When To Arrive

[BT_Blue]

45 minutes to a hour just about all the time.

[umpire78]

What time do you guy's aim to arrive to the game-site before the game? I ask because I aim at the latest to arrive 30 minutes prior to the start time but that doesn't seem to be the norm- they should up 15 minutes prior to start time around here. I know I read that KFinn tends to arrive 90 minutes prior to the start time and I know different associations require different things, what's your ideal arrival time?

And how many of you change in the parking lot or more like don't? I know I, when working the dish, wear my compression shorts, jock, and compression legging's to the park over basketball shorts with my mock turtle neck's.

My ideal time is 30 minutes prior to gametime. That gives me plenty of time to check out the field and each team's equipment. If we are late starting, it's not because I'm not there.

[NCAAump2]

You still check equipment? Are you working HS games?

[Umpire in Chief]

In NC were still required to.

[johnnyg08]

In NC were still required to.

Lucky you!

[Kevin Finnerty]

Thirty minutes does not leave "plenty of time," it leaves barely enough.

[Mike Prince]

Thirty minutes does not leave "plenty of time," it leaves barely enough.

I concur. 30 minutes is my minimum, and even then I feel rushed to get ready, do pregame and get out onto the field,

[Thunderheads]

I will say, .... WHEN I'M WORKING W/ SOMEONE I KNOW WELL.... 30 minutes when I'm doing the bases is fine .....other than that, 45 mins, min ....

[Stan W.]

I have to leave from work to make all my games...so Im on a tight schedule and every thing must be planned...if Im leaving work early i have to get to work early....its the distance to th efield and when i can get out that determines my time.....30 minutes is late for me.....I want 45 and desire an hour.....I dont like to be rushed and like others have said I like a leisurely pace to my pregame routine..... as for most, if its tight I dress in my compression shorts and t-shirt at work....but mostly its dressing at the game site....(parking lot).

The few occasions each year I have at the local indepent league field, its such a joy to have an actual dressing room with bathroom and shower...... its umpire heaven......and looking over to the ball boy and saying "gimme 2"........is great.........

[SanDiegoSteve]

In the fourth, my unqualified partner showed up and ran onto the field. I signaled a rotation and when he just nodded, I knew I was better off working a one-man.

Great game, but a long slugfest that I didn't need... see-saw battle with great short relievers... partner looked a little lost, but didn't kick a call... he was a nice guy, but kept the entire game fee (cash in an envelope) for himself, instead of giving some back to the school, even though he worked half a game...

Just curious, but was this umpire called into action when you were, or was he already scheduled for the game and was just late in arrival? If he was called into action like you were, why should his arrival cause him to have to give money back? Maybe he had farther to travel, or the traffic was worse for him. If he got there as quickly as possible, I don't see how he owes the school anything. The person who got the assignment wrong should do the reimbursing in this case, not the pressed into action umpire.

[SanDiegoSteve]

I like to arrive at least an hour before game time if possible. I wear McDavid or Shock Doctor full length tights w/cup under my street clothes, and this makes it easier to change in the parking lot. I like to take my time getting my gear on, and making sure I look all purty . I sit and listen to some tunes while I dress, and get mentally prepared for the game.

Sometimes for HS baseball here, partners will arrive just in the nick of time because they are coming straight from real jobs, plus SoCal traffic is a bear. Sometimes it can't be helped.

[carolinablue]

In NC were still required to.

:bang:

[Mike Prince]

Today, I was called by my assignor at 3:29 for an elite high school game t.......

In the fourth, my unqualified partner showed up and ran onto the field. I signaled a rotation and when he just nodded, I knew I was better off working a one-man.

Great game, but a long slugfest that I didn't need.....

Not to kick this off track, but what is the proper reciprocal signal for a rotation? I am pretty diligent about signaling from the dish, but I have a set of "usual" partners so signaling back is not a regular thing (for the rotation). In HS ball I usually get a nod of the head or some sort of random signal from my partner. If I see any sort of response this is usually good enough for me, but when I have the bases I normally respond with a slight nod.

