1. TASO - Baseball Houston Chapter Four – Umpire Mechanics NFHS Special thanks to the Austin Chapter

2. The objectives of 4-umpire mechanics Have an umpire at every base or close to every play Try to keep one umpire AHEAD of the lead runner If possible, “box” the runner between three umpires

3. D A Field Umpire Positions Left-Handed batters Right-Handed batters E E A D B C

4. Umpire Positions NO Runners E

5. Umpire Positions Runner on First Position to get a view of the pitcher off the left shoulder after the runners primary lead

6. Umpire Positions Runners on First & Second

7. Umpire Positions Runners on First & Third

8. Umpire Positions Bases Loaded

9. Umpire Positions Runner on Second

10. Umpire Positions Runners on Second & Third

11. ANYTIME there is a runner on 1 st or 2 nd …….. U3 will be INSIDE (in B or C)

12. Umpire Positions Runner on Third If U3 goes out there will be a rotation

13. With NO RUNNERS or a Runner on 3 rd ONLY U3 will be in E

14. CHECK SWINGS Go to the “Open” umpire –U2 for RIGHT handed batters –U4 for LEFT handed batters

15. Fly Ball Coverage Someone goes out on EVERY fly ball ------ Except for obvious ‘cans of corn’

16. If you GO OUT You STAY OUT

17. Fly Ball Coverage U3 is OUT (in E or G)

18. Fly Ball Coverage U3 is IN (in F)

19. Fly Ball Coverage When U3 is inside (in B or C) He STAYS inside U3 does NOT go out for a fly ball, leave that to U2 and U4

20. INFIELD Catch / No Catch U3 is OUT (in E) P SS 3B 2B 1B

21. INFIELD Catch / No Catch U3 is IN (in B or C) P SS 3B 2B 1B

22. Fair / Foul Coverage

23. Positioning for calling plays at 1 st Base When there is a possible play at 1 st Base Clean base hit to outfield…… watch runner touch first, then rotate Home Pickoff Plays “SLIDE” Come in and make your pivot Reverse Rotation

24. Positioning for calling plays at 2 nd Base Runner advancing from 1 st base Runner returning to 2 nd base

25. Positioning for calling plays at 3 rd Base Pickoff Plays All plays at 3 rd on runners after base hit

26. U3 is the “KEY” for rotation when U3 is OUT (E)

27. U4 is the “KEY” for rotation when U3 is IN (B or C) If U4 goes out there will be a rotation\reverse rotation

28. No Runners Base Hit

29. No Runners Hit to Infield

30. If ANY umpire goes out on a fly ball……… Revert to THREE-UMPIRE Mechanics

31. No Runners U3 goes OUT

32. No Runners U2 goes OUT

33. No Runners U4 goes OUT

34. Runner on 1st U2 goes OUT

35. Runner on 1st U4 goes OUT

36. Runner on 3 rd Fly Ball to Left – less than 2 outs Use 3 rd base side whenever there is a runner on 3 rd only

37. Runner on 3 rd Fly Ball to Center – less than 2 outs

38. No Matter What Happens…..or Who misses a rotation FILL THE HOLE !!! We can talk about missed coverage later……….but SOMEONE has to MAKE THE CALL