Amateur Baseball UmpiresR= 17; Association, Inc.
810 Baltimore Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64105
Telephone: 816/474-8677
Fax: 816/474-7329

www.umpire.org

Key elements - working the plate.

Nothing defines an umpire’s ability more than being able to determine balls and strikes consistently. As individuals, umpires have their= own view about the strike zone, In addition, our zone perspective varies with t= he skill level of players. The ABUA instructional staff’s position is that the following are the key= elements of calling a consistent zone throughout the game:

Preparation
Professionalism
Concentration
Positioning
Timing
Consistency
Stillness
Appearance

None of us responds well to hearing, “That was a strike last inning.” If= we hear this and it’s true, we’ve likely lost focus on one or more= of these elements. This re= source guide is a collection of what ABUA members believe are the best practices associated with each element.

Part 1. Preparation:

Rules …be well versed on the rules. Keep a rulebook with your equipment, but remember it’s not appropriate to carry it on the playing field. You’ll likely find rea= ding the rulebook can be monotonous; it’s not an entertaining novel. A proven method for comprehending the rulebook is to read a couple of pages each day. Then, in your spare time, think ab= out situations you’ve had that apply to what you’ve read. Even experienced umpir= es read the book on a continuous basis focusing on the yearly changes. You will find this approach = helps to understand the written rules and their intent. This will assist you when applying= these rules on the field.

As a plate umpire, be sure to focus on all aspects of calling balls and strike= s, concentrating on the unusual. For example, is it a dropped third strike or an out if a batter swin= gs and misses on strike three and the ball bounces before the catcher has caug= ht the ball? The answer is “no”, it’s not yet an out because the ball hit the dirt before it was caught. In this case, the batter must be retired. Part of working the plate is= also having a solid grasp of knowing the proper remedy for obstruction/interfere= nce, and so on.

Arrive = on time …umpires arriving shortly before game time quickly poison their reputations regardle= ss of how well they umpire. Perceptions can become reality; one bad perception can destroy an en= tire string of accomplishments.

In upper-l= evel games, plate umpires usually need a little more time than base umpires beca= use it is typically the plate umpire’s responsibility to prepare the baseballs before the game.

Pregame…hold an energetic pregame with your partners. The plate ump= ire leads the discussion of rotation, crew communication or unusual ground rules.

Critiques …= to prepare for your next plate job, seek the opinion of the crew you’ve = just worked with. Seek= the professional opinions of your zone or discuss pitches you know you had trou= ble with during the game. <= o:p>

Of a larger nature, find a more experienced umpire your comfortable with and dev= elop a mentoring relationship. Talk frequently to compare your experiences with their hard-earned knowledge.

Eye stretches … eye exercise is critical to plate job preparation. Before every game we all do some d= egree of stretching. However, few of us remember to prepare the muscles we work t= he hardest – the orbit muscles of our eyes.

Sometimes, we miss a pitch because we lost sight of the ball for an instant as it crosses the plate. This is especially true on low outside corners. When we h= old our head still, but our eyes aren't stretched, we can't track the ball into the catcher’s glove.&= nbsp; When we miss pitches in the early innings, but improv= e as the game goes on, we typically think we've become better with judgment. It is more likely that later= in the game our eyes have stretched and can move faster enabling us to see the ball and not lose it at a critical moment.

To stretch your eyes rotate as far right and left as possible while tossing a = ball up and down and catching it. Try to use only your peripheral vision to see the ball. Several reps will stretch yo= ur orbit muscles and help your vision in the outer extremes of your periphery.

Fluids…human bodies are mostly water. This= holds true for your most important tool, your eyes. Studies by the United = States Marine Corps show that a shooter’s accuracy drops off rapidly with mi= ld dehydration. In short, as the= water level in your body drops, fluids in your eyes thicken, changing the focus a= nd clarity of your vision. This = may cause your zone to change with even slight dehydration. So, be sure to drink fluids freely= throughout the game.

Relax …take the time to relax. After your pregame discussion, take a few moments and close your eyes. Take slow, deep, cleansing breaths while making yourself aware of any tension zones in your body. Concentrate on relaxing those tense muscles.

Physical condition ...take pride in your self by having a healthy exercise regime that keeps you able = to participate in the game’s demanding moves. Plate umpires especial= ly need conditioning to work the entire game with dexterity and mobility while wearing protective gear.

Part 2 - Professionali= sm:

Personality …be pleasant, polite, but do not fraternize with players, coaches and fans.     Being too familiar wil= l harm your reputation by giving somebody reason to think you’re a homer or = can be biased.   Polite and b= rief interaction is acceptable but taking it too far is not.    You can be certain that= a “biased” reputation will prompt comments when a close pitch is called.

