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SlowPitchFieldMechanics:1UmpireSystem

WBSC Softball Field Mechanics 

Slow Pitch 

1 Umpire System 

  

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SlowPitchFieldMechanics:1UmpireSystem

OneUmpireSystem–SlowPitchIntheOneUmpireSystem,youareresponsibleforeverycallduringthegame.Itisobviousthatnoteverythingthathappenswillbeseen.Thesingleumpiremusthustlearoundthediamondtogettothebestpossiblepositiontostopandmakethecall.WithRunnersonbase,givetheleadRunnerpriorityinyourpositioning.Oneveryhitball,theumpiremustquicklymoveoutfrombehindtheplateandintotheInfieldforthebestviewoftheplaythatdevelops.Itisimportanttoalwaystrytokeeptheballinview.Takeaquicklookat the Runners as they touch bases, especially when scoring at home. Watch as the playprogresses,anticipateandmovetowardsthebasewherethefirstplaywilloccur,bepreparedtoquicklyresetandmovetowardsthenextplay.If the first play is potentially a routine call, shift towards where the next playmay occur,especiallyifitisapossibletagplay.Tryandgetintothebestpositiontoseetheball,thefielder,andtheRunnertogiveyourselfthebestpossibleviewtomakethecorrectcall.Makesureyourpositionforoneplaydoesnotputyouinthewayofaplayerorathrownball.Youmustwatch for,Tags,Obstruction, Interferences,TouchedBases,Runnerspassingeachother,BlockedBalls,etc.

TrytokeepthefollowingFourElementsinyourvision:

1. Theball

2. Thedefensiveplayermakingtheplay

3. Thebatterrunnerorrunnerand

4. Thebaseorareawheretheaboveelementsmeet

Anytimetheballisthrown,youmustknowwheretherunnersareincasetheballisthrownoutofplay.Itisalwaysimportanttohustle.Youdon'thaveapartnertoassistyou.Youshouldnevermakeacallwithoutmovingoutfrombehindtheplate.Whentheballisintheinfieldandnofurtherplayisevidentcallandsignal'Time'andquicklyreturntoyourpositionbehindtheplate.

  

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SlowPitchFieldMechanics:1UmpireSystem

 

ConventionsTheconventionsusedtodescribethesituationsinthismanualare:

1. Theplateumpireisreferredtoas‘Plate’or‘P’2. Runnersat1st,2ndand3rdbasesareindicatedwith‘R’3. Movementoftheumpireis

Movementoftheballis4. Iconsusedinthismanual:

PlateUmpire Runner Fielder

PlateUmpireStartingPositionInallcases,theplateumpire’sstartingpositionandactionsareasfollows: Sweepsthehomeplateandchecksthatthefieldisclearandreadyforplay. Shouldtakeupapositionintheslotbetweenthebatterandthecatcher. Aftereachpitch,youshouldcallBallorStrike,givesignalsasrequiredandthenrelax,

whilemaintaininggoodgeneralawareness. Alsoresponsibleforcalling:

IllegalPitches Fair/FoulBalls Battinginfractions SafesandOuts

Oneveryhitexitfrombehindthecatcherviatheleft(evenonalefthandedbatter)androtatetoyourposition.

Iftheball isclosetothefoul line,movetothelineandstraddlethelinetomakethefair/foulcall.

Platemovementfollowingabattedballwillbeexplainedforeachcase.Movementsshownareexamplesofpossiblemovementsandaremeanttobeguidelines.Umpiremovementsshouldalwaysbedictatedbytheprincipleofkeepingthefourelementsinfrontofyou.

P

  

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SlowPitchFieldMechanics:1UmpireSystem

StartingPosition 

PlateUmpire  Movetoapositiononthesideofthe

teamcomingoffthefield Hustletheteamsonandoffthefield Stand approximately one third from

homeplate toward first base in onehalfinningandthirdbaseintheotherhalfinning

Stand about 30cm (1 foot) in FoulTerritoryofftheline

Stand facing the diamondwith yourhandsrelaxedatyoursides

ObservetheWarm‐UpPitches(threeallowed for each pitcher in the firstinnings and with each new pitcher.Then three warm up pitches areallowed at the start of each inningafterthefirst)

