Here is the article in full : From Gerry Davis website (not to be located - he used to send monthly newsletters).
Plate Stance Specifics – The Scissors
Once “mandatory” in the National League, the scissors stance is kind of like a wood bat – very functional if you know how to use it, but not all that popular and rarely seen as the right tool for a new umpire to use to make a great first impression. Yet umpires who master the scissors know they get a great look at pitches because their head and eyes are well into the slot and as far forward as any umpiring stance will allow. If you’ve never tried it, or if you’ve struggled with balance, or if you’re mildly intrigued, read on!
First, a caution. If you work fast-pitch softball the scissors is pretty much taboo. Most major softball organizations discourage the scissors stance and few assign a scissors umpire to national tournaments. If fast pitch is your primary game your career is probably better served if you focus on another stance.
Test yourself in a scissors stance by placing one foot adjacent to an imaginary catcher’s hip (left hip, left foot), bending that knee roughly 45 degrees, extending your opposite leg straight back, and resting your hand(s) on your bent knee. That’s very basic, but it give you an idea of what the stance is like and how it feels. In past months we’ve covered five plate stance fundamentals, so let’s see how they apply to the scissors stance.
Head height. You’ll establish and maintain good head height by controlling how far you bend your forward knee. Depending on how tall your are and the size of the players in your game, you might bend that forward leg slightly or as much as 90 degrees. Remember: Your minimum head height places the bottom of your chin just above the top of the catcher’s head. In keeping with our strong recommendation to see each pitch from the same location, you really want to find one head height and keep it for the entire game – even if the two catchers are very different sizes. When in doubt, work a little higher instead of a bit too low.
Location. Two factors: Be well in the slot, and try to be in the same relative place for each pitch. “Relative” because you’ll be on opposite sides of the plate for right- and left-handed batters. Get into the slot by setting up about midway between the catcher’s inside shoulder and the batter’s chest – and keep in mind that is only an approximation. If the batter crowds the plate you have to adjust toward the center of the plate so his body does not block your view of the pitcher’s release point; if the catcher works inside you may have to adjust in a bit yourself so you can see the outside edge of the plate; if both players squeeze you the best adjustment is to work higher for a pitch or two until they get to more normal locations. On those rare occasions when catchers and hitters are cooperating, find “your spot” in the slot and stay there the whole game. Personally, I like to hang my nose on the inside edge of the plate. It gives me a reliable point of reference and generally a good look at each pitch.
Balance. This is the trickiest part of the scissors. Your lead foot is pointed toward the pitcher and your straight leg should be directly behind you toward the backstop. When you think about it, with your feet this way it’s like standing on the narrow edge of a 2-by-4. There’s not much stability, which means a lot of umpires have problems getting their balance and feeling comfortable in a scissors. Here’s a great suggestion from MLB umpire Tim Tschida, who is among the most fundamentally sound scissors umpires you’ll ever see.
“If you have trouble with your balance, turn your lead foot a little,” Tim suggests. “Point the toe toward the second baseman (for a right-handed hitter). That small adjustment of 20 or 30 degrees is like mitering a board. Suddenly there’s a good foundation and you’ll feel balanced.”
Comfort. There are a couple of keys, but let’s focus first on your straight leg and your back. Both really do need to be straight. If the back leg knee bends, especially during a pitch, this stance loses its stability. If that leg is bent before the pitch the bend will change from early in the game to later when you’re getting tired. So, straight leg – and a very straight back, essentially drawing a straight line from the ankle to the shoulder blade. Above all, don’t hunch your shoulders forward. You should “feel” that your shoulders are back and your head is up, with your eyes and your line of sight parallel to the ground.
Here’s just a bit more about the “shoulders back” concept. I promise we’re not going too far off track. If you’ve officiated or coached football in the last 10 years, you’ve seen video analysis of devastating spinal injuries related to helmet contact or “spearing” fouls. Those injuries happen most often when a player lowers his head and makes contact with an opponent by using the top of his helmet. In that “head down” position the neck is set up in a nearly straight line, which means jarring contact travels nearly straight down the spine and spinal column. The shock of the contact compresses the disks that separate the vertebrae, and really hard contact can cause spinal damage or severe injury. If the football player’s head is up and he makes first contact with his facemask instead of the top of his helmet, the neck and spine are far less likely to compress. Instead they flex – there is still some danger of injury, but far less than when the head is down. What does this have to do with umpiring in the scissors? If you hunch your shoulders forward you also lower your head, and this position moves your neck toward that dangerous, nearly straight line. Hunch forward and get hit by a pitch or a foul ball and the force can be similar to a football player’s top-of-the-helmet hit on an opponent. So please keep your shoulders back and your head up any time you umpire.
Lock-in mechanism. True stability requires a physical element of your plate stance that GUARANTEES your head height. A big advantage in the scissors is a simple, comfortable lock-in mechanism. Simply rest your upper body weight on your front knee by placing one or both hands on that knee. Keep your elbows straight and tucked close to your ribs (so they are not as exposed to a foul ball). As soon as you determine how you want to place your hands you’ll be VERY stable and probably very comfortable.
Some umpires prefer to put one hand on that front knee instead of two. That’s fine. If you do, we recommend your other hand and arm go along your straight leg – reaching toward your straight knee or resting the fingers on the lower portion of your hamstring.
A good scissors umpire gets into his stance by “stepping back.” Place your lead foot first, adjacent to that catcher – real or imaginary. When you sense the pitcher is ready to commit to the plate, drop into your stance by keeping the lead foot in place and stepping back with your straight leg. This will provide a more consistent location. You’ll find yourself next to the catcher in virtually the same place each pitch. You’ll also want to step back to get out of your stance. Push off that lead foot and stand up on your back leg. This will help you clear the catcher so he has room to recover from his stance and throw if necessary.
One drawback: There is a lot of muscle tension in the scissors stance, so fatigue is a real factor. Be prepared to adjust back to your regular stance if find yourself getting tired in the middle innings. Like any other exercise, if you really commit and work at it repetition will help you develop endurance.
One final aspect – if you locate well in the scissors your face will be about even with the catcher’s ear. That’s far closer to the pitcher than any other stance allows. It moves most of his head and shoulders out of your field of view and gives you an unmatched look at the critical outside corner of the strike zone. That is the biggest reason scissors umpires like their look at the strike zone.
If you’re tempted, try the scissors in your next game. Work out your knee bend, hands positions, steps and shoulders at home in front of a mirror. When you get reasonably comfortable at home commit to at least two innings on the field. You may be surprised at how comfortable you can be in the scissors. If nothing else, developing a new stance can add variety as your summer season rolls through the heat and difficulties of June and July.
