Transcript Pre-Game - Fairfax Adult Softball

Fairfax Adult Softball
2010
Umpire Training
FAS Umpire Policies and Procedures
ASA Umpire Mechanics Video
FAS Umpire
Policies and Procedures
Game Assignments
 Umpires will receive an email from FAS
staff each month requesting umpire
availability for the next month.
 Umpires should email night preference
and availability as soon as possible after
receiving request from staff.
 Assignments are made a month at a time.
 Assignments are posted to the FAS
website on each umpire’s unique URL.
Game Assignments
• Each umpire will view their own URL to
accept or decline assignments.
• Umpires should review their URL
frequently for updates and changes.
• Only accept games you CAN do. You are
responsible to find coverage for any game
you accept and cannot work.
• Be reliable
Game Assignments
 Rookies:
 Donate TWO GAMES: one watching and
one on-the-field game as first assignment
 Teamed with veteran umpire during the
Early Bird Tournaments for 2-3 games.
 Must receive emails by March 22nd for April
scheduling.
 Must receive emails by April 12th for May
scheduling.
Game Assignments
 Umpires should arrive at assignments
no less than 15 minutes prior to
scheduled start time.
 Umpires should never leave a field
before replacement arrives.
 Games cannot be left uncovered. Call
the FAS Umpire Line for assistance in
getting the next set of games covered.
Early Birds
Reston Men, Church & Coed
April 3
Spring Men
April 10
Spring Women
April 10
Spring Coed
April 11
Summer Men, Masters, Seniors
June 19
Summer Coed and Corporate
June 19
Post-Season Tournaments
Men’s Open Buy-In
June 26
Coed Open Buy-In
July 10
FAS Umpire Line
Call 703-772-1899 if:
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You are arriving late for assignment
Lights fail to come on, or go off too early
YOU HAVE A FORFEIT
Sprinklers come on in middle of game
Field is not properly equipped
You cancel games due to rain or other
cause
Rain Outs
 Check FAS Field Status Line (703-550-4111)
before every game for field updates and
cancellations.
 At multiple field parks, all umpires should
meet for a standardized decision on canceling
games (e.g., at Braddock, meet at the
bathrooms).
 If it is raining at your field upon arrival, do not
begin the game unless you are confident of it
completing.
Rain Outs
 If it begins raining after the game has started and
the field becomes unplayable, go into a 20minute delay and try to restart the games at that
time.
 For thunder and lightning, without rain, continue
play if thunder is far away or lightning is
horizontal in the far distance.
 Wait 15 minutes after the last close lightning
strike to resume play.
 Notify FAS immediately of any field closure.
Rain Outs
• For Rain
– It is a field by field decision to cancel
• For Lightning
– It is a park decision. If one field
closes at a park, and it is clear there
is lightning in the area, ALL fields
should close at that park.
Timesheets
Timesheets
are to be
submitted
every Monday
morning by
fax or by
email for the
previous week
of work (forms
available at
http://www.fair
faxadultsoftba
ll.com/TimeU
mp.doc).
Timesheets
Submit invoice weekly even if only one (1)
game is all that was officiated.
Include:
Time and any comments (e.g.: forfeits, field
problems)
Ejections – Very Important as it protects your
fellow blues and helps FAS alleviate problem
players.
Your availability for the upcoming week.
Helps FAS find last minute, needed coverage.
Pay
 Umpires are paid once a month, generally the
first Thursday of each month.
 Umpires are paid $25 for each game officiated,
begun, or forfeited.
 Umpires are paid $13 for only the first game
scheduled to officiate when the games are
cancelled after the umpire arrives at the field
and before the first game has begun.
Pay
Bonus Program:
 $65 - minimum 20 games and a rating at least 80%
 $20 - officiating 40 or more games and a rating at
least 65%
 $50 - recruiting a new umpire who officiates 100
games in that calendar year
Penalties -- up to $10 per game:
 Arrive 20 minutes or more late to assignment
without appropriate notice given to FAS staff
 Fail to arrive for assigned and accepted games
 Fail to find replacement for games you’ve accepted
 Fail to be properly attired
 Fail to submit timesheet each Monday
Evaluations
 FAS conducts evaluations of all umpires.