Reputation … only you control your reputation. Developing a reputation as a consi= stent plate umpire is vital.   = There is nothing wrong with having a reputation for consistently calling certain pitches.    Players = on both benches will respect you for this and more importantly they will come = to the plate swinging and be less likely to object when you make that tough call.

Handling confrontation= s …avoid situations that draw attention.   Discrete handling of situati= ons can correct an issue without anyone but you, the player or coach knowing wh= at was involved.

As an example, we’ve all had batters who protest every pitch that is cal= led a strike.   Don’t b= e too quick to react but when it becomes necessary to address, several options are available. As the plate umpir= e, you can be vocal and warn the batter. Although warranted, it also may draw the attention of the head coach= who likely will “protect” his player. This approach ensures the situatio= n will escalate.

A more discrete approach would be to call time and step in front of home plate.   Bend to clean th= e plate (even if it is clean) and without making eye contact with the batter simply= say loud enough for only the catcher and batter to hear, “I have heard you and that’s enough. Noth= ing more about the zone or I’ll have to handle this differently.”    Stand up, return to yo= ur position behind the catcher and motion to the pitcher the ball is live again.    The plate = is clean and so is the incident. It’s also certain that the coach knows what you’ve done = but won’t respond because you handled it discretely and professionally. You may even find he agreed with y= ou.

Regardless of how the coach responds, he likely will respect you for the second approa= ch and confront you if you use the first.

Part 3 - Concentration:

Initial warm up pitches= …set your game routine with a focus on starting pitchers. Take a few pitches per side.   Also, take a couple while st= anding on either baseline; this is especially helpful to visually establish the bo= ttom of the zone with respect to the catcher’s glove.

Relax …while taking pitches, recall your pregame relaxation routine.   Perform a brief set of stret= ches before the start of the game to reduce any remaining tension (nothing drama= tic or time consuming) but enough to find your plate focus.

Head height …taking pitches from both sides of the plate helps you establish correct head height and allows you to train your eyes and min= d on the release point and ball speed. &nb= sp;

Eye training …like players, umpires need warm-ups, too. Once behind the catcher, begin to train your eyes on the pitcher's release point= to see the ball 60 feet 6 inches into the catcher's glove before he throws it = to second base.

The count …No one is likely to say anything if you call an ordinary strike when it was a third strike. If this happens, tell everyone you lost the count.    While indicators are m= ust they still can slip.   &nbs= p; Remember, you're always looking for a
strike first in any count; you can make it a practice to do the following:<= br style=3D'mso-special-character:line-break'>

As the pitcher commits himself to the pitch, repeat to yourself, "Looking for strike." After the ball hits the catcher’s glove, ask, "Was t= hat strike one?"   = This will prevent you from calling pitches quick and helps to keep your tim= ing in effect.   Quickly answer the question in your head. Yes or No. Call the pitch. If = it's a strike, call out, "Strike one" (click your indicator).

Repeat same for the next pitch, but after this pitch is complete, recite the count in your head.

Once you have two strikes, repeat to yourself, " Looking for strike th= ree." Is this a punch out? “Yes” or “No.”   Call the pitch. If it's= a called strike, sell it properly.   If it’s a swinging strike, signal it properly. &nbs= p;

Reset your indicator to 0 balls & 0 strikes.

Concentrate on strikes; this progression is not important for “balls” because they simply are called “Ball.”   Though many umpires do indic= ate ball four, it’s not essential. = If it’s ball four, they typically know; if not, teammates or coaches
emphatically will let a batter know.

Bat blindness …keep your eyes open througho= ut the flight of the ball all the way to the glove.    Many beginning umpires= are “bat blind.” This means they instinctively close their eyes as = soon as they see the bat start to move in their peripheral vision.   This can cause problems with= picking up the flight of the ball as it comes off the bat or even in knowing whethe= r or not the batter swung. If you are frequently going to your partner for help = on checked swings and a majority of them are being judged as strikes by your partner, then you may have a problem with bat blindness.<= /p>

Bat blindness can come from working behind poor catching. If every foul ball = starts hitting you, it is very hard to avoid blinking just at the most important moment – when the ball crosses the plate. If this happens to you, try opening your eyes wider and concentrate hard on keeping them open. You may = even try some cage work to work on getting your eyes to track the ball all the w= ay to the glove without blinking when a batter swings.

=

Hitting spots …make the pitcher hit his spots. The “spot” is where the catcher sets his target. If s= et up on the outside corner, and the pitcher bangs the inside corner, it’s = probably a ball.   Don’t rew= ard a pitching mistake by giving him a strike when he missed his target by 17 inc= hes. You have to consider how that pitch looks to everyone watching when it’s off its spot by almost a foot an= d a half.

