Delaware County ChapterPIAA Baseball Umpires

Communication & 2-Man Mechanics

Keys To 2-Man Success

• 2-Man Is A System Of Compromises– Can’t Be Everywhere To Cover Everything

– Angle Over Distance

– Prepare For The Next Most Reasonable Play

• Communicate With Your Partner– Before Game Day (Confirm)

– Before The Game (Changes & Pre-Game Conf.)

– During The Game (Verbally & Physically)

– After The Game (Debrief)

Keys To 2-Man Success

• Know Your Responsibilities– Prepare In Advance

– Can’t Learn 2-Man System In The Parking Lot

• Do Your Job– 1st Responsibility Is Your Responsibilities

– Everything’s Covered If Both Guys Do Their Job

• Stick With Your Priorities– Fair / Foul

– Catch / No-Catch

Pre-Game ConferenceFair/Foul Responsibilities

No Runners On Runners On

C B

PU

BU

C B

PU

BU

Pre-Game Conference:Outfield Coverage

No Runners On Runners On

C B

PU

BU

7 98

C B

PU

BU

7 98

5

6 4

3

1

2

Pre-Game Conference

• Other Subjects– Field Issues / Known Problems

– Dead Ball Responsibility (Normally the PU)

– Force Play / Slide Rule Responsibility

– Signals

Silent Signals

• Rotation– Point Where You Are Going

– Partner Should Know Where He’s Going

• Staying Home (PU) / Staying Here (BU)

• Time Play

• Let’s Meet / Talk– No Standard; Decide During Pre-Game

Silent Signals

• Infield Fly

• Double Tag-Up (R1 & R2, less than 2 outs)

• Catch / No-Catch by Catcher

• My Call– Commonly Used Before An Upcoming Appeal

Signals With Sound

• Done When Ball Is Put In Play– Infield Fly• Point Up / “Infield Fly, Batter’s Out (If Fair)”

– I’m Going Out• BU On A Trouble Ball

• Point Up

–My Call / I Got The Ball• Any Borderline Fly Ball

– Time • Not “Dead Ball”

Positioning:No Runners

C B

A

PU

With Runners• R1 = B

• R1 & R2 = C

• R2 = C

• R1 & R3 = B

• R2 & R3 = C

• R3 = C

• Bases Loaded = C C B

B

PU

C

• Plate Umpire – All Plays At Home• Except: No Runners, BU Goes Out

– 3 Rotations to 3rd

• Base Umpire – All Plays At All Bases• Except: No One On, BU Goes Out

• Except: 3 PU Rotations to 3rd

Basic Responsibilities

• Plate Umpire Has Touches:– At Home• Exception: When BU Goes Out

– At 3rd• Exception: When Base Umpire Has BR Touch

– R1 & R3• See R3’s Touch Of Home As You Rotate To Take

R1 Into 3rd

• Rotating Does Not Relieve You Of Your Plate Responsibility

PU Touch Responsibilities

• Base Umpire Has Touches:– At 1st & 2nd

– At 3rd On Batter-Runner

– At 3rd When He Has A Play At 3rd (2nd play in the infield)

– On BR At Home After Going Out And Coming Back In

Touch Responsibilities

• PU Has All Re-touches At 3rd

• BU Has All Re-touches At 1st And 2nd

Re-Touch Responsibilities

PU Rotates• Only When Batted Ball

Leaves The Infield

• BU Takes 2nd Play In Infield

• R1

• R1 & R2 < 2 Outs

• R1 & R3

• Only Go In If There’s A Play (Ball & Runner)

C B

BU

PU

Potential Problem Plays:Rotations

• PU moves to “Library” to read the play– “I’m at 3rd if he

comes…”

• Move to 3rd only when you have the runner & the ball coming– “I’m at 3rd!”

Potential Problem Plays:Tag Near 1st Base Line

• Before 45’ Line, PU

• After 45’ Line, BU

• If in doubt, make eye contact first

C B

BU

PU

Potential Problem Plays:Runner’s Lane Violation

• PU Has Primary Responsibility

• Work To Get To 45’ Line

• Move Along Line, Not Toward Mound

C B

BU

PU

Potential Problem Plays:Run Downs

• PU Helps With No Runners In Scoring Position

• Hustle To Get To Cut-Out Area

• “I’m Here” When You Get There, Not Before

• Generally, Call Belongs To Ump The Runner Is Moving Toward

C B

BU

PU

Potential Problem Plays:R3, Trouble Ball to Right

• Priorities: Fair / Foul, Catch / No Catch

• Deeper the Ball, Farther up the line

• Never go 1st base line extended first

• Pause, read, react

• Pop-up = Pivot– PU has all routine fly

balls

– Communication is key

• Go out in four situations:– Fair / Foul

– Players converging

– Catch below the waist

– Possible HR

Potential Problem Plays:Going Out

QUESTIONS???