 Evaluations will include:
 Pre-Game Conference (on time, field &
equipment check, pre-game conference)
 Positioning and Movement
 Signals and calls (clear, decisiveness, timing)
 Judgment (strike zone, consistency, fair/foul,
out/safe)
 Rule knowledge and application
 Game control (attitude, poise, game tempo,
handling manager/players)
Manager Ratings
 Coaches evaluate the following critical areas:
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Pre-Game: On time, held good pre-game conference,
conducted field and equipment check.
Uniform: Professionally attired in official uniform.
Mechanics: Hustle, good positioning, clear and decisive
signaling and calls.
Judgment: Strike zone, fair/foul, and out/safe correct and
consistent.
Rules: Good knowledge of ASA and FAS rules and applied
correctly.
Game Control: Positive, non-confrontational attitude, and
handled problems courteously and firmly.
 FAS maintains manager ratings and will make them
available.
Field Lights
 Umpires are responsible for turning lights on at all fields
(Except: Bready).
 Lights can only be turned on 60 minutes before
official sundown.
 Braddock: The umpire assigned at Field #4 is
responsible for turning the lights on at all six fields
where games are being played.
 Wakefield: The umpire assigned at Field #2 is
responsible for turning the lights on at all three
fields where games are being played.
 Light box locations for parks are listed in the back of the
FAS Rule Book, Appendix B.
Field Lights
 Lights turn off automatically at all fields
(outfield lights first followed by infield
lights)
 11:30 p.m. at Braddock,
 10:30 p.m. at Poplar Tree/Bready Park
 11:00 p.m. at all other lighted fields.
 If you finish significantly ahead of
schedule, please turn lights off at your
field.
Pre-Game
Before You Leave Home . . .
Dress neatly and professionally. FIRST
impressions will command the respect you need
on the field.
Know what league you are officiating.
Check League Addenda for special rules that
apply to that particular league especially Coed,
Corporate Coed, and Seniors.
If Coed, remember you need your ball bag.
Pre-Game
Before You Leave Home . . .
Be sure your umpire’s gear bag contains:
ASA and FAS Rule Books
ASA Banned Bat List -- IN COLOR
ASA Approved Warm-Up List
Extra Indicator and Brush
Watch/Timer
Water
Pre-Game
Arrival at the Field . . .
Arrive 15 minutes prior to scheduled start.
Find the location of the light boxes for later
use.
Walk outfields for holes, potential dangers,
obstacles, and check bases and plate for
stability.
Brush all bases, pitcher’s plate, and home
plate.
Perform bat check in dugouts of each team.
Pre-Game Conference
 5 minutes prior to game time
 Call coaches (or representatives) to home plate
 If Forfeit, remind them of Loan-A-Player Option
 Introduce yourself
 Address field conditions
 Loose bases
 Irregular painted foul lines
 Indicate you want to review key rules before
getting started with the game.
Pre-Game
Key rules to review at conference:
 Profanity, noting there will be ZERO tolerance
 Sportsmanship is expected at all times and that
arguing balls and strikes is grounds for ejection
 Remind there is to be NO exposed jewelry
 Remind them to make sure bats are legal.
 In the event of dispute, you will ONLY discuss
with coach (identify if not them.)
 Ask who is home team and announce Play Ball!
Ejections
 Report on your weekly timesheet.
 Email the FAS office to report the
incident.
 Wait until the next morning after you’ve
“slept on it.”
 Provide as many facts and details as
possible.
Filing Complaints
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If possible, sleep on it.
Must be in writing (fax/e-mail) with details.
FAS follow-up will occur within 24 hours.
Should your complaint result in a hearing,
your attendance will be required.
