- May 29, 2015
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I see umpires on the travel ball circuit verbalize way too much and it creates issues with the players, coaches and fans.
Aaron Burr 101 for Umpires
My pet peeves 1) verbalizing non-strike pitches - no need for it
Every camp and clinic I have been at has taught to verbalize EVERY pitch the catcher gets. Not the location, no commentary … just a quick, crisp “Ball!” or a good emphatic “”STRRRIIIIIIKE!”
There is a “new school” of thought that is working with announcing the location on a ball. Supposedly reduces coaches complaining.
I worked a game with a hearing impaired catcher once. She asked me to tap her shoulders (balls on the left, strikes on the right) to give her the count. Took me a while to get that one down!3), Not verbalizing the count often and loudly enough. As a spectator, I would like to know the count if I have somehow missed a pitch or two or three, but also because my now 12u DD has hearing issues. She catches about half her teams games and when she doesn't hear the umpire, she is taught to turn around and just ask. You can always see her speaking to the umpire during her at bats too, making sure she has the count correct.
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