Let the Catcher know when thesecond to last Warm‐Up Pitch hasbeen thrown, then say 'one moreCatcher'

Replenishextraballsupply Sweep the plate and then assume a

positionbehindtheCatcheraftertheWarm‐UpPitches

Duringthefirsthalfinningandwhenthereisachangeofpitchers,youmaywishtoobservetheWarm‐Upsaftermaking the Line‐up changes andannouncing them to the OfficialScorer

  

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SlowPitchFieldMechanics:1UmpireSystem

NoRunnersonBase 

StartingPosition 

TakeapositionintheslotbehindtheCatcher as described in the PlateUmpireMechanics

On every hit, move out in front ofhomeplate

BallHittotheInfield 

Hustleoutinfrontofthehomeplatetowardsthepitcher

If the ball is hit near the Foul Line,stayclosetothelinetocallFair/Foul

Keepyoureyesontheball Lettheballturnyouintotheplay Observe the Batter Runner (BR)

downthe1stbaseline Stop…Wait…CallandSignal With the ball in the infield, you

shouldcallandsignal'Time'whenallplayhasceased

BallHittotheOutfield 

Hustleoutinfrontofthehomeplateandmovetowardsthepitcher'sarea

If the ball is hit near the Foul Line,stayclosetothelinetocallFair/Foul

Keepyoureyesontheball JudgeCatch/NoCatch Move quickly towards the base

wheretheplaywillbemade You should call and signal 'Time'

when the ball returns to the Infieldandallplayhasceased

  

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SlowPitchFieldMechanics:1UmpireSystem

RunneratFirstBase

StartingPosition 

TakeapositionintheslotbehindtheCatcher as described in the PlateUmpireMechanics

On every hit, move out in front ofhomeplate

BallHitintheInfield 

Hustleoutinfrontofthehomeplateandmovetowardsthepitcher'sarea

If the ball is hit near the Foul Line,stayclosetothelinetocallFair/Foul

Keepyoureyesontheball Lettheballturnyouintotheplay Observe the BR down the 1st base

line Stop…Wait…CallandSignal Withtheball inthe infield,youmay

call and signal 'Time' when all playhasceased

BallHittotheOutfield 

Hustleoutinfrontofthehomeplateandmovetowardsthepitcher'sarea

If the ball is hit near the Foul Line,stayclosetothelinetocallFair/Foul

Keepyoureyesontheball JudgeCatch/NoCatch Move quickly towards the base

wheretheplaywillbemade Youmaycallandsignal'Time'when

theballreturnstotheinfieldandallplayhasceased

  

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SlowPitchFieldMechanics:1UmpireSystem

RunneratSecondBase

StartingPosition 

TakeapositionintheslotbehindtheCatcher as described in the PlateUmpireMechanics

On every hit, move out in front ofhomeplate

BallHitintheInfield 

Hustleoutinfrontofthehomeplatetowardsthepitcher

If the ball is hit near the Foul Line,stayclosetothelinetocallFair/Foul

Keepyoureyesontheball Lettheballturnyouintotheplay Observe the BR down the 1st base

line Stop…Wait…CallandSignal With the ball in the infield, you

shouldcallandsignal'Time'whenallplayhasceased

BallHittotheOutfield 

Hustleoutinfrontofthehomeplateandmovetowardsthepitcher'sarea

If the ball is hit near the Foul Line,stayclosetothelinetocallFair/Foul

Keepyoureyesontheball JudgeCatch/NoCatch Move quickly towards the base

wheretheplaywillbemade You should call and signal 'Time'

when the ball returns to the Infieldandallplayhasceased

  

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SlowPitchFieldMechanics:1UmpireSystem

RunneratThirdBase

StartingPosition 

TakeapositionintheslotbehindtheCatcher as described in the PlateUmpireMechanics

BallHitintheInfield 

MoveintoFoulBallTerritorytowardthirdbase

If the ball is hit near the Foul Line,stayclosetothelinetocallFair/Foul

Keepyoureyesontheball Lettheballturnyouintotheplay Observe the BR down the 1st base

line Stop…Wait…CallandSignal With the ball in the infield, you

shouldcallandsignal'Time'whenallplayhasceased

BallHitintheOutfield 

MoveintoFoulBallTerritorytowardthirdbase

If the ball is hit near the Foul Line,stayclosetothelinetocallFair/Foul

Keepyoureyesontheball JudgeCatch/NoCatch Move quickly towards the base

wheretheplaywillbemade You should call and signal 'Time'

when the ball returns to the Infieldandallplayhasceased

  

