Officially starting my little league umpire journey tomorrow

[orangebird]

2 minutes ago, Richvee said:

Well done. Just remember it’s the second “play”. Not necessarily second throw. Tagging a base, or trying to gag a runner is play one. 
Having a grasp of this rule, and enforcing it correctly puts you ahead of a ton of rec league umpires, and almost all Daddy coaches. I had to explain it to my partner after a varsity game. R1. GB to 3B. F5 throws off line to 1B, BR is safe. R1 continues around 2B for 3B, F3 throws to F5, out of play. Partner couldn’t figure out why I have BR 3B. 

Well today I learned! Definitely means I enforced it correctly even if it was an unassisted force at 2B 😎

[834k3r]

On 4/5/2025 at 11:57 AM, orangebird said:

Not sure I'm ever going to feel totally comfortable with the top and bottom of the zone as long as kids are throwing lobs

That's why I believe it's actually easier to call balls and strikes the higher you go up the ladder. The easiest game I've ever called from behind the plate was one school's ace (now playing D2 ball somewhere). He knew exactly where to throw the ball. Quick aside:  I think it's so cool to watch a well-thrown slider.

On 4/5/2025 at 11:57 AM, orangebird said:

First foul ball off my hand, my right index finger hurts a bit but nothing too serious

I recommend putting your hand behind your knees. I use my hands behind my knees to first protect my hands, but also ensure I'm in the same crouch every time (to help ensure a consistent zone). YMMV.

[orangebird]

6 minutes ago, 834k3r said:

That's why I believe it's actually easier to call balls and strikes the higher you go up the ladder. The easiest game I've ever called from behind the plate was one school's ace (now playing D2 ball somewhere). He knew exactly where to throw the ball. Quick aside:  I think it's so cool to watch a well-thrown slider.

I recommend putting your hand behind your knees. I use my hands behind my knees to first protect my hands, but also ensure I'm in the same crouch every time (to help ensure a consistent zone). YMMV.

1. Yeah I can definitely buy that. Still think the first time I'd see an 80 mph pitch up-and-in would make me feel like I'm about to die but I'd also guess the kids catching 80 mph know how to catch better than your local 9-year-old in rec ball 

2. Yeah I did that for the rest of the game. I kinda figured anything that hit me at that speed wouldn't hurt and I mean it didn't break anything but I know fully understand a baseball hitting you at basically any speed when you're not bracing your body for it is definitely gonna leave some soreness

[834k3r]

9 minutes ago, orangebird said:

a baseball hitting you at basically any speed when you're not bracing your body for it is definitely gonna leave some soreness

It's counterintuitive, but you'll have your least possibility of injury to your hands if you don't brace for the impact. Hang them loose, and don't put them on your shin guards. If you get hit, you'll feel it for sure, but a bruise should be all you get.

It's the opposite for shots to the mask (for me anyway). Hold your head steady and let the equipment do the job it's designed to do. I'll actually open my eyes wider when the pitcher is releasing the ball to keep me from blinking and missing a swing or HBP. Plus, if you get the reputation for being a flincher, things won't go well.

As with everything else in this hobby/vocation, it gets easier the more you do it.

[The Man in Blue]

^That.  When we have proper gear worn properly, we learn to hold still and let the gear do its job.  More injuries happen when umpires try to flinch or move because you are moving the gear from its place.  It is a tough thing to train yourself to do, but worth it.  Learn to take a bump.

 

Here may be another odd consideration for calling strikes at that low level . . . and one that you would never do anywhere else . . . consider the zone at the batter, not the plate.  As you saw, the idea at this level is to get the ball into play.

[Velho]

7 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

It is a tough thing to train yourself to do, but worth it.  Learn to take a bump.

Good example. You want to keep your chin tucked/down in both.

[orangebird]

18 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

^That.  When we have proper gear worn properly, we learn to hold still and let the gear do its job.  More injuries happen when umpires try to flinch or move because you are moving the gear from its place.  It is a tough thing to train yourself to do, but worth it.  Learn to take a bump.

