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Texas Association of SportsOfficialsTexas Association of SportsOfficials
BASEBALL DIVISION
MECHANICS MANUAL
Texas Association of SportsOfficialsBaseball Division
Texas High School
Baseball Mechanics
TASO MECHANICS MANUEL
This manual is divided into 4 sections:
SIGNALS AND RUNDOWNS
TWO MAN MECHANICS
THREE MAN MECHANICS
FOUR MAN MECHANICS
2, 3, and 4 man mechanics are contained in separate presentations. Thiswill allow you to view them separately.
SIGNALS
Introduction to Signals
ThePurpose
THE PURPOSE FOR USING SIGNALS
COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION
YOU MUST COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PARTNER/S
SIGNALS = COMMUNICATION
•Umpires need to communicate withtheir partner/s, coaches, and fans;
•They need to know what yourdecision is on all plays;
•The quickest and easiest way tocommunicate that decision is bygiving a signal;
•SAFE/OUT,FAIR/FOUL, ETC.
MECHANICS
•The PHYSICAL MOVEMENT used inorder to PUT YOUR HEAD in the bestposition to SEE the play properly, inorder to make the best decision and thecorrect call.
THE 7 STEPS OF EXECUTING APROPER SIGNAL
1.STANCE
2.POSITION
3.SEE THE COMPLETE PLAY
4.MAKE A DECISION
5.PROPER TIMING
6.PROPER CRISP SIGNAL
7.VERBAL CALL
PROPER STANCE
•In umpiring baseball there are twobasic stances:
–Standing set
–Hands on the knees set
SET POSITIONSTANDING
•Your feet should be shoulderwidth apart as in a goodboxing stance;
•Your feet should be in acomfortable position that willgive you a sturdy base forgood balance;
•Your head and shouldersshould always be square tothe play;
•Your head and eyes shouldbe looking at the play.
SET POSITIONHANDS ON THE KNEES
•Feet slightly more thanshoulder width apart;
•Right foot slightly back;
•Get a good sturdy basefor balance;
•Lean forward at thewaist while putting yourhands just above theknees with your armslocked straight;
•Settle into acomfortable stance;
•Keep your shouldersand head square to theplay.
SIGNAL CHART
DO NOT PITCH
SIGNAL
–Right arm straight out with palmand fingers up;
–This signal is used by the plateumpire:
•At the beginning of the game;
•At the start of a new inning;
•After time has been grantedor after all dead ballsituations.
–It does not allow any play tooccur, TIME IS OUT;
–The ball remains dead until it isput in play;
CALL
–THERE IS NOT A VERBAL CALL.
PLAY/PLAY BALL
SIGNAL
–This is actually a continuation of thedo not play signal;
–While still implementing the do notplay signal with your right arm straightout with palm and fingers up;
–Making sure that the battery and yourpartner/s are ready to play;
–Point to the pitcher.
CALL
–“PLAY” or “PLAY BALL”
–This signal is used by the plate umpireafter the DO NOT PLAY signal;
–At the beginning of the game;
–At the start of a new inning;
–After time has been granted or after alldead ball situations;
–The ball remains dead until it is put inplay.
TIME
SIGNAL
–The arms are extended above yourhead in front of your body;
–The palms of your hands should befacing away from you with yourfingers fully extended and together,NOT A FIST, BUT OPEN AND FLAT.
CALL
–A verbal call of “TIME” should bemade at the precise time the handsreach their maximum height;
–This signal is used for all dead ballsituations to kill play;
–Before any play can resume the ballmust be put into play after all deadball situations.
STRIKE
SIGNAL
–From the set position raise toan upright position;
–While raising your right hand(open) to ear level;
–Bring your hand forward as ifto hit a wall with the heel ofyour hand while closing yourhand MAKE A FIST at the startof the forward motion;
CALL
–At the same time as your fistwould hit the wall you shouldverbalize “STRIKE.”
OUT
SIGNAL
–From the standing OR hands onthe knees set position raiseyour right hand (open) up to earlevel;
–Bring your hand forward as if tohit a wall with the heel of yourhand.
–Start closing your hand makinga fist at the start of the forwardmotion.
–The forward motion should stopwith a closed fist comfortably infront of your body line at thesame time your fist would hitthe wall.
CALL
–You should verbalize “OUT.”
SAFE
SIGNAL
–From the standing OR hands on theknees set position with your handsflat, fingers together and palms down;
–Raise your arms fully extendeddirectly in front of your body toshoulder height with the sides of yourthumbs touching;
–Part your hands to each side of yourbody inline with your shoulders, nohigher.
