Baseball Officials Training

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Baseball Officials Training

• North Texas Independent Sports Officials

2
Training Overview

• We will review each Rule in the Officials Rule
  Book
• Specialize on high probability issues
• Stress Field Mechanics
• Above all, understand the purpose and meaning of
  the Umpire in baseball

3
Rule 2.00Definition of Terms

• In Rule 2.00, there are 92 terms
• We will cover the main terms
• Remember, terms are the heart of the Rule book
• Terms are a rule!

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Balk

• A balk is an illegal act by the pitcher with a
  runner or runners on base, entitling all runners
  to advance one base without jeopardy of being put
  out
• We will train on balks in this training

5
Bunt

• A batted ball not swung at, but intentionally met
  with the bat and tapped slowly in the infield
• Infield fly rule does not apply to bunted balls

6
A Catch

• The act of a fielder in getting secure possession
  in his hand or glove of a ball in flight and
  firmly holding it, providing he does not use his
  hat, protector or any part of his uniform
• It is a catch if the fielder makes the catch and
  in the process of throwing, drops the ball

7
Dead Ball

• Is a ball out of play because of a legally
  created temporary suspension of play
• See Rule 5.10 calling time
• See Rule 5.11 putting ball back into play

8
Foul Ball

• A batted ball that comes to rest in foul
  territory
• If a fielder touches the ball, it is the position
  of the ball, not the fielder that determines fair
  or foul
• Ball is ALWAYS dead

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Fair Ball

• Is a batted ball that settles in fair ground
  between home and first or home and third base
• Always judged according to the relative position
  of the ball, not the position of the fielder

10
Foul Tip

• Is a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from
  the bat to the catchers hands and is legally
  caught
• It is not a foul tip unless caught
• All foul tips are strikes
• The ball is in play

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Illegal Pitch

• A pitch that is delivered without the pitcher
  having his pivot foot on or in contact with the
  pitchers plate
• With runners on base, this is a balk

12
Infield Fly

• A fair ball which can be caught with ordinary
  effort when 1st, 2nd or 1st, 2nd and 3rd are
  occupied with less than two outs
• Ball is always alive
• Umpire declares infield fly, but lack of umpire
  action does not nullify the infield fly
• All fielders are part of this rule

13
Interference

• An act by the offense that interferes, hinders
  obstructs, impedes or confuses any fielder
  attempting to make a play
• Offense commits this act
• On any interference, the ball is dead

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Obstruction

• The act of a fielder who, while not in possession
  of the ball and not in the act of fielding a
  ball, impedes the progress of any runner
• Defensive act
• Delay-Dead ball

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Overslide

• Act of an offensive player when his slide to a
  base, other than when advancing from home to 1st
  base, is with such momentum that he loves contact
  with the base
• Remember runner must not commit to 2nd base to
  remain protected under this rule

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Play

• The umpires order to start or resume the game
  following any action that produces a dead ball
  condition
• Pitcher and catcher must be in position, with
  catcher in squat

17
Overthrows

• Rules governing overthrows overlooked
• An overthrow that goes into dead ball areas
  causes immediate dead ball
• If pitcher throws, 1 base
• If fielder throws, 2 bases

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Appeals to a Call

• Official nearest play makes call (?) Dual calls
  are tempting the Devil himself
• Once call is made, you can call time and confer
  with fellow official
• No umpire is to overrule another umpire unless
  help is requested
• Dont look like a jerk always call time and
  confer if a call is in question.
• But only official that makes call can ask for help

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Hit Batter

• Must attempt to avoid pitch, by rule
• Ball is always dead, proper call is Dead Ball
• Awarded 1st runners advance if forced
• Swings, hits batters hand (Rule 2.00(e) and
  6.05(f)
• Swings, hits hand as batter swings

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Rule 9.00The Umpire

• Each umpire has authority and is required to
  enforce all of the rules of baseball
• Has authority to order a player, coach, manager
  to refrain from doing anything which affects
  administering baseball rules or to enforce
  penalties

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The Umpire

• Each umpire has the authority to rule on any
  point not specifically covered in rules
• Each umpire has the authority to disqualify any
  player, coach or manager and to eject such
  disqualified person from the playing field for
  unsportsmanlike conduct or language

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The Umpire

• Has authority to remove anyone from the playing
  field that are not authorized
• Any decision which involves judgement is final
  and not appealable
• No player, coach or manager shall object to any
  such judgement

23
The Umpire

• Coaches, players or managers may question an
  umpires decision as it is in conflict with the
  rules
• Any such appeal is made only to the umpire who
  made the protested decision
• Any umpire may ask another umpire for information
  prior to making a final decision

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The Umpire

• No umpire shall criticize, seek to reverse or
  interfere with another umpires decision unless
  asked to do so by the umpire making the decision
• An umpire is always courteous, but firm when the
  situation requires

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Comments to Umpires

• Umpires are the not only the enforcers of a set
  of rules
• They must be seen as enforcing the rules in a
  fair manner
• Respect comes to umpires that call a game fairly
• This includes not trying to make up for a
  previously bad call

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Comments to Umpires

• We stress the appearance of our uniforms
• We stress the courteous performance of our job
• We stress being open for questions from coaches
  and managers
• We allow the greatest game ever played to
  continue within the bounds of the rules
• We are the rules. We are the game because we
  insist that it is played to a common enforcement
  of the rules