 

Here may be another odd consideration for calling strikes at that low level . . . and one that you would never do anywhere else . . . consider the zone at the batter, not the plate.  As you saw, the idea at this level is to get the ball into play.

Could you elaborate on that? I think I get what you mean but want to be sure 

[orangebird]

First plate game with a base umpire tomorrow, emailed him when I got the assignment and did a 24 hours before first pitch text check-in and his responses didn't sound super dry, what a breath of fresh air lol

[The Man in Blue]

23 hours ago, orangebird said:

Could you elaborate on that? I think I get what you mean but want to be sure 

 

You have to learn how to get hit.  Literally.  Training yourself to suppress your instincts to move and flinch is difficult.  Don't move your gear, let it take the bump for you.  Your mask, your chest protector, and your shin guards are all facing forward (where the ball is coming from).  When you twist or jump or flinch, you move those to the side.

As was mentioned, stay loose.  You want kinetic energy to stay kinetic and keep moving things until they gradually resist and stop.  Pouring all the kinetic energy into an impact point is not good.  Think about crumple zones in modern cars versus the iron tanks/roll cages we used to drive.

You will get hit.  It will hurt for a bit.  Don't make it worse.

Even bigger point: stay out of the line of fire!  Working the slot is just ONE example of staying out of the line of fire.  If a pitcher is warming up, do not stand anywhere near the plate.  Get up the line.  NEVER walk across behind the catcher if a pitcher is throwing.  If you must cross, stop the pitcher until you are clear.

[orangebird]

1 hour ago, The Man in Blue said:

 

You have to learn how to get hit.  Literally.  Training yourself to suppress your instincts to move and flinch is difficult.  Don't move your gear, let it take the bump for you.  Your mask, your chest protector, and your shin guards are all facing forward (where the ball is coming from).  When you twist or jump or flinch, you move those to the side.

As was mentioned, stay loose.  You want kinetic energy to stay kinetic and keep moving things until they gradually resist and stop.  Pouring all the kinetic energy into an impact point is not good.  Think about crumple zones in modern cars versus the iron tanks/roll cages we used to drive.

You will get hit.  It will hurt for a bit.  Don't make it worse.

Even bigger point: stay out of the line of fire!  Working the slot is just ONE example of staying out of the line of fire.  If a pitcher is warming up, do not stand anywhere near the plate.  Get up the line.  NEVER walk across behind the catcher if a pitcher is throwing.  If you must cross, stop the pitcher until you are clear.

Haha I understood your first point just fine, I was asking more about

Quote

Here may be another odd consideration for calling strikes at that low level . . . and one that you would never do anywhere else . . . consider the zone at the batter, not the plate.  As you saw, the idea at this level is to get the ball into play.

Guess the quote preview cutoff did me no favors there

[orangebird]

In an inauspicious start to org 2…learnt my first game was cancelled once I got to the field lol. Didn’t have my own ride to the game so I’m currently waiting for pickup whole watching an U15 or something travel game warm up lol

Still getting paid at least lmfao

[orangebird]

Asked the UIC for us and he thinks they double booked the field, not ideal for logistics! 

[834k3r]

17 hours ago, orangebird said:

In an inauspicious start to org 2…learnt my first game was cancelled once I got to the field lol. Didn’t have my own ride to the game so I’m currently waiting for pickup whole watching an U15 or something travel game warm up lol

Still getting paid at least lmfao

[The Man in Blue]

On 4/8/2025 at 9:54 PM, orangebird said:

Haha I understood your first point just fine, I was asking more about

Guess the quote preview cutoff did me no favors there

Ahhh …

A batter that is way far up or back in the box presents an awkward strike zone.

As has been said, the idea at this level is to get the ball in play.  Technically the strike zone is at the plate (and it should be at all competent levels).  At this level though, call the zone at the batter so they can start getting used to the idea “If I can hit it, I should hit it.”

 

 

[orangebird]

The county was on spring break last week so I've had a bit of a time off but I've got 3 games with 3 different rec leagues in the next 7 days, which includes learning 3 different types of rule sets for stolen bases! This one makes sense but is by far the most elaborate I've seen.

