Tip #1 - always maintain a 1  second delay in calling strike, ball, safe, out, and foul ball

Tip #2 - ump with your ears as well as your eyes

Tip #3 - get as close to the catcher as possible and watch the ball all the way to the mit

Tip #4 - at the start of every at bat review where there will be force and tag outs and consider if the "infield fly rule" is on

Tip #5 - every time there's 2 strikes on the batter check "does uncaught 3rd strike apply" and remember to watch for the foul tip

General Mechanics:

• foul - stand up, push both hands forward at shoulder height, and call "foul"

Plate Mechanics:

• Nose on the inside corner

• feet parallel or staggered by 4"

• chin above the crown of the catcher's helmet

• always think "strike" and make the pitch convince you otherwise

• ball call - stay down and call "ball"

• called strike call - stand up, call "strike" while giving the hammer

• swinging strike call - stand up and give the hammer

• uncaught 3rd strike (when applicable) - make the strike call as indicated above and then point to 1st base

Base Mechanics:

• A Position (no runners on)

  • 10' behind 1st base

  • right foot adjacent to the foul line

  • entirely in foul territory

  • Infield Grounder - move into the infield keeping the same 10' distance from 1st to form a 90 degree angle between the 1st basemen and the throw.

• B Position (runner on 1st only)

  • midway between 1st & 2nd

  • 25 - 35' from 1st base

  • Drop step (squaring the body toward 2nd) to make a call at 2nd.

  • Drop step (squaring the body toward 1st) to make a call at 1st.

  • Combine the 2 preceding bullets to make a double play call

  • on a ball hit to the outfield, move into the infield and watch to make sure runners touch all bases

• C Positions (runner on 2nd or 3rd or bases loaded)

  • 3 steps behind the shortstop and 3 steps off the SS's left shoulder in the outfield grass

  • 15 - 30' from 2nd

  • on a ball hit through the infield or a fly ball to the outfield, move into the infield grass

Note that the following mechanics change for 75 & 90' fields.  On the bigger field, the field umps will go out on a ball to the outfield and in on a ball to the infield.