Many of us live in areas that have officials associations as opposed to umpire associations. These officials associations are well organized, usually an executive board, a president, secretary, and a social director. Their intent is good and training budgets are small. The association lives for and because of football and basketball, with maybe a bit of volleyball and wrestling thrown in.

As the winter sports season winds down and the spring sports season arrives, the thoughts that should turn to baseball often become afterthoughts, and in too many cases, no-thoughts. The long fall and winter sports seasons have zapped the now needed baseball energy.

Officials associations need to realize that school is not over and there is more homework to do. My suggestion is to treat baseball just like the other sports are treated. Open the season with a get-together to motivate, create, and re-create interest in umpiring - a throw out the first pitch meeting. Schedule regular meetings to discuss rules, mechanics, and procedures, and to review recent trouble spots and suggest solutions.

Make the baseball season more than just a gathering to complete the Fed test with a safety net. Fund and require training for all umpires, old and new. Ask seasoned umpires to organize, teach, and share their knowledge. Work to raise the standard and awareness of umpires, which in turn will increase numbers and quality. Who knows, the association membership may increase to the point that you may have more money than you need for the spring awards banquet!

 

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Lately I read where the shortage of umpires was at crisis level in the Long Island, NY area, which necessitated six local umpire associations to band together in recruiting and training new umpires. Good on them!

 

The quality of an amateur umpire is most often based upon his work behind the plate, and as the new season arrives the first "plate job" of the season carries with it a heightened state of anxiety for the inexperienced as well as the seasoned umpire.

One of the better lessons I can re-share is that the better you look, the better you feel, and the better you feel, the greater the chance of a comfortable and efficient first "plate job".

Let's start with clothing and equipment - spend time now, before the season starts, to assure all items are ready to go. Here are some suggestions:

Find your uniforms, including pullover jackets, plate coats, and shirts. Make sure they fit and are in good condition - check buttons, zippers, and hems of plate and base trousers. See that your belt(s) is/are still black and is/are not taking on the skin of a prune. Make sure ball bags and hats are in good condition and replace them if needed. People look first at your face and then the eyes travel to the hat, if the face isn't that good, the hat better be!

Protective equipment - chest protector is clean of last year's salt stains, and that clasps and straps are functional. The same for shin guards. Are the straps and hooks a go? Make sure your mask pads are clean, as it will prevent any unwanted irritation. Check to see that your protective cup is solid and the pouch in any undergarments is not torn or stretched to prevent the cup from roaming. Locate brushes, indicators, favorite pens and pencils, and any other items carried on to the field.

Clean your plate and base shoes:spend time now and put a good base of polish and a mirror shine on them, it will save you time later in the year when you have weeks with more games than you want.

Now, go into the basement, garage or somewhere where will you have privacy, and put all your on all of your plate gear and clothing - all of it! Get into your stance to make sure everything fits and conforms exactly it should. The clothing and equipment variable has been solved and on to more plate work in the next issue.

3-6 Umpires shall dress uniformly, without non- collegiate logos
Any logos or insignias not related to collegiate baseball (e.g., professional baseball) are not permissible in any part of the umpire's uniform.

3-6-c-A.R. 3 Ejected persons shall be removed from sight and sound of contest.
If any person is ejected from the game, the individual shall leave the field immediately. The person must be removed from sight and sound of the contest.

3-10 Game administrator section added
It is strongly recommended that the host institution assign a representative to handle game management issues outside of the playing surface (See Rule 5-2-f). The game administrator should make contact with the visiting coach and umpires prior to the start of the contest.
b. It is recommended that the host institution provide a dressing facility and appropriate security for umpires before, during and after the game.

 

4-2-b, Lightning policy added
Should bad weather or unfit conditions prevail during a game, the umpire-in-chief may consult with the game administrator to determine suspension, resumption or termination of play. In the case of lightning, the game administrator and umpire-in-chief shall follow lightning guidelines in the appendix section.

5-16-c-4 Umpires may use video in fight situations
Umpires may use video footage, if available, to correctly identify persons that were involved in a fight. This review should occur immediately after the incident.

 

5-16-c-4 Suspensions may be staggered by conference office to allow teams to avoid forfeiture.
If serving multiple suspensions from a fight would cause a school difficulty in fielding a team for its next game or games, the institution may request that the suspensions be staggered by the conference office. If the team is independent, the secretary-rules editor may be contacted for this purpose.

