Following ball with your eyes

[JaxRolo]

It has been drilled to me over and over again to keep my head still and follow the ball with my eyes into the mitt.

I was watching the Florida/FAU and the PU was moving his head all over the place with his head.

Are they not taught the same as we are?

[Mike Prince]

I was at a clinic yesterday and keeping your head perfectly still was preached over and over again in the cage work (in addition to a lot of other things). Instructors were PBUC evaluators, several of who are also NCAA Umpires.

[Umpire in Chief]

Moving the head is a bad habit for many, you will see it at all levels including MLB.

[celt62]

I was at a 3-man camp last fall and they would stare at your eyes and let you know when you didn't follow it to the mitt. They could even tell when you gave up on it once it crossed the front of the plate and let you know how wrong you were in very colorful terms when you said, "no, I did follow it in". The hardest part is determining a check swing while following the ball because you're so focused you think you can't see the bat but you can. The more you do it the easier it gets. You can practice by having someone roll balls toward you. Sounds crazy but after taking the winter off it helps retrain your eyes. Besides your less likely to get crap about your strike zone if you're a statue versus any kind of head movement.

[UMP45]

Bikerider I was at the same clinic. I was wearing #45! In group A. Darren is a good friend of mine. Which one was you?:question1:

[jkumpire]

Jax,

Yes that is how we are taught, but the other side of the issue is: Do what you want, get the call right.

I am part of a local HS BB/SB group. The local SB guys are great umpires. But it cracks me up to hear them talk about mechanics, and these people are top of the list national umpires:

SB- you are to move your head to track the ball.

BB--????????? Serious?

SB- 3 piece strike call, call strike, then get out of crouch, then do the hammer.

BB- Voice and signal at the same time.

SB-- Use the hammer only

BB-- who cares what it looks like, call it.

SB: Classic Box stance only

BB: Get you head in the slot, however you desire to get it done (Yes, I know what is considered the best mechanics behind the plate, but lots of guys considered better than me don't always follow the 'standard' mechanics) .

SB: One guy said another guy is going to X national tournament because his mechanics are so perfect. (???????)

BB: I thought he would get assigned to X national tournament because he gets the calls right, and has good mechanics. But sometimes I never hear that from some people, in many sports these days.

A very nice man was talking about ASA teachers saying you should have video and PC with you wherever you go so after you film a guy working you can show them on the pc when they stand up up too fast after calling a strike etc.

Me- How about this, show him if he got the call right. then offer him an idea of why he missed if he missed it.

IT'S THE CALL THAT MATTERS!!!!!!!!!! Did you get it right or not?

In other words Jax, there are ways to get things done that are to many people the "best way' to get it done. but as I grow old doing this, i could care less and less about mechanical perfection. the whole point is to get the call right every time, be a good partner so he can get his job done, and do your best for the sake of the players. If it works for you and you get the plays call correctly, then you did your job.

But above all else, get the call right. That is all that matters.

[Mike Prince]

@UMP45 - I was in group D (the smallest group), I had a black jacket on. I sat with Darren and his brother on the RF bullpen bench for lunch, there were 1-2 other guys there as well.

[raiders]

jk u are right with ur comments get the call right and thats all that really matters...yes so true but if u want to do nationals and big tournaments and leagues...u have to know which ass to kiss and being a robotic expert in mechanics is considered more than having great strike zone and getting the calls right...just look at the major league umps....the old days they had the big fat guys and to me they did a alot better job than these little robotic skinny umps they have now

Jax,

Yes that is how we are taught, but the other side of the issue is: Do what you want, get the call right.

I am part of a local HS BB/SB group. The local SB guys are great umpires. But it cracks me up to hear them talk about mechanics, and these people are top of the list national umpires:

SB- you are to move your head to track the ball.

BB--????????? Serious?

SB- 3 piece strike call, call strike, then get out of crouch, then do the hammer.

BB- Voice and signal at the same time.

SB-- Use the hammer only

BB-- who cares what it looks like, call it.

SB: Classic Box stance only

BB: Get you head in the slot, however you desire to get it done (Yes, I know what is considered the best mechanics behind the plate, but lots of guys considered better than me don't always follow the 'standard' mechanics) .

SB: One guy said another guy is going to X national tournament because his mechanics are so perfect. (???????)

BB: I thought he would get assigned to X national tournament because he gets the calls right, and has good mechanics. But sometimes I never hear that from some people, in many sports these days.

A very nice man was talking about ASA teachers saying you should have video and PC with you wherever you go so after you film a guy working you can show them on the pc when they stand up up too fast after calling a strike etc.

Me- How about this, show him if he got the call right. then offer him an idea of why he missed if he missed it.

IT'S THE CALL THAT MATTERS!!!!!!!!!! Did you get it right or not?

In other words Jax, there are ways to get things done that are to many people the "best way' to get it done. but as I grow old doing this, i could care less and less about mechanical perfection. the whole point is to get the call right every time, be a good partner so he can get his job done, and do your best for the sake of the players. If it works for you and you get the plays call correctly, then you did your job.

But above all else, get the call right. That is all that matters.

[smoyer]

I have another tip for not moving your eyes,wait until you hear the ball hit the glove.

[Codyw09]

SMoyer why wouldnt you want to move your eyes? lol Keep your head still and watch the ball to the glove, if you have to hear the sound of the glove your doing something totally wrong.

[mstaylor]

Hard to track the ball to the glove if you don't move your eyes.

[smoyer]

Hard to track the ball to the glove if you don't move your eyes.

I meant to say not moving your head,, So watch the ball into glove,wait until your hear sound which is almost instantley,then call ball or strike.This also helps from rushing your timing.

[marvin]

For some of us who wear bi-focals keeping the head perfectly still and following the ball only with the eyes isn't an option, especially on low pitches. The appearance of stability should not trump seeing the ball into the glove and getting call correct.

[mstaylor]

First, welcome to the site. I wear bifocals and can track without moving my head. In my job I sight a location from the ground to the steel to hang motors for concerts. I regularly do this anywhere from 40 to 120 ft in the air. I have no problem doing either thing, it does take practice though.

[semper_fi_72]

For some of us who wear bi-focals keeping the head perfectly still and following the ball only with the eyes isn't an option, especially on low pitches. The appearance of stability should not trump seeing the ball into the glove and getting call correct.

I also wear bi-focal (Contacts) and I have no problem tracking the ball to the glove with my eyes only.