Signaling your partner

[JaxRolo]

I am big into signaling all the different situations to my partners during a game.

So lets say there are no outs with R2 and R3.

As plate umpire I would normaly signal my partner that I have the tag-up at 3rd and that I am staying home.

Well this last Saturday at a HS Field Clinic the clinician got on me about signaling the tag-up. He says that you only signal a tag-up if there are runners on First and Second only.

Have I been doing it wrong all this time?

[NWA_UMP]

I don't think so Jax...I do the same thing. With R3...who else is going to cover a tag up?

[johnnyg08]

You could simplify it and simply tell/signal your partner that you're staying home.

[JaxRolo]

You could simplify it and simply tell/signal your partner that you're staying home.

I respectfully disagree. I like to make sure that we are on the same page.

[ukce1861]

Why are you signaling you have the tag-up at third? This never changes - you always have the tag up at third. Signaling - to me - is only for things that change based on the situation. The reason you signal the "tag-up" at second, is because you have the play on that runner if he tags up and goes to third. At least that's what I always thought...

[mstaylor]

No, just signal you are staying home. Signals are nice but if you are properly trained you both know you always have the tag at third. The signals are to remind you both what you are doing. Signalling a time play or a first to third is good but you still should do it correctly because of your training. It's good to be on the same page but don't over signal, you don't want to look like a lifeguard out there.

[JaxRolo]

If your training is good then there should never be a reason for signaling anything. Everyone should know exactly what the situation is and where they need to be. Unfortunately thats not the case. Sometimes we need to be reminded of things and Half the time I work with a partner I know nothing about. I Always Pre-game but during the game I want to make sure that things are covered properly.

[AZump78]

In 2man, you ALWAYS have the tag up at 3rd. If you feel you need to make sure your partner is aware of this, cover it in pregame.

If you desire more/better games, I would drop this habit.

As an aside, how taught you this?

[AZump78]

(who)

[JaxRolo]

In 2man, you ALWAYS have the tag up at 3rd. If you feel you need to make sure your partner is aware of this, cover it in pregame.

If you desire more/better games, I would drop this habit.

As an aside, how taught you this?

In any-man if you have R1, R2 or R1,R2,R3 with less than 2-outs then you know you have an infield-fly possibility. So why signal it? Just sayin...

I am not trying to be diffucult. If the proper mechanic is to not signal the tag-up then I won't. (Always willing to learn!)

Just plaing devils advocate!

[mstaylor]

If you are working with an inexperienced or unknown partner, then certainly signal everything. To an experienced crew they serve as reminders, especially IFF. As a base umpire I rarely signal back, there a few, I just nod my head to let him know I have it. Two examples where I signal back is IFF, my nemisis, and when we change from first to third to my taking all the bases.

[zm1283]

There is no reason to signal that the PU has the tag-up at 3B. With R1/R2 and R2 advancing to 3B, you don't even have the tag-up then, you're just signaling that you will cover 3B if R2 does tag and there's a play there.

[AZump78]

Jax-what is the signal you use to remind your partner of this? Who showed it to you?

[JaxRolo]

Wow I didnt realize I was going to cause such a debate on what I thought was a simple question.

I like some of the feedback I have received but a couple of other ones are vague.

Is the a book or manual that covers Umpires signals?

[johnnyg08]

The Maximizing book by Jim Evans has 54 different umpire signals in it.

Jax, this is something that you could cover in your pre-game that would probably take under 1 minute.

"okay, situations with a runner on 3rd, less than two outs, I'll signal to you that I'm staying home. That means that I will be taking the tag up for the runner on third base. Sound like a plan?"

Or something like that. Again, in my mind, it shouldn't look like sign language out there. I be hard-pressed to think you'd find a reputable clinic that would ever teach an additional mechanic like the one you're using. If it works for you and that's what your evaluator (he who give you games - HWGYG) wants you to do, then you need to do it that way.

I promise, I'm not trying to be rude, just trying to help so you appear to be credible out there.

[Fittske24]

I am big into signaling all the different situations to my partners during a game.

So lets say there are no outs with R2 and R3.