6-1-d Player who slides has not lost body control.
If a player intentionally slides, he has not lost body control.
If a fielder, after making a legal catch, steps into a bench or dugout or steps into dead-ball territory but does not fall (lose body control), the ball is in play.

8-7-A.R. 3 Runner who is safe prior to flagrant collision is safe, then ejected.
If the runner is safe prior to the collision and the collision is flagrant, the runner is safe and ejected from the game. If this occurs at any base other than home, the offending team may replace the runner.

9-4-b Pitcher must proceed to mound immediately when change is signaled.
The relief pitcher, when called from the bullpen by the umpire, must proceed immediately to the mound. In the case of an injury to the current pitcher, the substitute pitcher shall take all warm-up pitches from the game mound.

1-3-4: Clarified the diameter of a wood bat
2-3/4 inches, FYI non-wood bats, 2-5/8 inches

1-4-6: Added the new NOCSAE standard requirement to face mask/guard products.
A face mask/guard may be attached to a batting helmet at the time of manufacture. All face masks/guards shall meet NOSCAE standard. A face mask/guard specifically designed for a particular helmet model may be attached after manufacture, provided that procedure is approved by the manufacturer and meets the NOSCAE standard.

3-1-1: Clarifies a player is ejected per the substitution rule.
For discovery of an illegal player (2-36-3) on offense or defense by an umpire or either team, that player shall be restricted to the bench/dugout for the duration of the game. If a restricted player re-enters the game on offense, he shall be called out immediately and ejected upon discovery by an umpire or either team. If he is a defensive player, he shall be ejected upon discovery by an umpire or either team.

3-2-1: Clarifies when a coach is restricted to the bench/dugout area because of an improper uniform.
A coach who is not in the uniform of the team shall be restricted to the bench/dugout. However a coach may leave the bench/dugout to attend to a player who becomes ill or injured

6-1-1: Modifies the balk rule with allowing the "turning of the shoulders" under certain situations.
Turning the shoulders to check runners while in contact with the pitcher's plate in the set position is legal. Turning the shoulders after bringing the hands together during or after the stretch is a balk.

 

Ken Jones VP of the Midwest Umpires Association in the St. Louis, MO area has added The Umpires Call to their website, they have over 100 umpires in the fold.

Nick Marlin, Secretary/Treasurer of TARA Georgia's largest umpire association writes that 112 umpires are active and 14 are working at the collegiate level.

Mile High Advanced Umpire Clinic - Denver, CO, June 23-27, is in their 18th year and offer complete training plate/field mechanics (cage work and diamond work) coupled with a live Connie Mack and Class A Legion tournament (paid games), Contact Dan Weikle, Dweik34@aol.com or phone 303-469-4868.

Dave Mekelburg produces UmpNews.com an absolute cornucopia of information covering all levels of baseball umpiring - a must see.

Mark Wehrwein invites umpires to sign up for Fed Play of the Day sponsored by the Greater Huntsville, AL Umpire Association

The Toughest Fair/Foul Quiz in the World! With acknowledgements to Richard Siegel

Does your umpire association or local youth baseball league experience any of the following problems?
· Shortage of umpires
· Poorly umpired games
· Too many on-field disagreements
· Games that take forever
· Fans, coaches, and parents constantly complaining

Designed for young umpires as well as veterans,Youth Baseball Umpire Clinics, a division of USJT, is in its 5th year of educating baseball umpires with a comprehensive "HANDS ON" format.

NOT "sit and listen, take notes, watch a video" instruction - YBUC participants come dressed for activity and take an active part in learning pre-game responsibilities, consistent umpiring techniques, on field positioning, and proper game administration.

Host a YBUC at your site - Please click here for info!

Thanks to all who wrote and called about the January issue and the new season. As always, your feedback, announcements, suggestions, and questions are welcome, even the dissenters get a shot! I do want to hear form you. If you have digital pictures or clip art (I need it badly!), I'd love to publish them.

Please forward The Umpire's Call to your colleagues, just use the link at the bottom. All 2004 and 2005 issues of The Umpire's Call are available at U.S. Junior Tours

My best regards,

Scott