the call. On routine fly balls to outfield, move into infield to a position between pitching rubber and the base line. You are responsible for the tag-up of the runner on 1st. • See that the runner and batter touch 2nd and 1st base, • When the ball is in the outfield, take a position deep enough in the infield to allow you to move in for a play at either base. Positing for dble play at 3rd and at 1st base. Positioning for dble play 6-5-4 or any sort of combo of force play at 3rd and 2nd. Play is at 2nd, not initiated by SS or 3rd. If play continues to 1st after the play at 2nd. Play is at 3rd Base R1 Base R2 Play is only at 1st base B1 Eastern Officials Association - Softball Ump

7. Pre-Game Checklist Pre-Game Pre-Game Conference Introductions Umpires, Coaches, Capts No Ass’t Coaches only Line-up cards Review, validate, and accept Players properly equipped IAW NFHS rules/regulations Ask coaches and capts Playing field Discuss any field discrepancies or concerns Home Coach - Ground rules Any Questions? • Inspect Team Gear • Inspect condition of field • Infield equipment • Boundary lines • Fences / misc equipment • Discuss with partner mechanics communications Eastern Officials Association - Softball

8. Line-Up Card (review/validate/accept) Team Blue Starting 10 using the DP/FLEX, DP is in the 7th position and the Flex is listed as 10th; with four (4) substitutes Team Red: Starting 9 no DP/FLEX and has three (3) substitutes Eastern Officials Association - Softball

9. Designator and Flex Player The keys to DP/FLEX are: No player can bat in different batting order slots during a game. Coaches must make it known before the game with the lineup and being sure all changes are reported to and tracked by the Plate Umpire. DP/FP can be thought of as being 1 player. DP can hit anywhere 1 thru 9 in the line-up. Knowing the provisions: DP starts on offense, FLEX starts on defense If not in starting “function” on line-up card, not in game. *** Pre-game discussion. Line-up validation. The DP and FLEX players can't be in the batting order at the same time. The DP can play defense at the same time as the FLEX – any position The FLEX can only bat in the DP slot DP/Flex switches change the number of players in the game, but do not change the batting order. Line-ups go fm 10 to 9. DP/FLEX replacing each other are not “substitutions”, but when either leaves the game and returns, that is a re-entry. Eastern Officials Association - Softball

10. Line-Up Change • 1st Inning • #29 C.R. for #9 Tracking Changes • 2nd Inning • #99 C.R. for #42 • 3rd Inning • #29 C.R. for #9 • #99 C.R. for #42 • #35 Off-sub for #7 • #8 enters for #6 CR29 • 4th Inning • #29 C.R. for #9 • #99 C.R. for #42 • #9 re-enters for #29 (injury) • #16 Off-sub for #35 (Flex/DP) CR99 7 35 99 b4 • 5th Inning • #7 re-enters for #35 (DP) • #99 enters for #42 35 8 • 6th Inning • #35 re-enters for #7 (DP) CR9 How you mark your cards to reflect changes is up to you as the Plate Umpire, but you should understand your shorthand markings. CR42 Eastern Officials Association - Softball

11. Questions? Eastern Officials Association - Softball

12. Ball field dimensions & layout Eastern Officials Association - Softball

13. Ball field Dimensions & layout Eastern Officials Association - Softball