First High School Games

[baseballfan]

Doing my first high school game this weekend in an exhibition game between 2 teams. It'll be solo unfortunately. Just found out about it today, so I will be reading the FED rulebook this week. Aside from that, what tips does anyone have for working high school? What should the strike zone be like? Is umpiring under FED rules really different than umpiring under OBR rules? Anything would be great, thanks!!!

[JaxRolo]

Know the differences!!

[mstaylor]

Doing my first high school game this weekend in an exhibition game between 2 teams. It'll be solo unfortunately. Just found out about it today, so I will be reading the FED rulebook this week. Aside from that, what tips does anyone have for working high school? What should the strike zone be like? Is umpiring under FED rules really different than umpiring under OBR rules? Anything would be great, thanks!!!

Know and understand the FPSR, the balk rule, and the obstruction rule. Also look at the appeal procedure. There are others but these are the big ones

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

[ricka56]

There are many Fed rules differences, and if you plan to work HS Fed games, then you need to know the diffs. But this is a exhibition games using one-man umpire crew, so I think that they are more interested in working out, then whether you you know all the Fed rules.  

 

The ones I would consider priority is the force-play slide rules and the obstruction rule regarding allowing access to the base if a fielder doesn't have the ball.

[plateumpire]

I did some high school freshmen games this year. What level are you doing? One of the big differences is that you kill the play on all balks. One thing I was taught to do is, say, "That's a balk!" and then call time so you don't get into a habit of calling time on balks in OBR. 

[grayhawk]

What level of ball have you been calling?  If it's Little League, then your zone should not be as high.  LL is to the arm pits, and HS is the mid point between the top of the uniform pants and the shoulders.  I give a little on the inside and about a ball on the outside.  If you want to call a big zone, the wider is always better than taller.

 

My #1 piece of advice - HUSTLE!  Get out there and get good angle/distance.  Read the play and set yourself up for the most obvious play.  If they start throwing it around, just do your best!  Do NOT just hang around home plate.  With no runners, and a double or triple, you should be at the cutout at second and third respectively - in just as good of a position as if you were the BU in 2 man.

 

Other have covered common rule differences.

[baseballfan]

I've done youth/PONY most of my career and I've also recently done 2 NAIA inter-squad games. As far as I know, these are going to be varsity players, but I could be wrong. 

[grayhawk]

If you've done PONY up to age 14, then you should have no problem with a HS exhibition.  Not much difference except for some of the common rules that folks have listed.  If they are varsity, depending on the level of play, then the game speed will be pretty fast compared to what you are used to.

 

Second piece of advice - SLOW DOWN!  When the game speed is fast, YOU will want to be fast.  Resist the urge!  Take in ALL the info, make your decision, THEN call it.

[24sdad]

Don't know what your one man experience is, but it is generally accepted on long distance calls if the ball beats the runner and the tag is down, get the out.  Like grayhawk said, get out from behind the plate and hustle.

 

RE: strike zone - its winter HS ball...STRIKES!

[conbo61]

Make sure you have a good handle on the rules that are safety based.  A lot of folks mentioned the FPSR, but also have an understanding of illegal slides, malicious contact, obstruction and interference. 

 

While no one wants to screw up base awards, you DEFINITELY do not want to make an error where someone can get hurt.

[UMP45]

Don't f#$k it up!

[noumpere]

Read the chart in the back of the book for some of the most common rules differences.

[baseballfan]

Read the chart in the back of the book for some of the most common rules differences.

 

So, I just realized that FED rules are not online in PDF form, so I have to buy the book. But I don't think I have time for that. I'm trying to get a hold of someone who may have the book but can't get their number at this point. I did find this online. Does it look reliable?

 

http://stevetheump.com/nfhs_pro_rules_dif.htm

[conbo61]

 

Read the chart in the back of the book for some of the most common rules differences.

 

So, I just realized that FED rules are not online in PDF form, so I have to buy the book. But I don't think I have time for that. I'm trying to get a hold of someone who may have the book but can't get their number at this point. I did find this online. Does it look reliable?

 

http://stevetheump.com/nfhs_pro_rules_dif.htm

 

Are you on Arbiter?  If you are you can sign in to Arbiter and there are links to the 2014 Rule and Case books.  I think Jax may have posted the link.

 

Here it is:  http://umpire-empire.com/index.php/topic/54197-2014-fed-rule-changes/page-2

 

You may want to pick up a copy of the Baseball Rule Differences (BRD).  I highly recommend it.

 

http://umpire-empire.com/index.php/topic/55308-2014-brd-baseball-rule-differences/

 

Good luck!