As plate umpire I would normaly signal my partner that I have the tag-up at 3rd and that I am staying home.

Well this last Saturday at a HS Field Clinic the clinician got on me about signaling the tag-up. He says that you only signal a tag-up if there are runners on First and Second only.

Have I been doing it wrong all this time?

I think there is a confusion in terminology here. When signaling tag up responsibilities, you "typically" signal to your partner the base that you will “cover†when there is a possibility of multiple tag-ups.This tells your partner you have the play INTO that base not FROM that base.

With R2 and R3 and no outs, fly ball to the outfield (no FF possibility) PU has R3 leaving FROM 3^rd (Tag-up) and all plays INTO home. U1 will have the catch/no-catch, R2 leaving FROM 2^nd (Tag-Up), and possible play INTO 3^rd .

If I'm the Plate umpire, the only thing I will signal to my partner in this situation would be that "I’m staying at home". There is no need to communicate that you are watching R3 leave 3^rd, this should be "understood" by both umpires as a fundamental responsibility in the 2-man system. I can understand why your instructor corrected you, because you typically signal that you have the tag-up at 3^rd with R1 and R2. Meaning you as PU will have R2 leaving (Tag-up) FROM 2^nd coming INTO 3^rd.

[AZump78]

I in no way meant to be rude, just wondering if you were taught this or you "created" a signal for it?

[mstaylor]

I believe it is a closed fist, first finger extended placed in you left open palm. It is supposed to say the PU has the R2 on the play at third or at home. I have never used it but college guys flash it all the time.

[AZump78]

Mike-I think you are referring to an alternative "I've got third if he tags" signal.

[JaxRolo]

I in no way meant to be rude, just wondering if you were taught this or you "created" a signal for it?

No rudeness taken. I am here to learn!!!! And help when I can. I appreciate all feedback.

I learned my signals from a highly respected college guy. I learned a lot from him over the last couple of years but I guess this was not correct.

[AZump78]

Wow I didnt realize I was going to cause such a debate on what I thought was a simple question.

I like some of the feedback I have received but a couple of other ones are vague.

Is the a book or manual that covers Umpires signals?

YES!

And that is where I was going (since you won't play along : )

Don't create signals-don't over think things-stick to what you learn from camp or books-and leave it at that.

[johnnyg08]

I in no way meant to be rude, just wondering if you were taught this or you "created" a signal for it?

No rudeness taken. I am here to learn!!!! And help when I can. I appreciate all feedback.

I learned my signals from a highly respected college guy. I learned a lot from him over the last couple of years but I guess this was not correct.

Maybe you could ask him to clarify what he told you. Sometimes things can get lost in translation. I get asked the wrong question all the time...locally people want to know about certain play, I tell them the rule, then find out later that they described the play incorrectly. Maybe that's what occurred here?

Maybe he was right and you misinterpreted what he told you. Maybe not? Just a thought because I've had that happened to me before too.

[AZump78]

Jax-you are a good dude (I am pretty sure we have met before) and one of my favorite posters here.

With that being said, there is no way in h-e-double hockey stick a college guy tought you, much less uses any mechanic to relay who is watching a tag up.

[sdix00]

The Maximizing book by Jim Evans has 54 different umpire signals in it.

Maximizing has a lot of signals, however it only covers 2 signals for situations (1. IFF , 2. 2 outs, I am staying home)

CCA Baseball 2011 dedicates a grand total of two pages to signaling.

Conversely, CCA softball takes the subject much more seriously and dedicates an entire chapter to signals.

I have yet to see any documentation on situational signals, (not that there are that many)

Everything I learned came from partners or clinics. If someone knows of a good title on signals (including situational signals, I would love to pick it up.

[JaxRolo]

Jax-you are a good dude (I am pretty sure we have met before) and one of my favorite posters here.

With that being said, there is no way in h-e-double hockey stick a college guy tought you, much less uses any mechanic to relay who is watching a tag up.

LOL you're funny. Where we meet?

And yes it was a college guy and wendeldstad graduate.

Like Johnny said maybe I misunderstood.