Help from my fellow umpires
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I’ve only done 3 games behind the pitcher - it’s tough.
One piece of advice is to follow the ball with your body, especially grounders to F6.
Close foul balls are hard, use reaction of the player if you have to.
Passed ball with a runner on third...good luck.
Assuming this is solo?
One piece of advice is to follow the ball with your body, especially grounders to F6.
Close foul balls are hard, use reaction of the player if you have to.
Passed ball with a runner on third...good luck.
Assuming this is solo?
Yes, it feels like you’re constantly in the way, with bad angles, and high/low is close to impossible.
About the only good thing verses doing solo behind the plate is that you can see steals of second finally.
Yeah...and pretty much right in the line of the throw! Doing anything higher than 10U Rec solo is a rip off to the participants.
know what happens if you get in the way of a batted ball. At least in USA softball, if the batted ball hits the umpire before passing a non-pitcher fielder, it is a dead ball, BR gets 1st and other advance if forced. Many years ago in a high school game my #4 batter smoked a line drive up the middle, bounced off the umpire to the F4 who was able to get the out at first. No matter how I pleaded it was a single and a dead ball, umpire was deaf to my claims. He called the out. He had forgotten his gear so not only did he call a terrible game from behind the F1, he didn't know how to deal with his mistake when hit behind the circle. Check your rule set for guidance. USA 8.1.E.7 [both teams in that game were undefeated; fortunately we won by 1 run.]
USSSA Rules....Rule 8, Section 7E:
E. If a fair ball strikes an Umpire or a runner after having passed an infielder other than the pitcher, and provided no other fielder had a chance to make an out, or when a fair batted ball has been touched by an infielder, including the pitcher, and the runner did not intentionally interfere with the batted ball or the fielder attempting to field the batted ball. EFFECT- Section 7: The ball is in play.
Not sure what this means if I get hit behind the pitcher. I guess it would be a dead ball?....And, on a dead ball, does batter get first base?
E. If a fair ball strikes an Umpire or a runner after having passed an infielder other than the pitcher, and provided no other fielder had a chance to make an out, or when a fair batted ball has been touched by an infielder, including the pitcher, and the runner did not intentionally interfere with the batted ball or the fielder attempting to field the batted ball. EFFECT- Section 7: The ball is in play.
Not sure what this means if I get hit behind the pitcher. I guess it would be a dead ball?....And, on a dead ball, does batter get first base?
that's not the rule you need to find. that one is for hitting an umpire after it passes an infielder other than the pitcher. you need the one where it hits the umpire BEFORE a fielder can play the ball.
I looked through the USSSA book and I can't find a rule for the situation where the ball hits the umpire before passing a fielder. 7E that you posted clearly mentions passing an infielder but doesn't say what to do if it dose not pass an infielder. Dilemma!
Last edited:
- May 29, 2015
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My best advice: Don’t do it?
18u, solo, behind the mound ... minimum $100.
18u, solo, behind the mound ... minimum $100.
As a coach who has done many of these in scrimmages, I would advise standing to the other side of the pitchers throwing arm. I.e, right handed pitcher...to the left side of her and in your crouched position to somewhat get an accurate height as to the pitches. It's a neck of a lot tougher but at least you're not blocked by the pitcher herself on her finish.