[grayhawk]

Today, I was called by my assignor at 3:29 for an elite high school game t.......

In the fourth, my unqualified partner showed up and ran onto the field. I signaled a rotation and when he just nodded, I knew I was better off working a one-man.

Great game, but a long slugfest that I didn't need.....

Not to kick this off track, but what is the proper reciprocal signal for a rotation? I am pretty diligent about signaling from the dish, but I have a set of "usual" partners so signaling back is not a regular thing (for the rotation). In HS ball I usually get a nod of the head or some sort of random signal from my partner. If I see any sort of response this is usually good enough for me, but when I have the bases I normally respond with a slight nod.

The basic premise is to communicate with each other what calls you will take based on how you pregamed and what the situation is. A simple nod may indicate that you know what HE is going to do, but you are not communicating back to him what YOU are going to do. Here are some examples of some signals:

With R1 and you have pregamed that PU will rotate to third on a hit to the outfield, PU will, with his right arm, point to third while showing the number of outs (fist for no outs, index finger for 1 out and index/middle fingers for two outs). BU would then use the same motion and point towards first.

With R2, PU would point to the plate (indicating that he is staying home), and BU would have both arms extended down and open indicating that he has all calls at first, second and third.

With R1 & R2 with less than two outs, PU shows IFF signal (whatever he uses) and then put one fist on TOP of the other (similar to how you hold a bat) to show that he is going to cover third base on a double tag situation. BU would basically reflect the same.

These are a few examples, but they may be different based on region, partner, association, etc. The signals should not be overt, and you should only give them when the situation changes. As you work more and more with the same partner, you may not need to signal as much, but I think it's always good because it helps you keep in tune with each other and stay focused.

[JaxRolo]

Today, I was called by my assignor at 3:29 for an elite high school game t.......

In the fourth, my unqualified partner showed up and ran onto the field. I signaled a rotation and when he just nodded, I knew I was better off working a one-man.

Great game, but a long slugfest that I didn't need.....

Not to kick this off track, but what is the proper reciprocal signal for a rotation? I am pretty diligent about signaling from the dish, but I have a set of "usual" partners so signaling back is not a regular thing (for the rotation). In HS ball I usually get a nod of the head or some sort of random signal from my partner. If I see any sort of response this is usually good enough for me, but when I have the bases I normally respond with a slight nod.

I'm ok with a nod with most of the veterans. The newer guys I make them signal back if I am PU and if I am BU iI will also Signal back. With veterans Nod is good

[yawetag]

The basic premise is to communicate with each other what calls you will take based on how you pregamed and what the situation is. A simple nod may indicate that you know what HE is going to do, but you are not communicating back to him what YOU are going to do. Here are some examples of some signals:

I have never even heard of the BU giving back a different signal, and I've worked with partners of all levels of experience. The most I've ever seen an umpire do is mirror my call, but I've never seen him give his own response, especially when a head nod is "Yes, I understand you are going to cover third."

[Kevin Finnerty]

Today, I was called by my assignor at 3:29 for an elite high school game t.......

In the fourth, my unqualified partner showed up and ran onto the field. I signaled a rotation and when he just nodded, I knew I was better off working a one-man.

Great game, but a long slugfest that I didn't need.....

Not to kick this off track, but what is the proper reciprocal signal for a rotation? I am pretty diligent about signaling from the dish, but I have a set of "usual" partners so signaling back is not a regular thing (for the rotation). In HS ball I usually get a nod of the head or some sort of random signal from my partner. If I see any sort of response this is usually good enough for me, but when I have the bases I normally respond with a slight nod.

The first sign of the day and he nodded. We never worked before, we never even spoke before. And usually when I flash the sign and get a nod from someone I don't know at all, it means something like, I-saw-the-sign-and-I-have-no-idea-what-it-really-means. And this was definitely the case with this guy.

