1. DELCO PIAA UMPIRES NFHS THREE-UMPIRE MECHANICS
This presentation is based on standard NFHS mechanics. Professional and NCAA mechanics are not addressed in this presentation. It should also be noted that this is a basic introduction, not a detailed explanation of each scenario.

2. Nfhs 3-Umpire Mechanics – ABRIDGED!
Basic Principles
Outfield Coverage
Basic Rotations
This presentation will concentrate on three areas: basic principles of three-man NFHS mechanics, NFHS outfield coverages and basic rotations. It is important to understand that this is a basic overview, intended to provide the foundation for three-man mechanics. It is not a detailed explanation of all aspects of three-man NFHS mechanics.

3. Basic principles More Basic Than Pro or NCAA Mechanics Box `Em In
Inside Guys Don’t Go Out
If Wing-man Goes Out, Revert to 2-Man
If You Go Out, Stay Out
Do A Thorough Pre-Game w/Partners
The principles of three-man mechanics are:
They are more basic than pro or NCAA mechanics. Outfield coverage is more straightforward, without adjustments based on the number of outs.
The goal is to box runners in by always having an umpire in front of and behind a base runner.
Inside guys do not go out on trouble balls.
If a wing-man goes out, always revert to a 2-man game.
If a wing-man goes out he stays out.
A thorough pre-game meeting with all three crew members is important to review outfield coverage, signals, keys, appeals, dugout responsibility, etc.

4. basic Outfield Coverage
P = No OF coverage
U1 = CF to his left
U3 = CF in/out & to his right
Read the turn!
No turn & straight in/out = U3
All situations: Someone goes out = 2-man game U1 U3 P
U3 Coverage
U1 Coverage
When U1 and U3 are “on the wings”, PL has no fly ball responsibility in the outfield.
U1 has right field and the center fielder moving toward right field.
U3 has left field and the center fielder moving straight forward, backward or toward left field.
If there is a question who has the ball on a hit to the center fielder, U3 has precedence….he is the “key.”
Also, if you don’t go out on a ball in your area, you still maintain responsibility for the catch – no catch.

5. U3 inside Outfield Coverage
U3 Always In “C” With R1
P = LF To His Right
U1 = CF In/Out & To His Left
U3 = CF To His Right; LF In/Out & To His Left
Read the turns!
All situations: Someone goes out = 2-man game U1 U3 P
With U3 “inside:”
PL has the right fielder moving toward the foul line.
U3 has the center fielder moving straight forward or backward and toward left field -- His half of the “V” (third base side).
U1 has the right fielder and the center fielder moving toward right field.

6. U1 inside Outfield CoverageP
U1 Always In Deep “B” with R2 and no R1
P = RF To His Left
U1 = RF In/Out & To His Right, CF To His Left;
U3 = CF In/Out & To His Right
Read the turns!
All situations: Someone goes out = 2-man game
With U1 “inside:”
PL has the right fielder moving toward the foul line.
U1 has the Right fielder moving forward or backward and toward center field and the center fielder moving toward right field – His half of the “V” (first base side of the “V”).
U3 has left field and the center fielder moving straight forward and backward or toward left field.

7. Infield catch Coverage – 2 wings
General Rule:
Umpire The Fielder Is Moving Toward, Or
Umpire With Best Angle
Doubt As To Who’s Call? Make Eye Contact First U3 U1 P
The general rule of thumb for infield catches (line drives, traps, etc.) is the umpire who the fielder is moving toward because that person will most likely have the best angle.
If there is any doubt as to who should make the call the best thing to do is to make eye contact to avoid a double-call with one umpire calling catch and the other calling no-catch. Timing is critical, as are non-verbal keys between umpires.

8. Infield catch Coverage – u3 inside
General Rule:
Umpire The Fielder Is Moving Toward, Or
Umpire With Best Angle
Doubt As To Who’s Call? Make Eye Contact First U3 U1 P
The general rule of thumb for infield catches (line drives, traps, etc.) is the umpire who the fielder is moving toward because that person will most likely have the best angle.
If there is any doubt as to who should make the call the best thing to do is to make eye contact to avoid a double-call with one umpire calling catch and the other calling no-catch. Timing is critical, as are non-verbal keys between umpires.

9. Infield catch Coverage – u1 inside
General Rule:
Umpire The Fielder Is Moving Toward, Or
Umpire With Best Angle
Doubt As To Who’s Call? Make Eye Contact First U3 U1 P
The general rule of thumb for infield catches (line drives, traps, etc.) is the umpire who the fielder is moving toward because that person will most likely have the best angle.
If there is any doubt as to who should make the call the best thing to do is to make eye contact to avoid a double-call with one umpire calling catch and the other calling no-catch. Timing is critical, as are non-verbal keys between umpires.

10. Routine ground ball – No runnersP
U1 Moves In
90o Angle
Resist Moving To Foul Territory
U3 Hustles Toward 2nd Base Cutout
P Reads Play, Moves Toward 45’ Line
On routine ground balls in the infield with no runners on, U3 must hustle to get to the 2nd base cut-out in case of an overthrow or other mishap at 1st that leads to the BR attempting to advance to 2nd. U3 has the BR into 2nd.
PU has dead ball responsibility and is responsible for assisting U1 with a pulled foot / sweep tag at 1st. Note: Proper mechanic for a ball entering dead ball territory is to call “Time!” with both hands raised, not “Dead ball!” The logic is that, as athletes, most players will respond more quickly to “time” than “dead ball” because they recognize it quicker. It’s a minor point, but one that should be considered.
U1 does the standard move, a couple steps into the infield for the best look at the play at 1st. On balls hit to the right side of the infield, U1 should resist moving into foul territory to take a play at first. Moving into foul territory often results in U1 getting a bad angle to F3’s foot on the base. Unless the play is right where U1 should be positioned, it’s often best to stay in fair territory to increase the likelihood of a good look at the play at 1st.