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SlowPitchFieldMechanics:1UmpireSystem

RunnersatFirst&SecondBase

StartingPosition 

TakeapositionintheslotbehindtheCatcher as described in the PlateUmpireMechanics

On every hit, move out in front ofhomeplate

BallHitintheInfield 

Hustleoutinfrontofthehomeplatetowardsthepitcher

If the ball is hit near the Foul Line,stayclosetothelinetocallFair/Foul

Keepyoureyesontheball Lettheballturnyouintotheplay Observe the BR down the 1st base

line Stop…Wait…CallandSignal With the ball in the infield, you

shouldcallandsignal'Time'whenallplayhasceased

BallHittotheOutfield 

Hustleoutinfrontofthehomeplateandmovetowardsthepitcher'sarea

If the ball is hit near the Foul Line,stayclosetothelinetocallFair/Foul

Keepyoureyesontheball JudgeCatch/NoCatch Move quickly towards the base

wheretheplaywillbemade You should call and signal 'Time'

when the ball returns to the Infieldandallplayhasceased

  

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SlowPitchFieldMechanics:1UmpireSystem

RunnersatFirst&ThirdBase 

StartingPosition 

TakeapositionintheslotbehindtheCatcher as described in the PlateUmpireMechanics

BallHitintheInfield 

MoveintoFoulballterritorytowardthirdbase

If the ball is hit near the Foul Line,stayclosetothelinetocallFair/Foul

Keepyoureyesontheball Lettheballturnyouintotheplay Observe the BR down the 1st base

line Stop…Wait…CallandSignal With the ball in the infield, you

shouldcallandsignal'Time'whenallplayhasceased

BallHittotheOutfield 

MoveintoFoulballterritorytowardthirdbase

If the ball is hit near the Foul Line,stayclosetothelinetocallFair/Foul

Keepyoureyesontheball JudgeCatch/NoCatch Move quickly towards the base

wheretheplaywillbemade Youmaycallandsignal'Time'when

theballreturnstotheInfieldandallplayhasceased

  

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SlowPitchFieldMechanics:1UmpireSystem

RunnersatSecond&ThirdBase

StartingPosition 

TakeapositionintheslotbehindtheCatcher as described in the PlateUmpireMechanics

BallHitintheInfield 

MoveintoFoulballterritorytowardthirdbase

If the ball is hit near the Foul Line,stayclosetothelinetocallFair/Foul

Keepyoureyesontheball Lettheballturnyouintotheplay Observe the BR down the 1st base

line Stop…Wait…CallandSignal With the ball in the infield, you

shouldcallandsignal'Time'whenallplayhasceased

BallHittotheOutfield 

MoveintoFoulballterritorytowardthirdbase

If the ball is hit near the Foul Line,stayclosetothelinetocallFair/Foul

Keepyoureyesontheball JudgeCatch/NoCatch Move quickly towards the base

wheretheplaywillbemade You should call and signal 'Time'

when theball returns to the Infieldandallplayhasceased

  

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SlowPitchFieldMechanics:1UmpireSystem

BasesLoaded

StartingPosition 

TakeapositionintheslotbehindtheCatcher as described in the PlateUmpireMechanics

BallHitintheInfield 

MoveintoFoulballterritorytowardthirdbase

If the ball is hit near the Foul Line,stayclosetothelinetocallFair/Foul

Keepyoureyesontheball Lettheballturnyouintotheplay Observe the BR down the 1st base

line Stop…Wait…CallandSignal With the ball in the infield, you

shouldcallandsignal'Time'whenallplayhasceased

BallHittotheOutfield 

MoveintoFoulballterritorytowardthirdbase

If the ball is hit near the Foul Line,stayclosetothelinetocallFair/Foul

Keepyoureyesontheball JudgeCatch/NoCatch Move quickly towards the base

wheretheplaywillbemade You should call and signal 'Time'

when theball returns to the Infieldandallplayhasceased