Along these lines, watch how the catcher finishes those corner pitches. Is his armpit “getting air”? When a catcher cat= ches a pitch on his glove-hand side, his upper arm should not extend away from h= is body. If it does, the pitch was way off the mark, and should be called a ba= ll. He also should not be reaching out way across his body. If he does, then the pitch is too far off the plate (either inside or outside).

If the catcher's elbow crosses the center of his body to= ward his throwing hand side, the pitcher has badly missed his spot. Do not reward him with a strike.

If the catcher drops to a knee to handle the pitch, it is probably a ball. On a borderline pitch, it is definitely a ball. The impres= sion will be that the pitch was low or hard to handle by being well off the mark= .

If the catcher moves the glove back toward the strike zo= ne, it is a ball. He just told everyone in the park that he did not think the p= itch was worthy of being called a strike where it finished. If a pitch looked pr= etty good until the catcher jerked it back over the plate, he might ask, “Where did that miss?” The best answer is, “You must not have thought it was a strike because you pulled it back toward the plate.” He should get the messa= ge.

Zone recovery …at those times when we struggle with our zone, a = fast mental review of the simple basics is helpful:

1.      It’s always a strike until we’re sure it’s a ball;=

2.      We rarely get in as much trouble calling a ball a strike as calling a strike a ball;

3.      Track the ball all the way into the catcher’s glove; and<= /p>
4.      Timing or calls.

=

Part 4 - Positioning:

Rotations …as the situation changes, be sure to understand your coverage responsibility and the proper rotation.   As a plate umpire in two- and three-man systems, you have rotation responsibility to third base. With each change of situation, sig= nal your partner your rotation responsibility.

Location … when you have a play at the plate, understand what position to take (first or third base line extended); don't get caught too far from home when the potential for a play exists there.

Slot …the slot is the space between the catcher’s inside shoulder and the batter.    Let catcher know when he’s set up far inside taking away your vision.   When you’ve told him properly, he typically will adjust because he knows you can’t call wh= at you can’t see.

Stand comfortably in the slot when the pitcher is on the rubber. Ideally, your nose sh= ould be on the line of the inside of the plate.= Whether you work a scissors or the box, your feet should be set so t= hat you drop straight down into your ready position as the pitcher delivers the ball to the plate.

Get set …you should be set as the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. Watch y= our head height. If your chin is below the top of the catcher’s head, you= are too low and probably will have difficulty seeing most of the zone.   On the flip side, don’= t get up too high. This will make the low zone difficult to visualize.=

Lock in …as you drop down into the set position; lock in.   This means setting yourself so that your body and, most importantly, your head doesn’t m= ove while the pitch is in flight.  &= nbsp; Umpires frequently grab a leg or place their hands on their knees to brace the upper body.

Sagging … Locking in consistently helps you avoid sagging lower and lower as = the game progresses.    = When your head height changes, your strike zone will drift or bounce.

Tracking …track the ball only with your eyes; not by moving your head. Think of your head as a camera and= your eyes as the aperture of the camera. If you move the camera itself, you will= get a blurred and distorted picture of the pitch.

Learn to track the ball all the way from the pitcherR= 17;s hand to the catcher’s glove. &n= bsp; Many beginning umpires track the ball to about 3 feet in front of the plate; their eyes do not finish the pitch into the glove.    If you’re not tra= cking 100 percent, work to give this area extra concentration. This one ability a= lone will improve your consistency tremendously.

Body support …use abdominal muscles = to help support your weight and lock in.    Bracing your abs enabl= es you to get into a consistent, stable position.= When done properly, your entire muscle group will work together to s= hare fatigue. This also helps later in the game to see the pitch from the = same position as when the game started. &n= bsp;

Part 5 - Timing:

Delay…track the pitch all the way into the glove. Say to yourself, “That’s a strike (or ball).”    Then call the pitch. I= f the pitch is a called strike, stand up and call it loudly with your preferred mechanic.

If it is a swinging strike, stand and signal the pitch; everybody knows it was a strike so verbalizing is not necessary. In fact, when a swinging strike is verbalized, it can be viewed as showing up the batter.

If the pitch is a ball, stay down and call it a ball.   When you’re moving upw= ard and you call the pitch a ball it gives the impression you were going to call the pitch a strike, and then changed your mind.

Ine= xperienced umpires tend to focus on close pitches as opposed to not so close. Be careful not give up on pitches by thinking it will be a ball instead of a strike. When this happens, many pitches are close. By not finishing the pitch all the= way into the glove causes umpires to decide on it too early.

Plate umpires can lose the pitch on check swings thinking the batter is swinging and before they know it it's in the glove and they’ve lost t= he location.

Rhythm …plate umpires sh= ould lock in when the pitcher is set.    When pitches are deliv= ered before you’ve locked in, you will not be able to track and finish the pitch.

Do not be compelled to call a pitch quickly; your decisi= on should wait. See it and then develop the picture.