11. Routine ground ball – R1 U1 Moves In U3 Has 2nd Interference Resp.
Stay On Play, Don’t Follow Ball To 1st
Secondary Play At 3rd
P Reads Play, Moves Toward 45’ Line
On a ground ball in the infield with R1, U3 has sole responsibility for interference (force play slide rule) at 2nd. U3 stays on the action at 2nd even after the ball is released toward 1st.
PU is not responsible for interference at 2nd; he has dead ball responsibility and responsibility for assisting U1 with a pulled foot / sweep tag at 1st.

12. Rotations – 5 situationsP
Batted Ball Leaves Infield
No Runners – BR to 3rd
R1 Only
R1 & R3
R3 Only
R1 & R2, <2 Outs, Fly Ball
When P Rotates Up:
U1 Rotates Down
U3 Has 2nd & 1st
A rotation is when umpires move from their starting positions to cover plays on other bases. Rotations only occur when a batted ball leaves the infield. Normal rotation is when umpires move clockwise around the bases. A slide, or reverse, rotation is when PU stays home and U1 and U3 are both in the infield covering the bases. The signal between base umpires for the slide or reverse rotation is a swiping motion of the hand behind the back.
There is no rotation unless the batted ball leaves the infield.
In NFHS mechanics, there are five standard rotations.
No runners on: PU has the BR into third. Unless it’s a trouble ball with a wing man going out, U3 will hustle to get to 2nd and have the BR at 2nd. U1 will move into foul territory between 1st base and the coaches box to watch BR’s touch at 1st and for obstruction. Once the BR commits to 3rd U1 will hustle to get to the plate and take the play on the BR at home. PU moves to the library and reads the play. If a play develops on the BR at third (a play means both the BR and ball are arriving at or near the same time) PU has the BR at 3rd.
R1 only, same principle as above. As soon as R1 commits to 3rd U1 moves to the plate with PU reading the play and taking R1 and the BR at 3rd, if necessary. U3 has R1 at 2nd and the BR at 1st (after U1 releases to the plate) and 2nd.
R1 and R3, same principles as above. PU moves to the library as he watches R3’s touch at the plate, then reads R1 and the ball. Same coverage for U1 and U3.
R3 only, PU moves to the library and watches R3’s touch at the plate, then reads the BR and the play to take the BR into 3rd. Same coverage for U1 and U3.
R1 & R2 with less than 2 outs is a double tag-up situation. Just as in a 2-man game, PU moves to the library to read the play and has R2 at 3rd. U1 will generally pivot and read the play. If the ball is caught, he has U1’s tag-up and prepares to pivot to cover home in case R2 advances there. U3 has R2’s tag-up and R1 into 2nd. If the ball is dropped, PU returns home and has all plays there. U1 and U3 have executed a reverse rotation and are both inside. U3 has all plays at 3rd and R1 at 2nd. U1 has BR at 1st and 2nd.
With no runners on

13. R1 & R2 or bases loaded – clean hitU3 U1 P
Reverse Rotation
U1:
BR at 1st & 2nd
U3:
R1 at 2nd & 3rd
R2 & BR at 3rd P:
All Plays At Home
Slide, or reverse, rotation is used when there are runners in scoring position and PL is staying home.
U1 and U3 must move in a counter-clockwise rotation to cover plays at 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
As U1 comes into the infield, he “pushes” U3 toward 3rd base, U3 then “slides” to cover plays at 3rd.
In general, U3 has R2 & R1 at 2nd & 3rd, while U1 has the BR at 1st & 2nd. Unlike 2-man mechanics where the “working area” is behind the mound, the working area in 3-man games are closer to the dirt/grass line between 1st & 2nd and 2nd & 3rd.

14. R2 Only U1: R2 Tag Up BR at 1st & 2nd U3: Starts In Foul Territory
R2 & BR at 3rd P:
All Plays At Home
With R2 only, U3 starts in foul territory, about 10’ – 12’ behind 3rd , adjusting to the depth of F5. U3 has all plays and touches at 3rd.
U1 is in deep B. U1 has R2’s tag-up and the BR at 1st and 2nd.
PU stays home and has all plays there.

15. R2 & R3 U1: R2 Tag Up BR at 1st & 2nd U3: Starts In Fair Territory
R2 & BR at 3rd P:
All Plays At Home
With R2 and R3, U3 starts in fair territory, 10’ – 12’ from the base, again adjusting to the depth of F5. On a hit, U3 has all plays at 3rd. On a fly ball, U3 has R3’s tag-up and R2 into 3rd.
U1 starts in deep B. On a hit, U1 has the BR at 1st and 2nd. On a caught fly ball, U1 has R2’s tag-up at 2nd.
PU has all plays at the plate.

16. R3 Only U1: U3: P: R1 Tag Up BR Touch At 1st
Moves Home Hard If BR Commits to 3rd
U3:
BR at 2nd P:
Watches R3 Touch Home
Moves To Library to Read Play
BR At 3rd
R3 only is treated the same as no runners on, except that PU reads R3’s touch at home before fully committing to 3rd.