Softball Mechanic Tutorial The following situations are meant to serve as a guide based on the field mechanic class All situations assume a normal fielder setup All situations assume no interference or obstruction The following tutorial is for Softball Two Umpire mechanics All situations have no umpire going out a fly ball

Responsibilities Plate UmpireBase Umpire Foul-Fair Catch – No Catch Strike - BallTag Up Look Back Leaving Early Missed Base Obstruction - Interference

Softball Batters Box 3’ 10’ 8’ 5” Catcher’s Box 10 feet x 8 feet 5 inches Batter's Box 3 feet x 7 feet 3’ 4’ If lines are gone, you decide where the box is NEVER draw lines NEVER draw lines NEVER draw lines

Top of knees Arm Pits Official Strike Zone Strike Zone A STRIKE is any pitch that either enters the strike zone without first touching the ground or is swung at by the batter and missed. ASA Rules Definitions 1.0 STRIKE ZONE When the batter assumes a natural batting stance adjacent to home plate, the strike zone is the area over home plate between batter’s A. (Fast Pitch) Armpits and top of the knees natural Note Width of home plate is 17”. Diameter of the ball is approximately 4”. The effective width of the strike zone is 25” 25 inches

B Plate Umpire will straddle foul line as quickly as possible Bounding Ball Coverage w/ no runners FAIR BALL FOUL BALL PU has call to front of the base Plate Umpire makes call P P Base Umpire makes this call Plate Umpire has call before the base Plate Umpire needs to get on foul line as soon as possible Base Umpire has call after the base P

Fly Ball Coverage Plate Umpire Move perpendicular to ball Watch for obstruction Help with touch calls Base Umpire Button-hook inside Watch for tag up Watch runners touch

P B Fly Ball Coverage with no runners 1 st P feet behind 1 st base in foul territory Plate Umpire moves perpendicular to the ball Plate Umpire has all catch/no-catch calls Base Umpire watches for tag at 1 st

P B Go up 3 rd base line if to LF Fly Ball Coverage w/ runners 2 nd R Go up 1 st base line if to RF feet of left shoulder of 2 nd baseman Button hook in and watch for tag-up at 1 st and be ready to make call at 2 nd Plate Umpire has all catch/no-catch calls P Base Umpire has tag up calls Base Umpire has touch calls

Mechanics Plate Umpire Watch for obstruction Help with touch/tag- up Be ready to make call on bases Base Umpire Ball is outside – you go inside Ball is inside – you stay outside Move toward play

B P Starting Base Umpire Positions based on Runner Start in foul territory feet behind 1 st base BR No Runners 2 nd SS 1 st 3 rd

B P Starting Base Umpire Positions based on Runner Start feet behind and off the left shoulder of the 2 nd baseman BR Runner on 1 st 2 nd SS 1 st 3 rd R

B P Starting Base Umpire Positions based on Runner Start feet behind and off the left shoulder of the shortstop BR Runner on 1 st and 2 nd 2 nd SS 1 st 3 rd R R Runner on 2 nd

B P Starting Base Umpire Positions based on Runner Start feet behind and off the right shoulder of the shortstop BR Bases Loaded 2 nd SS 1 st 3 rd R R Runner on 3 rd Runner on 1 st and 3 rd R

Summary of Mechanics No runner Start in foul territory about 10-12’ behind 1 st base Runner on 1 st Start 10-12’ behind and off the left shoulder of the 2 nd baseman Runner on 2 nd Start 10-12’ behind and off the left shoulder of the shortstop Any time a runner is on 3rd Start 10-12’ behind and off the right shoulder of the shortstop

B P Ground ball to Outfield B P B Plate Umpire trails runner to ½ way to start of running lane Exit to the left of the catcher Buttonhook inside to see BR touch 1 st B PU heads back home to take call P In case PU needs to help with call at 3rd No Runner Take runner to 2 nd if she continues Take runner to 3 rd if she continues Start in foul territory feet behind 1 st base R BR R

R P Ground ball to SS B P Plate Umpire trails runner to ¼ way to start of running lane PU heads back home to play home P PU will take play at 3 rd if the first play is at 1 st not 2 nd Runner at 1 st w/ ground ball to infield 2 nd SS BR feet of left shoulder of 2 nd baseman

R P Ground ball to Outfield B P Go up 3 rd base line but watch for obstruction call at 1 st PU heads back home to take call Runners on 1 st & 2 nd w/ ground ball to outfield R SS feet of left shoulder of short stop BR Move toward 3 rd for possible play

Plate Umpire Positions for play at the plate Try to maintain a 45 o angle to the play Avoid being part of the play Be ready to move on a passed ball Be aware of the situation There is no “PERFECT” position for a play There is a “BEST” position for a play

Plate Umpire Positions for play at plate Starting position behind the catcher Ball in coming in from foul territory After play, return to starting position P P Try to maintain 45 o angle to play Watch to swipe tag Do not interfere with play

Plate Umpire Positions for play at plate Starting position behind the catcher Ball in coming in from fair territory After play, return to starting position P P Try to maintain 45 o angle to play Watch to swipe tag Do not interfere with play