Part 6 - Consistency:

Strikes …all pitches start as strikes.    Tough pitches often are low pitches. When a catcher is working hard to = give you a good look, you usually can judge low pitches by where the catcher cat= ches the ball in reference to his own knee. If he catches it at or above h= is knee, it’s likely a strike; below his knee, it is certainly a ball.
First strike …a basic ru= le is to get that first pitch strike if there’s any way possible. This sets the tone for the entire game. It gives the pitcher confidence in his “stuff” and will go along way to getting him = off to a good start. It also send= s a signal to the offense that you’re going to call as many strikes as you possibly can. This gets the bats moving.

When you call the first strike of the game, call it out loudly and with authority. This sets an impression of confidence.   In umpiring, at least 50 per= cent of your grade is the impression of you in the minds of players, coaches and spectators.

Work the count …experienced, established ump= ires will work the count in three- balls-and-no-strikes situations.     In this situatio= n, players know that a borderline pitch will be called a strike.    Being consistent in th= is situation will help a pitcher’s confidence.

Work the corners …inexperienced umpires often = give too much outside and not enough inside.   Consider the following situa= tion:

If a right-handed pitcher is throwing to a right handed batter;

The pitcher is working from the rubber’s right side (left as you view it);

The pitch freezes the batter while the catcher holds and squeezes the ball about 2 inches outside of the plate;

The pitch very likely caught part of the plate’s front outside edge.=

This is an outstanding pitch that experienced umpires call.   The same holds tr= ue in reverse for a left-handed pitcher.

The corners make the zone wider than you might think.    Place a ball with its = edge just off of the front corner of the plate     How wide is the = zone now?   The plate is 17 in= ches wide and each ball is two and a half inches in diameter. You’re now looking at 22 inc= hes of strike zone.

Finish the pitch …a great deal of your judgmen= t on what constitutes a strike will depend on how the pitch “finishes.R= 21; It is the pitcher’s job to pitch the ball through the strike zone. It= is the catcher’s job to make it look like a strike. In youth recreational ball, we place little weight on how the pitch finishes. Catchers at this le= vel are doing well if they catch or block the ball at all. A high school or collegiate catcher, on the other hand, knows that it is his job to make the pitch look like a strike.

Make the catcher catch the ball cleanly. If the catcher drops or misses the ball, then any borderline pitch should be called a ball= . It is very difficult to everyone watching to envision the borderline pitch as being a strike when the catcher muffs it. A good catcher will hold and sque= eze the pitch. Of course, if the pitch is right down the middle, waist high on = the batter, and the catcher drops it at his feet, go ahead and call that pitch a strike. The batter was probably taking on this pitch anyway. Waist high, do= wn the middle is a pitcher’s mistake and would be crushed by any good ba= tter if swung at.

Don’t squeeze …some umpires tend to tighten the zone in the late innings; this is common in close games with more important pitches.   As the player’s bear d= own and work harder to win, this is exactly when umpires must bear down and work harder, too.    Keep= your zone open and consistent; this will remove a source of argumentation and frustration for yourself and the teams.

Part 7 - Stillness:=

Lock in …control your breathing pattern to help your consistency of vision and timing is steady from pitch = to pitch.   Controlling brea= thing eliminates possible chest movements and slight head movements.

Don’t move; become set at the correct time (most umpires lock when the pitch= ers hands break);

Lock in and find the stance that suits you best (scissors and box are preferred);

Track ball to the catcher’s glove;

Obvious pitches no big deal, but with close pitches this is the difference; an= d

Be still - eyes are like a camera; don’t blur the picture by moving= .

Use the catcher’s head to help you lock in the top= of the zone. Of course, this var= ies with very tall or short batters or very large or small catchers. However, f= or most batters and catchers, if the catcher catches it at his head-height or above, it is up and out of the zone. Fans and players know this and expect this call at the high school a= nd above levels.

Part 8 - Appearance:

Perception … experienced baseball people accurately can judge your ability by the impression you make before you call a pitch.   Umpires who are not ready for prime time often are identified by their appearance as they walk on the field.   In addition to h= ow you look, your body language is critical all the way down to how you walk.   Head out to home plate and t= he mound with head up and with determination.

Hustle …hustle, but don’t false hustle.   Experienc= ed umpires know how much hustle is necessary to be in position on every play.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>   However, an important part o= f how your appearance is graded is whether you hustle back to home plate after a play, after a trip and when returning to your position.

Equipment …keep your equipment and clothing clean, pressed, up-to-date, shoes shinned and properly tailored.  = Be sure to have everyth= ing on hand that you might need, even if it is not taken to the field.   Have an adequate wardrobe in= the event you need to replace something or deal with the sudden cold front or rainstorm.

Acknowledgements …this paper is a compilation of best practices suggested by the follo= wing ABUA umpires:

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