Confidence

A strong signal communicates umpires’ confidence in their calls. A strong signal is achieved by starting from a set position, having your arms complete the full motion of the signal prior to returning to your body, and not moving back to your starting position until the signal is completed. Not only does the strength of your signal matter, the timing of the signal is extremely important as well. Wait for the play to be complete to avoid the dreaded double signal. A lazy, poor or double signal creates doubt in those watching you and will lead to more questions and arguments.

Having strength in routine signals shows we are committed to each call and treat every call with importance. On the routine play, get set prior to the play happening, watch the entire play, then execute your signal. You never know when the routine will become the complicated, and if you are unprepared the signal will lack confidence and conviction.

A strong signal doesn’t mean everything should be a sell call. An out or safe should only be sold when the play is close or the outcome is not obvious. Sell calls need increased emphasis to match the intensity of the play. Umpires need to remain calm when completing a sell call, be set, keep balance and never lose control. Remember, the game is continuing and you may have more responsibilities that require your immediate attention.

Some plays require multiple signals, and the first signal will provide justification for the call. For example, an off-the-base signal should come before the safe signal (as shown in PlayPic A). The point (as shown in PlayPic B on the next page) prior to a signal communicates more detail, such as, “I saw a tag,” “They were on the bag,” or, “The ball is on the ground.” It should only be used when emphasizing you saw something out of the routine. It should not be overused; it is not a timing mechanism. Your partners and the coaches need to know you saw something that required the point.

There are times when verbal communication is needed to go along with a signal. When using verbal communication, less is more. One word or short phrases will be the easiest to understand by game participants. “Tag,” “No tag,” “Safe,” “Out,” “No catch” and “Dead ball” are good examples of concise and clear communication. “The ball is on the ground,” “We have interference,” or “The tag was with the wrong hand” are too long and will lead to confusion and more questions. The volume of the verbal communication should match the intensity of the call — routine signals can come with quiet verbal communication while sell signals should be louder.

Signals also need to be held long enough for people to see them. On a fair/foul call, we should give a big, clear signal and hold it for a second or two. This allows someone who watches the ball time to then look at you and know the outcome. Our signals aren’t secrets; they are forms of communication that need to be uniform and clear. A strong signal held for the right amount of time will communicate to everyone involved in the game what has happened.

While standard umpire signals are important, umpire-to-umpire signals should not be overlooked. Clear signals between umpires are important for the crew. Those signals show the other crew members you are in the game and committed to working with your partners to umpire the best possible game. Completing the umpire-to-umpire signals each and every time provides the opportunity for umpires to correct potential

Quicktip

Always bring all of your equipment to every game. You never know when a partner may get stuck in traffic, forget something, have an emergency, get injured, etc. If you are scheduled to work the bases, bring your plate gear just in case. And always bring a jacket as you never know when the weather may change. It is better to be overprepared and not need it than need it and not have it.

DID YOU KNOW?

On Feb. 26, the top two ranked teams in NCAA softball squared off as No. 1 UCLA faced No. 2 Oklahoma in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. The game was aired on the MLB Network, making it the first collegiate softball game to ever air on the network. The umpires for the game were Paul “Smokey” Edds, Jim Bertuzzi and Tanya Garig. Oklahoma won the game, 14-0, in five innings.

Tools

Force 3 Ultimate 32-inch Equipment Bag on Wheels

AAre you looking for an umpire bag to carry all your gear and uniforms? Are you looking for something lightweight that can also fit on an airplane for when you travel to games or tournaments? The Force 3 Ultimate Equipment Bag is a must have. The bag, which weighs less than 14 pounds, meets airline specifications and is plenty big enough to carry all your stuff. The bag also comes with two folding bags that fit in the bottom compartment to carry and keep your uniforms neat and clean. The bag sells for $149.99 and can be found at your favorite officials’ gear retailer.

Test Yourself

Each of the following includes a situation and possible answer(s). Decide which are correct for USA, NFHS, NCAA or USSSA rules and which might vary. Solutions: p. 85 a. B1 is out on the caught fly ball. Since the ball first went directly to F2’s glove, it cannot be a foul ball if caught by a member of the defensive team. b. Foul ball and play resumes with B1 at bat with a 1-2 count. a. Foul tip, the ball is live, R1 is out at second and B3 continues batting with a strike added to the count. b. Foul ball, the ball is dead, R1 is returned to first and B3 continues batting with a strike added to the count. c. Live ball, B3 is out on the catch and R1 is out on the tag at second. a. B1 is out and the base umpire should call and signal out. b. The base umpire should call and signal safe, but B1 may be called out on proper appeal before she returns to first base. c. The umpire should make no call and wait until a proper appeal is made on B1 or wait until B1 returns to first before making any call. a. Legal play, all play stands. b. The ball is immediately dead, R2 is called out for interference and B2 is awarded first. c. The ball is immediately dead, R2 is guilty of interference and returned to second base and B2 is ruled out. d. The ball is immediately dead, R2 is guilty of interference and both R2 and B2 are ruled out. mistakes before they happen. It is an opportunity to clue in a partner who may not be aware of a situation prepitch or it may simply remind the crew to be alert for potential plays.

1. B1, with a 1-1 count, swings and hits a ball that nicks off F2’s glove. The ball strikes F2’s helmet, deflecting forward into fair territory where it is caught in flight by F1.

2. With R1 on first and one out, B3 nicks a pitch that goes straight from the bat to F2’s glove, pops up in the air and is caught by F2. R1, on the contact, breaks for second. F2, after securing the ball, throws the ball to F6 at second, who tags R1 before reaching second base.

3. B1 hits a ground ball to F6. She beats the throw to first but steps completely over the base without touching it. F3 then catches the throw while contacting first base.

4. With R2 on second base, B2 hits a ground ball to F6. R2 starts toward third base on contact. As R2 gets in front of F6, she stops and screens F6 from seeing the ball. Before the ball hits her, R2 begins running again toward third. F6 misses the ball and R2 touches third and advances home. B2 stops at first base.

It is important to use the prescribed umpire-to-umpire mechanics in the manual in order to create consistency and avoid confusion.

Use the tips and techniques to help elevate your game. They will help you develop as a strong communicator, a partner others want to work with and a trusted umpire coaches want to see.

Erin Peterson, Seattle, is an NCAA umpire for the Pac-12 and Big Ten conferences and has worked two NCAA Women’s College World Series. She is a USA Elite and WBSC certified umpire. *