[mstaylor]

 

Read the chart in the back of the book for some of the most common rules differences.

 

So, I just realized that FED rules are not online in PDF form, so I have to buy the book. But I don't think I have time for that. I'm trying to get a hold of someone who may have the book but can't get their number at this point. I did find this online. Does it look reliable?

 

http://stevetheump.com/nfhs_pro_rules_dif.htm

 

Yes, Steve's site is credible.

[Jocko]

Relax. Take your time. Call strikes. And try not to suck.

[Platejob29]

Knowing the rule differences is really the only thing that you can do to prepare before hand. Everything else you need to know will just come from experience in HS games. It's just like anything else in umpiring. Get out there, do it, and learn from your mistakes. Make aggressive mistakes rather than conservative mistakes. What I mean by that is it's better to get into trouble trying to be on top of things even if you make a mistake in doing so rather than making a mistake because you are unsure of what to do in a certain situation. That is from a mechanics standpoint any way. With rules I would say sometimes it's better to be safe than sorry. Lastly call strikes, HS coaches want a bigger zone on the inside and outside. Strikes and outs get you back to the house. In lower level HS games such as Freshman, and even some JV games the catchers will want to frame the high pitches and lower pitches much more than they should and much more than a Varsity catcher typically would. When that happens I'll often tell them "we are gunna work in and out today, not up and down." You will be amazed how much little stuff like that will make a difference. Go out there do your job and you will be fine. HS ball is generally going to be better than kid ball and the better the ball the easier it is to call.

[Pete Peterson Sr]

 

Doing my first high school game this weekend in an exhibition game between 2 teams. It'll be solo unfortunately. Just found out about it today, so I will be reading the FED rulebook this week. Aside from that, what tips does anyone have for working high school? What should the strike zone be like? Is umpiring under FED rules really different than umpiring under OBR rules? Anything would be great, thanks!!!

Know and understand the FPSR, the balk rule, and the obstruction rule. Also look at the appeal procedure. There are others but these are the big ones

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

 

 

 I would include re-entry substitution and the DH rule.

[Texas Manny]

The best piece of advice I can give you on plate work is to make sure you track the ball with your eyes from the pitchers hand all the way into the glove. Let it register in your mind that the ball has been caught, then make your "Ball #" or "Strike!" call, as the case may be. If you exercise proper eye control, and also proper head height (bottom of mask is at top of the catchers head) it is almost impossible for you to A) miss the pitch, and B) call it too soon. Get into the zone, block everything out, and let it be just you, the catcher and the pitcher. Nothing is more exciting than being in the zone.

[Scratch Franzeo]

....Nothing is more exciting than being in the zone.

I agree with everything many said except for the last sentence of his post. I can think of several things that are more exciting than being in the zone.

[Texas Manny]

 

....Nothing is more exciting than being in the zone.

I agree with everything many said except for the last sentence of his post. I can think of several things that are more exciting than being in the zone.

 

LOL...I'm afraid to ask.

 

I was referring to the game particulars. Being in the zone is a plate umpires euphoria.

[Scratch Franzeo]

....Nothing is more exciting than being in the zone.

I agree with everything many said except for the last sentence of his post. I can think of several things that are more exciting than being in the zone.

LOL...I'm afraid to ask.

 

I was referring to the game particulars. Being in the zone is a plate umpires euphoria.

So, you're saying I should start a new thread asking for our members to list things more exciting than "being in the zone?"

Lol

You're right though, it is a good feeling to walk off the field knowing that you called a great game.

[alex7]

 

Read the chart in the back of the book for some of the most common rules differences.

 

So, I just realized that FED rules are not online in PDF form, so I have to buy the book. But I don't think I have time for that. I'm trying to get a hold of someone who may have the book but can't get their number at this point. I did find this online. Does it look reliable?

 

http://stevetheump.com/nfhs_pro_rules_dif.htm

 

 

 

http://www.leaguelineup.com/rrbl/files/2012_NFHS_RuleCaseBook.pdf

 

Fed rules and Case book in one PDF.

[JaxRolo]

 

 

 

....Nothing is more exciting than being in the zone.

I agree with everything many said except for the last sentence of his post. I can think of several things that are more exciting than being in the zone. LOL...I'm afraid to ask.

 

I was referring to the game particulars. Being in the zone is a plate umpires euphoria.

You're right though, it is a good feeling to walk off the field knowing that you called a great game.

 

I wish this would happen to m some day!

[ricka56]

 

You're right though, it is a good feeling to walk off the field knowing that you called a great game.

I wish this would happen to me some day!

 

If that happened to me, I would consider retiring while on top.