1 Man Mechanics?

[Heave-Ho]

Hey all,

 

I'll be doing my first ever one-man game tomorrow. Keep in mind it's a U8 game, so the level of baseball won't be terribly high. However, I want to make sure I get it done right. What is the "proper" positioning. I'll be doing the game from behind the plate, but when the ball is put in play, where should I go. I'm young and fast enough I can get out from behind the plate without much of a problem, I'm just slightly puzzled on proper positioning. 

[blue23ll]

You will mostly be working in the infield, between the 1st base and 3rd base side of the mound. Generally you won't need to go past the mound. Work for angle vs distance and with multiple runners don't over commit to the lead runner. You must watch the ball and glance at runners, but if you need to focus on a trouble ball or a ball ripped down the line you won't be able to follow the runners very well. On the steal play, all you can do is get out from behind the plate and give a good guess. On pick-offs at 1b, the runner has to basically fall down and not be able to get back to the base to be out. 

Good luck.

[pnewton]

You almost figure it out as you go. Instead of following batter-runner up the line try to run toward a spot about half way between the mound and first base (you don't have to actually get that far, just far enough to have an angle.

[noumpere]

Draw a line throught the lead runner and parallel to the third base foul line.

 

Generally -- don't go past that line.  The exception would be when R3 wil easily score (base hit to the outfield, for example) -- the treat the "next" runner as the lead runner.

 

Honestly, it's not that hard.

[BretMan]

For a written guide, USA softball publishes their umpire manual online. They have documented one-man mechanics that would work well on the baseball field.