Delaware County Chapter PIAA Baseball Umpires

1. Delaware County ChapterPIAA Baseball Umpires Communication & 2-Man Mechanics

2. Keys To 2-Man Success • 2-Man Is A System Of Compromises • Can’t Be Everywhere To Cover Everything • Angle Over Distance • Prepare For The Next Most Reasonable Play • Communicate With Your Partner • Before Game Day (Confirm) • Before The Game (Changes & Pre-Game Conf.) • During The Game (Verbally & Physically) • After The Game (Debrief)

3. Keys To 2-Man Success • Know Your Responsibilities • Prepare In Advance • Can’t Learn 2-Man System In The Parking Lot • Do Your Job • 1st Responsibility Is Your Responsibilities • Everything’s Covered If Both Guys Do Their Job • Stick With Your Priorities • Fair / Foul • Catch / No-Catch

4. Pre-Game ConferenceFair/Foul Responsibilities No Runners On Runners On BU BU C C B B PU PU

5. Pre-Game Conference:Outfield Coverage No Runners On Runners On 8 8 7 9 7 9 6 4 BU C C B B 5 3 BU 1 2 PU PU

6. Pre-Game Conference • Other Subjects • Field Issues / Known Problems • Dead Ball Responsibility (Normally the PU) • Force Play / Slide Rule Responsibility • Signals

7. Silent Signals • Rotation • Point Where You Are Going • Partner Should Know Where He’s Going • Staying Home (PU) / Staying Here (BU) • Time Play • Let’s Meet / Talk • No Standard; Decide During Pre-Game

8. Silent Signals • Infield Fly • Double Tag-Up (R1 & R2, less than 2 outs) • Catch / No-Catch by Catcher • My Call • Commonly Used Before An Upcoming Appeal

9. Signals With Sound • Done When Ball Is Put In Play • Infield Fly • Point Up / “Infield Fly, Batter’s Out (If Fair)” • I’m Going Out • BU On A Trouble Ball • Point Up • My Call / I Got The Ball • Any Borderline Fly Ball • Time • Not “Dead Ball”

10. Positioning: No Runners A C B PU

11. With Runners • R1 = B • R1 & R2 = C • R2 = C • R1 & R3 = B • R2 & R3 = C • R3 = C • Bases Loaded = C C B C B PU

12. Basic Responsibilities • Plate Umpire • All Plays At Home • Except: No Runners, BU Goes Out • 3 Rotations to 3rd • Base Umpire • All Plays At All Bases • Except: No One On, BU Goes Out • Except: 3 PU Rotations to 3rd

13. PU Touch Responsibilities • Plate Umpire Has Touches: • At Home • Exception: When BU Goes Out • At 3rd • Exception: When Base Umpire Has BR Touch • R1 & R3 • See R3’s Touch Of Home As You Rotate To Take R1 Into 3rd • Rotating Does Not Relieve You Of Your Plate Responsibility

14. Touch Responsibilities • Base Umpire Has Touches: • At 1st & 2nd • At 3rd On Batter-Runner • At 3rd When He Has A Play At 3rd (2nd play in the infield) • On BR At Home After Going Out And Coming Back In

15. Re-Touch Responsibilities • PU Has All Re-touches At 3rd • BU Has All Re-touches At 1st And 2nd

16. PU Rotates • Only When Batted Ball Leaves The Infield • BU Takes 2nd Play In Infield • R1 • R1 & R2 < 2 Outs • R1 & R3 • Only Go In If There’s A Play (Ball & Runner) BU C B PU

17. Potential Problem Plays:Rotations • PU moves to “Library” to read the play • “I’m at 3rd if he comes…” • Move to 3rd only when you have the runner & the ball coming • “I’m at 3rd!”

18. Potential Problem Plays:Tag Near 1st Base Line • Before 45’ Line, PU • After 45’ Line, BU • If in doubt, make eye contact first BU C B PU

19. Potential Problem Plays:Runner’s Lane Violation • PU Has Primary Responsibility • Work To Get To 45’ Line • Move Along Line, Not Toward Mound BU C B PU

20. Potential Problem Plays:Run Downs • PU Helps With No Runners In Scoring Position • Hustle To Get To Cut-Out Area • “I’m Here” When You Get There, Not Before • Generally, Call Belongs To Ump The Runner Is Moving Toward BU C B PU

21. Potential Problem Plays:R3, Trouble Ball to Right • Priorities: Fair / Foul, Catch / No Catch • Deeper the Ball, Farther up the line • Never go 1st base line extended first

22. Potential Problem Plays:Going Out • Pause, read, react • Pop-up = Pivot • PU has all routine fly balls • Communication is key • Go out in four situations: • Fair / Foul • Players converging • Catch below the waist • Possible HR

23. QUESTIONS???