 You may choose to go alone, have a
representative go with you, or ask for the
FAS 1st Vice-President to attend with you.
Hearings
Upon receipt of a written complaint, FAS shall
conduct a preliminary inquiry to determine
whether hearing regarding incident is
appropriate.
If a hearing is justified, notification of time,
date, and location of hearing will be provided to
all by certified mail not later than 7 days prior to
scheduled date.
The hearing panel will include an umpire
representative if it involved an umpire-related
issue.
SLOW PITCH
ONE-UMPIRE
MECHANICS
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A SINGLE UMPIRE
If only one umpire is assigned, his duties and jurisdictions will extend to all points.
The umpire's starting position for each pitch should be from behind the plate. On
each batted ball or play that develops, the umpire must move out from behind the
plate and into the infield to obtain the best position for any play that develops.
O - Only you are calling the game
N - Nobody is there to help
E - Every call must be yours
U - Understand the players and the game
M - Mechanics and Hustle
P - Priorities
I - Infield is where the calls are made
R - Read the players to help make the call
E - End the game with good out
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A SINGLE UMPIRE
• Starting position is behind the plate
• On a batted ball, or a play that develops, move
out from behind the plate into the infield for the
best position for any play that develops.
Understand the players and the game
• Use proper mechanics…..hustle
• Priorities…always work in priorities: first this,
then that.
• Read players to help make the call
SINGLE UMPIRE - GROUND BALL TO INFIELD
B
A
C
P
A. No Runners on base.
B. Runners on 1st base or Runners on 1st and 2nd Base.
C. Bases Loaded.
SINGLE UMPIRE - BASE HIT
B
C
A
D
P
A. No Runners - SINGLE
B. No Runners - DOUBLE
C. No Runners - TRIPLE
D. No Runners - HOME RUN
NOTE: On all base hit
situations, umpire
must watch runner tag
bases and be aware of
position of the ball.
SINGLE UMPIRE - FLY BALL SITUATIONS
• You have all fly ball calls
• You have all tag-ups and Advancements
• Prioritize
• Fair / Foul
• Catch / No Catch
• Keep all runners in front of you
YOU HAVE TO HUSTLE AND BE IN POSITION
IT IS ONLY YOU ON THE DIAMOND
SINGLE UMPIRE - FLY BALL SITUATIONS
B
C
A
D
P
NOTE: On all fly ball
situations, where the
ball is near the foul
line, the umpire must
stay on the foul line
to determine
whether the ball is
fair or foul - then
move into the infield
to pick up runners
and plays.
A. No Runners - Fly ball to infield or outfield and not near the foul line OR
B. Runner on 1st Base, OR
C. Runners on 1st or 2nd or 2nd Base only, move to a possible call at 3rd
Base or to foul territory ahead of the lead runner for a possible play at home
if necessary after the catch, OR
D. Runners on 2nd and 3rd, or 1st and 3rd.
BASE MECHANICS
• POSITIONING IS ABOUT ANGLES AND
UNDERSTANDING WHERE YOU NEED
TO BE TO SEE THE PLAY
• LEARN TO ADAPT TO THE PLAY—
HUSTLE
• THE ELEMENTS OF THE PLAY WILL
DICTATE YOUR POSITION
FORCE PLAY’S
• 90 DEGREES TO THE THROW
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MAINTAIN PROPER DISTANCE
WATCH THE FIELDER FIELD THE BALL
SQUARE TO THE PLAY
WATCH THE BALL – LET THE BALL
TAKE YOU INTO THE PLAY
• LISTEN FOR THE SOUNDS
PLATE MECHANICS
 HEEL AND TOE STANCE – IN SLOT
 DROP TO SET POSITION WHEN
PITCH IS RELEASED
 TRACK THE BALL FROM THE
PITCHER’S HAND TO THE
CATCHER’S GLOVE/MITT
 TIMING
 AVOID TOO CLOSE / TOO FAR
 AVOID MOVING ON PITCH
 CONSISTENCY
PLATE MECHANICS