 

[Umpy]

I would like to see a kid try to advance to Third when Third base is occupied.

[Jay R.]

On 4/22/2025 at 12:31 PM, orangebird said:

The county was on spring break last week so I've had a bit of a time off but I've got 3 games with 3 different rec leagues in the next 7 days, which includes learning 3 different types of rule sets for stolen bases! This one makes sense but is by far the most elaborate I've seen.

 

I am somewhat impressed that they included D. I've only ever seen one other local rules for stealing address balls out of play, and even that was indirect (something to the effect of "A base runner may only score on a play that begins with a batted ball or as a result of being forced home on a walk" as a concluding point to the baserunning rules mods, which included stealing). 

[orangebird]

Anyways yesterday I worked what was apparently a scrimmage and got the vibe at least half of the kids hadn't played any level of baseball before. There were a handful of kids that didn't understand how the batter's box worked, each team had a catcher that needed their coach to draw a line in the dirt to make sure they were safe from a kid swinging and one kid who seemingly hadn't learnt the concept of a called strike yet.

Not complaining, just felt kinda trippy to work a game with kids much less familiar with basic baseball concepts than my other games, but it also meant the coaches were incredibly relaxed, so that was nice.

[orangebird]

Just worked a game where "if it bounces it's still a HBP" and "if it hits you but you swing, it's a strike" happened in the span of like 1 inning or 1.5 innings, felt nice to work a game that made me feel like properly learning the rules actually came into play 

[834k3r]

14 hours ago, orangebird said:

Just worked a game where "if it bounces it's still a HBP" and "if it hits you but you swing, it's a strike" happened in the span of like 1 inning or 1.5 innings, felt nice to work a game that made me feel like properly learning the rules actually came into play 

In my experience, that's the point where two types of coaches begin to diverge--those that despise your games, and those that admire your games. The coaches that despise your games have never read a rule book and believe the hands are still part of the bat. The coaches that admire your games will appreciate your ability to quickly adjudicate odd situations.

Well done!

[orangebird]

6 minutes ago, 834k3r said:

In my experience, that's the point where two types of coaches begin to diverge--those that despise your games, and those that admire your games. The coaches that despise your games have never read a rule book and believe the hands are still part of the bat. The coaches that admire your games will appreciate your ability to quickly adjudicate odd situations.

Well done!

Yeah so far I've only had one coach who didn't fully understand how 2 bases are awarded from anything other than first throw from the infield and he seemed more confused than actually argumentative. 

I also gave some leeway (with the batting team coach's permission) where the bounced HBP was the second of the inning and that's meant to get him pulled but it felt a little unfair to a 9-year-old to say he needs to leave based on a harmless bouncer off the shin, so he stayed in and finished the inning without incident.

Feel like you can be a bit flexible with some of the league-specific rules as long as both coaches agree with it

[jimurrayalterego]

1 hour ago, orangebird said:

Yeah so far I've only had one coach who didn't fully understand how 2 bases are awarded from anything other than first throw from the infield and he seemed more confused than actually argumentative. 

 

I'm confused also. Does that have something to do with the local stealing rules? Throw out of play is always 2 bases, TOP or TOT depending.

[orangebird]

11 minutes ago, jimurrayalterego said:

I'm confused also. Does that have something to do with the local stealing rules? Throw out of play is always 2 bases, TOP or TOT depending.

No, I think the confusion was over where to place the runners as far as two bases starting from what base

[jimurrayalterego]

10 minutes ago, orangebird said:

No, I think the confusion was over where to place the runners as far as two bases starting from what base

Is "other than the first throw from the infield" an exception to two bases?

[orangebird]

1 hour ago, jimurrayalterego said:

Is "other than the first throw from the infield" an exception to two bases?

Not that I'm aware of? I'm pretty I called it correctly, just was a coach who might've never seen it thrown out of play from that situation as a u10 coach possibly in his first season doing this.