HuskerUmp22

I did 180 this year for about the 3rd year in a row (and I am burned out). I need to cut down starting next year, or otherwise I will not be on the field for many more seasons due to being burned out.

Here in Nebraska it is really tough to get the state tournament. You have to put in five years of work at the JV/Senior level to even be considered. There are opportunities to work district/area games more than any other sport here, but to get the state tournament is harder.

This may be PU call, but I always (as BU) look at the catch/no catch. You can always glance at runners. The runners are waiting to see what the result is with the fielder with less than two outs. You will have time to look at catch/no catch and then watch the runners.

I think it is funny when 1st base coaches will signal safe when the BR beats the throw by a good step or two. I always think to myself, "Coach. Come on. Do you really think I'm going to call your player out?"

​Bingo! I haven't done it yet this year, and I don't think I will this next weekend either.

Sounds like rec ball, which is why I won't do it ever again.

​I just received mine in the mail and used them today. They are really nice, but I also felt them to be a little uncomfortable because the top of the shin guard was above my knee. I'm wondering if I ordered the wrong size or it may just take a little while to get used to. The protection is top notch and I like the straps.

HS spring here in Nebraska it was either black or navy. I wore black 95% of the time. Summer ball is mainly black, polo blue (light blue with black collar), and cream.

​I couldn't hear anything, but noticed you turn your head to the opposite side of where the pitch was (inside). Did you say anything and why did you turn your head to the left?

I have a follow up question: IF you guys were the PU in this situation how would you respond to the HC yelling across the diamond?

Welcome! You will learn a lot from this site that will help you as an umpire. I also started umpiring as a way to pay for college and like you I've grown to love it.

Do you guys collect lineup cards from both teams at the plate meeting no matter what level you do? Obviously at varsity levels and on up the plate umpire collects lineups, but I'm curious what you guys do at lower levels.

I was confused at first as to why the runner was called safe but I answered my own question. Definition of a force: A play in which a runner legally loses his right to occupy a base by reason of the batter becoming a runner. Infield fly called so the batter is automatically out, therefore the defense must tag R3 coming in to score.

How do you guys handle/communicate to players when they dispute a safe/out, or strike 3 call? I've been noticing this more as I move up levels in high school ball. I've seen it a lot this year so far where a player will put the tag on, I call safe, and he pouts thinking he had the tag. Or he tells me "I had the tag. I had the tag." I have been telling most kids: "HEY. Don't do that." Is this something where you call time and talk to the player or just ignore? I'm just wondering what you guys have done in those situations and how I can handle them better. Obviously we deal with coaches 95% of the time, but I think it is ridiculous when high school kids are disputing judgment calls made by the umpire.

I cannot tell whether he was safe or out, but it looked like the BR leaped so it may have been the right call. It did look like he called the play too fast. Now as far as the coach ... he should have been tossed immediately. I mean no question. Can anybody explain what the umpire was doing with his right hand up the whole time?

I'm going to purchase these soon, but I need to order the right size. I am 5'9 so I'm thinking either the 16.5 or 14.5 would be good. How do you guys determine the right size?

I agree with some of what he said, but overall he is making things much harder than they need to be. How can you be thinking about all these rules and call a good game? Come on. The most helpful and simple advice I was given was to slow down my timing and to track the ball from the pitcher's hand to the glove.

What levels would you call this a balk? I'm assuming youth and select ball no because I see kids do this all the time.

Harper deserved an ejection there. He completely disrespected the umpire and the manager was just sticking up for his player. That's tough.

Wow. Great call! It looks like he is right off the catcher's left shoulder which is what all of you say to do. Excellent!

It looks like he got the call right but that is terrible positioning on a play at the plate (especially for varsity high school). I do like his timing on the call and good out signal. If he would have been 3b extended he would have had a great angle, and would have seen it better. As grayhawk mentioned he was moving big time during the call. Maybe he realized he wasn't in a good position and tried to move too late.

​I agree. I tend to try to get as many games as I can in early (while it's not so hot). I will slow down by taking two games per day in the heat of summer. My max is three or four depending on the level obviously.

​Thanks! I like what you said, especially point #2.

First, good EJ. This is my first time offering advice regarding game management situations on this website, so realize I am still learning very much on these situations also. After you called "That's a catch," you could have just ignored those first comments from the coach. (HTBT though, b/c I don't know what kind of tone he used). So don't walk up beside him and tell him: "we won't be discussing out/safe calls" just ignore first. (I like the ignore, acknowledge, warn, eject way to handle these types of situations). I agree with Stan, try to stay calm. Be careful what tone you use when acknowledging or warning. I would have warned him in the bottom of the third when he screams from the dugout with a stop sign with your hand. It sounds like you ignored or just looked over at the coach. If you have a lineup card holder you could write down and say casually: "That's a warning on the VT AC for loud comments from the dugout." Do NOT yell "That's a warning." Remember to stay calm. After the warning then obviously any screaming, jumping, etc directed at you is an ejection. But I wonder if you would have ignorned and then casually warned the AC how he would have responded after that.

I think I probably was a bit too cautious, but I know both of these teams and things can get heated fast. I just thought a warning would be suitable. Anybody have any comments on the second situation? Obviously I know the key is to make sure I know where the runners are at all times, but what are some things I can do different so that doesn't happen again?