CALL
–As your hands part verbalize “SAFE”;
–Bring your hands back in front of yourbody to shoulder height touchingyour thumbs and then drop them toyour sides.
FAIR
SIGNAL
–Start from a standing setposition with your feetstraddling the foul line;
–With your arm fullyextended shoulder high,point with the thumb tuckedin and the index fingerextended point into fairterritory.
CALL
–There is not a verbal callwith this signal, JUSTPOINT.
FOUL
SIGNAL
–Start from the standing set position with yourfeet straddling the foul line. With your arms fullyextended above your head and in front of yourbody line;
–The palms of your hands should be facing awayfrom you with your fingers fully extended andtogether. (Not a fist- but open and flat);
–Then with your arm fully extended shoulder high,point with the thumb tucked in and the indexfinger extended point into foul territory.
CALL
–A verbal call “FOUL” should be made at theprecise time the hands reach their maximumheight;
–This is known as proper timing
–This signal is used for all dead ball situations tokill play;
–Before any play can resume, the ball must be putinto play;
–After all dead ball situations the ball must be putinto play.
INFIELD FLY
SIGNAL
–Point your right hand withthe index finger extendedfully above your head as theball reaches it’s apex.
CALL
–A verbal call is made as theball starts it’s decent;
–The verbal call should be“INFIELD FLY.”
–If near a foul line “INFIELDFLY. THE BATTER RUNNERIS OUT IF FAIR.”
INFIELD FLY SITUATION
SIGNAL
–Your right arm, with your handflat, palm toward your body,extended across your chest;
–This signal should also bereturned by your partner/s.
–This is one of three signals thatmaybe used to communicatewith your fellow umpire/s thatthe infield fly rule in effect.
CALL
–No verbal call.
INFIELD FLY SITUATION (ALTERNATE SIGNAL)
SIGNAL
–Pat the top of your headwith the palm of yourright hand;
–Your partner/s shouldreturn the signal;
CALL
–No verbal call.
INFIELD FLY SITUATION(ALTERNATE SIGNAL)
SIGNAL
–Touching the bill ofyour hat;
–This signal should alsobe returned by yourpartner/s.
CALL
–No verbal call.
CATCH
•SIGNAL
–From the standing set positionraise your right hand (open) up toear level;
–Bring your hand forward as if tohit a wall with the heel of yourhand;
–Start closing your hand making afist at the start of the forwardmotion;
–The forward motion should stopwith a closed fist comfortably infront of your body line at the sametime your fist would hit the wall.
•CALL
–Verbalize, “THAT’S A CATCH!”
NO CATCH
SIGNAL
–From the standing setposition with your handsflat, fingers together, andpalms down;
–Raise your arms fullyextended directly to yoursides at shoulder height.
CALL
–NO VERBAL CALL.
DELAYED DEAD BALL
SIGNAL
–From a standing setposition raise the left armshoulder height, fullyextended;
–At the same time make aclosed fist with the lefthand;
–Hold this position for atwo second count.
CALL
–“OBSTRUCTION”
TIME PLAY
SIGNAL
–The plate umpire, prior to thepitcher contacting thepitchers plate (rubber), tapshis left wrist (typically wristwatch position) with theindex and middle fingers;
–Partner/s shall return thesignal.
CALL
–NO VERBAL CALL .
FOUL TIP
SIGNAL
–This signal is only implemented bythe plate umpire;
–After a foul tip:
•The plate umpire will raise to astanding set position. (so all cansee);
•Raise both hands simultaneouslyslightly above the head with theleft hand forward of the righthand;
•Keeping the left hand stationary;
•Bring the right hand forward withyour fingers glancing off the palmof your left hand.
–This signal is always followed by astrike signal.
CALL
–NO VERBAL CALL.
RUNDOWNS
If involved in a rundown alone, do not over commit to one endor the other. Remain in the middle of the rundown.
Be aware of possible obstruction by the defense, interferenceby the offense, or the runner running out of his base line toavoid a tag.
When becoming involved in the rundown let your partner knowyou are in position by telling him, “I’ve got this end.”
Do not tell your partner you are in position too soon.
If a rundown occurs with multiple runners on base, do not overcommit to one end of the rundown. Be in a position that youcan react to plays at other bases.
When both umpires are involved in the rundown, the umpirethat is facing the runner when he is tagged will make the call.