Guidelines for
Working Games

 

• Evening before game – check game location, time, partner(s), plate/base assignment and make sure equipment is prepared. Note – Always bring your plate gear even if you are assigned to work the bases.

Check www.cabua.ca for any special league rules, diamond location, normal umpire parking area, and any other relevant information.

• Arrive at diamond 30 minutes before game time (45 minutes before preferred).

Establish a consistent stretching/running/warm-up that helps you relax and prepare both physically and mentally for your game.

• Greet your partner(s) for the game when he/she arrives.

• If unfamiliar with diamond or first game of the season at that diamond, walk the diamond (preferably with your partner), check for hazards, and discuss known or probable ground rules or other peculiarities of that diamond. Be aware of changes since last season (e.g. tree branches now overhang fence, dugout changes…).

• Approximately 25 to 20 minutes before game time, advise home team manager that you are present, check on status of teams/weather/expected start time and obtain supply of game balls.

• Rub up baseballs and get dressed for game.

• Go through pre-game checklist with partners and ensure ground rules and league local rules are understood.

• At 15 minutes before game time if your partner (who is working the plate) has not arrived, get prepared to change into your plate gear. If at 10 minutes before game time said partner has still not arrived, change into your plate gear to ensure that you can start plate meeting on time.

• Arrive at home plate with partner(s) 5 minutes before game time for plate meeting. If necessary and if consistent with league rules/directives, order any team on the diamond to end their infield practice.

• Conduct plate meetings by first receiving home team and then visiting team line-ups. Confirm no obvious errors in line-up and verify starting pitchers and use of DH if relevant. If familiar with ballpark then go through the ground rules. If unfamiliar with the park, then let the home team manager go through them. It might be a good idea to forewarn the manager that you will be asking him to do this. Most amateur managers are not familiar with this practice. Provide ruling if any disagreement on ground rules in effect. Verify the Official Scorekeeper and their location. Introduce yourself to the scorekeeper as they are part of your officiating team.

• During the game, umpires should remain vigilant for any safety infractions such as players not staying within the confines of the bench or equipment left where it could interfere. Some latitude may be granted to managers and coaches to allow them to monitor bullpen activity or take a few steps outside the dugout during a break in play to provide encouragement or instructions. At the discretion of the umpire, the manager or one of the coaches may be allowed to stand just outside the dugout door to give signals as long as they do not interfere with play; however, the umpire reserves the right to restrict all team members to the bench area except those expressly allowed per the rules of baseball (9 defensive players, offensive players currently on base or at bat, one on-deck batter and two offensive base coaches).

• Umpires are expected to do their best to place themselves in good position to observe plays and make correct calls. In some cases; however, errors may be made or plays may be so close that the umpire may be uncertain that his call was accurate. In these circumstances, the umpire may expect some reaction from fans, players and managers/coaches. As long as such reaction is not obscene, derogatory, personal or maintained for an unseemly length of time, the umpire need not eject the offending individual. However, if the umpire is bumped, touched or when obscene, derogatory or personal comments are made, the offending individual should be ejected. Where umpires believe that they have made honest mistakes which cannot be corrected, they should never attempt to “even-up” by making a counteracting “miss-call” as this makes a mockery of the game and can result in loss of respect for the umpire’s credibility.

• In case of dispute, protest or ejection, the umpires must strive to remain calm, poised and do their best to avoid escalating the situation.

• Where ejections or other significant incidents occur, the most involved umpire must make appropriate notes at the time of the incident. He/she may call on the assistance of partner(s) to ensure an accurate description of the event is recorded. The umpire MUST submit a written report to the Umpire Development (UD) Committee Chair with 24 hours of any significant incident. It is the responsibility of the UD Committee chair to forward copies of the umpire’s report to the relevant league and other umpire representatives.

Post-Game Suggestions

• Relax, de-brief with your partner, complete any reports, clean equipment and enjoy the moment.

• If another game shortly follows yours, do not leave until both umpires have arrived for next game. If one umpire has arrived for next game, at least one umpire should remain just case he/she is delayed in traffic, personal emergency or some other unforeseen problem. Contact Assignor to confirm.

• Keep a journal. Someday you will be glad you did. A pocket size day-book in your equipment bag with a couple of notes on the game(s); partner; odd situations or other points will help you recall that day – either when you’re old and grey, asked to clarify a situation that occurred, or your pay cheque does not add up!

Etiquette and Professionalism

• Alcohol must never be consumed before games and should not be consumed in uniform in public view at any youth level ballparks after a game.

• Smoking/Tobacco use is not allowed during the game. Umpires should restrict smoking to the vicinity of their vehicle removed from the diamond.

• When parking on public streets, remember that you may be seen/heard by residents, children or other pedestrians.

• When parking in private business parking facilities, be cognizant that some stalls may be reserved 24/7. Be pleasant and courteous to business owners.

• Do not litter. Some diamonds do not have washroom facilities. Pre-plan and be discreet.

• Although it can be very trying at times, regardless of the quality of play, errors or score imbalance, do not be disrespectful toward the athletes or coaches. While many are openly judgmental of our performance, we must not mock the efforts of the game participants.

• Umpires must be impartial and be perceived by others as impartial. Innocent pregame banter on game length, outcome, probability of mercy rule, or relationship to team members, if overheard, may jeopardize an umpire’s credibility. Do not allow past performance to create false expectations, instead learn to expect the unexpected and allow each play to create its own outcome.

For further learning, see Baseball BC’s ruling on the subject of ‘game duration pool’ as follows:

“Whereas, umpires at tournaments have occasionally participated in small-stakes pools concerning length of games. Such pools are doubtless considered harmless diversions, undertaken entirely in good fun. Unfortunately, they technically constitute a form of gambling on a baseball game in which an umpire is participating. As such, the practice is simply not acceptable. Umpires must always have, and clearly be seen to have, no personal stake in any aspect of a game they umpire. This is the essence of the neutral arbiter. The Board passed the motion that gambling of any sort in a game or tournament at which the official is participating is prohibited.”

• Do not be drawn into commenting or discussing a partner’s performance. Your partner is your only ally on the diamond and you must act as a team at all times. Consider how you would feel if the situation was reversed and a player said “Even the other umpire is laughing at you.”

Kick a call – Incorrect ruling?

• Discuss with your partner after the game; read and understand the correct ruling; call a mentor or supervisor; then put it behind you. The perfect umpire has not yet been created and everyone has likely gone through what you just experienced. There is probably no judge harsher than yourself. Those that criticize the performance of an umpire are usually biased and ignorant of the rules or how they are applied at times. Most have never been near an umpire clinic and lack the courage to try. Playing on the company slo-pitch team or two years of refereeing tyke hockey does not make them a baseball umpire and criticism from such sources should be ignored.

• Learn from your mistakes.