The knowing nod from a knowledgeable partner is a whole different kind of nod, and is generally given if the plate umpire flashes his late.

[Umpire in Chief]

A lot depends on the partner from arrival time to signaling to so many other things.

Arrival:

For somebody I've never worked with before I get there as early as possible up to an hour ahead of time.

For a vet half hour minimum.

Signaling:

Someone I'm unfamiliar with I want the return signal and I'll be keeping one eye on them to make sure they are following through.

Vet I'll take the nod and focus less on them.

[MidAmUmp]

For the first day of a weekend D-1 or D-2 series, I get there 1:30 before game time.

1:00 for anything else.

I expect my HS umpires to be at the park AT LEAST :30 before game time.

Signaling:

We ALL point where we are going before each batter or situation change. In 3-man everyone has to be on the same page at all times and a head nod is not considered acceptable to NCAA supervisors.

[ukce1861]

I think signaling is vastly different between two-man and three-man (says the man who's done very little three man). If my partner signals that he's doing something in two man (staying home, covering third) then obviously, I'm doing everything else. So a nod or echoing of the signal is unambiguous (provided, of course, that both parties actually know what the signal means). That's clearly not the case in three man; just because one umpire is covering one thing, that still leaves a grey area of coverage for the other two umpires, so there's a definite need for each person to indicate their responsibilities, as opposed to echoing the signal given.

I'll try and figure out what those responsibilities and signals are before I do three man...

As for arrival time - I prefer 45 minutes to an hour. Half an hour is pretty much my absolute minimum to not feel rushed.

[umpire78]

You still check equipment? Are you working HS games?

No. No HS games, mainly rec & church leagues. I DID have a church league team TRY to sneak in an "altered bat" during last season. A CHURCH LEAGUE TEAM!!! :wow:

[dmdhiker]

We are instructed to arrive 30 minutes before game and on field ten minutes before game time for hs lower level games and 45 minutes before varsity. As a newbie I tend to get there early as I did saturday for a DH. Took my time dressing in the parking lot and strolled on the field 25 to 30 minutes before the 10:30 start time when the VC said we can start as soon as I am ready. I thought cool, early start, early finish. Filled out voucher info and was told the game time is 10:00. Told them no one informed me of the change but they could not have cared less. I'm pretty sure they thought I was just late. I should make it a habit to call the AD to confirm gametimes especially for saturday games.

In Illinois we are no longer required to check equipment, just get a verbal acknowledgment from both coaches at plate meeting that all players are properly equipped and all equipment meet all IHSA standards. I think these are the same as NFHS. Is this what people here refer to as FED?

[mstaylor]

I think signaling is vastly different between two-man and three-man (says the man who's done very little three man). If my partner signals that he's doing something in two man (staying home, covering third) then obviously, I'm doing everything else. So a nod or echoing of the signal is unambiguous (provided, of course, that both parties actually know what the signal means). That's clearly not the case in three man; just because one umpire is covering one thing, that still leaves a grey area of coverage for the other two umpires, so there's a definite need for each person to indicate their responsibilities, as opposed to echoing the signal given.

I'll try and figure out what those responsibilities and signals are before I do three man...

As for arrival time - I prefer 45 minutes to an hour. Half an hour is pretty much my absolute minimum to not feel rushed.

As somebody that has done a ton of three man, signalling is very different. In two man, a nod is absolutely fine. On a first to third rotation, the PU signals he will cover third, by nodding you acknowledge you understand what he is going to do, what are you going to signal, that you are going to cover first? Really? BU has first? That's a shocker. Now in three man you have to have three guys in sync with outfield and base coverage, completely different thing.

[NCAAump2]

As a newbie I think these are the same as NFHS. Is this what people here refer to as FED?

Yes. NFHS rules are referred to as FED.

[dmdhiker]

As a newbie I think these are the same as NFHS. Is this what people here refer to as FED?

Yes. NFHS rules are referred to as FED.

Thank you.

Wow, Iearnt how ta use dat quoot thang. (Mocking self). :crazy: