The ABUA is the largest membership association for amateur baseball umpires in the U.S.

The ABUA's purpose is to improve the overall quality of umpiring in youth league, high school and college baseball through innovative teaching and educational programs, and superior educational resources.The ABUA protects its members with the most comprehensive insurance package in the industry
(Liability, Medical & Lost game fees)!

The ABUA provides a national organization and network where individual umpires and local associations can promote professionalism, integrity and a love of the game.

Introducing the Force3 Defender Face Mask! CLICK HERE

2015 MLB Rule Books NOW AVAILABLE!!! CLICK HERE

2015 PBUC MANUALS NOW AVAILABLE!!! CLICK HERE

In The News

Two is a Crowd

Most would say three is a crowd. It’s hard to argue with that, but two can also be a crowd when it is two runners on the same base. Bases are designed for sole occupancy, just like phone booths (remember those?) and toilets on aircraft. When two runners end up on the 15” square bag, there will be at least one out and maybe two. Twin runners can occur at any base, but third base appears to be the most prevalent. The key is for umpires to understand who the rightful occupant is. It is helpful if the players understand who has a sanctuary and who does not, but that won’t always happen. The rule is simple: The preceding runner is entitled to the base unless he was forced to advance (NFHS 8-2-8a, NCAA 8-1c, pro 5.06a2/7.03a). We’ll begin the review of double occupancy with a lone runner on first...

Batter HBP After Balk

I’m aware that many of the readers of this publication work under NFHS or NCAA rules during the spring months. However, many summer leagues operate under Pro rules for the most part. Whether you are coaching or umpiring, a review of balk situations under the Pro playing code, is worth a look. Unlike NFHS rules, when a balk is called, the ball is not dead and “Time” should not be called unless the pitcher does not deliver the pitch or throw to a base. I recently received this interesting question regarding a batter who was hit by a pitch in a recent Bowling Green game. Q. With a runner on first, the pitcher balks and hits the batter with the pitch. What’s the call?A. The batter is awarded first base and the runner on first would go to second base. Let me explain. When a batter is hit by a...

The Goal

Being selected to work a National Tournament is a goal for thousands of umpires around the country. Once selected, proper preparation improves the likelihood of an umpire meeting the next goal which is to have a successful championship experience and excel both on and off the field. Among the most important factors in doing all this is to follow the rules and mechanics of the organization, do what you are told to do, and to work on continuous improvement during the course of the championship. Recently I had the opportunity to observe a National Championship where a solid umpire did not do well in his some of his postgame and off the field responsibilities. As a result he did not meet his personal goal for the event. As we can all learn from what we see others do – right or wrong – let’s look...

Time Plays Explained

When the third out occurs by a back runner just before or just after a lead runner crosses the plate and that out is not the result of a force out or the batter-runner being retired before reaching first base for the third out, you have a “Time Play.” If the runner advancing home crosses the plate before the third out, the run scores. If he doesn’t, the run does not score. The term “Time Play,” is not found in the Official Baseball Rules. This is umpire lingo but the term might make it easier for young umpires and players to understand the rule which is universal. The Dodgers hosted the Brewers on June 16. It took instant replay to confirm the Dodgers' tying run in the bottom of the sixth inning which was the result of a “Time Play.” With one out the Dodgers had Joc Pederson on third and...

Interference by the Offense

There are several ways offensive players can be charged with interference. Some of the uncommon forms of interference can be committed by members of the offense who are permitted to be on the field, but are not directly participating in the game. Those would include the base coaches and the on-deck batter. Except where noted, the material applies equally to NFHS, NCAA and pro rules. On-deck batter. The on-deck circle has a five foot diameter and it is recommended it be placed at least 37 feet from home plate. NCAA rules also specify a minimum 30 foot distance from the plate (1-5e). In NFHS play, the next batter up not need be in the on-deck circle, but if he wishes to warm-up he must use his team’s on-deck circle (1-2-3). In pro, the next batter up must be in the circle and he is the only...

Season in Full Swing

With the season now in full swing we continue looking at more plays and questions that we have received. It seems like we are getting more and more questions on appeal plays – a topic that has not come up to this extent for several years. This is an item that was on the NFHS presentation for 2016 and as is the case with so many rules the first thing to understand is the definition. While the wording varies between NFHS Rule 2-1-1 and ASA/USA Softball Rule 1 APPEAL PLAY (and Rules Supplement #1) this play is simply the one we wait for – no call can be made until a ruling is requested by a manager, coach or player. Since all appeal plays are offensive violations that request would be from the defense. Appeals include: 1. Missing a base 2. Leaving early on a caught fly ball (before the ball...

Ruling Your Game

I’m aware that many of the readers of this publication work under NFHS or NCAA rules during the spring months. However, many summer leagues operate under Pro rules for the most part. Whether you are coaching or umpiring, a review of balk situations under the Pro playing code, is worth a look. Unlike NFHS rules, when a balk is called, the ball is not dead and “Time” should not be called unless the pitcher does not deliver the pitch or throw to a base. I recently received this interesting question regarding a batter who was hit by a pitch in a recent Bowling Green game. Q. With a runner on first, the pitcher balks and hits the batter with the pitch. What’s the call? A. The batter is awarded first base and the runner on first would go to second base. Let me explain. When a batter is hit by...

Advancing at Risk

One can take the approach that any runner can advance at his own risk at any time. A base runner who attempts to steal a base is, in effect, “advancing at his own risk.” Leaving that aside, the term has a very specific meaning. In the early days of baseball, runners were required to return to their base (tag up) when a fly ball was caught. However, that didn’t happen very often because gloves were prohibited (nothing other than cold weather gloves existed at the time). To achieve a balance between offense and defense, the batter was out if his batted ball was caught on one hop, but runners could advance at their own risk – no need to tag up. In modern rules, there are four instances where runners may advance at their own risk. Except where noted, the material applies equally to NFHS,...

Main Menu

ABUA INFO

MEMBERS ONLY

please visit our sponsors