Scituate Little League: Umpires' Plate

All Scituate 12 year old and older residents are encouraged to participate in Umpiring for the Spring and Summer Scituate Little League seasons.

The league held  a Rules Clinic on April 8th which was attended by over 75 Umpire candidates. The Field Clinic was held in the rain on April 11th and attended by over 50 umpire candidates.

Scituate Little League thanks the candidates who attended as well Eric Gill and others who conducted the  clinics. 

Two handouts were distributed: Umpire Clinic Document and Umpire Quiz . 

The Field Clinic Handout can be downloaded by clicking on this link: Umpire Field Clinic .

For more information, please contact the Umpire Coordinator, Mark Radding at 
mark@radding.com or by phone at 545-8212.

Little League Rules has several videos for Umpires - please click on the links below to view the different videos....

Video A: Obstruction When the Play Is Not Being Made on The Runner

Video B: Obstruction When the Play Is Being Made on The Runner

Video C: Interference - Plate Umpire

Video D: Interference -  Base Umpire

Video E: Offensive Interference

Video F: Infield Fly Rule

Video G: Called Strike on a Hit Batter

Video H: Foul Tip

Video I: Illegally Batted Ball

Video J: The "Must Slide or Attempt to Get Around" Rule

Video K: Overrunning First Base

Lots of information for Little League umpires.

Scituate Little League Umpires

Important Points To Remember

For Each and Every Game 

 Pre Game

• Be at the field 15 minutes before the start of the game 
•  Introduce yourself to the coaches
• Sign your name in both the home and visitor scorebook
• Go over all ground rules with both coaches…holes in the fence, out of play area, etc.
• Check all of your equipment, make sure it all fits and is comfortable
• Meet with your partner.  They are your only friend on the field.  Know who is calling safe and out at what base.  Know who will make foul ball calls.  Go over Infield fly signals

 During the Game

• Hustle, Hustle, Hustle.  This is a job and you are being paid…Act like it.
• Put yourself in the proper position to make the right call.
• Say it loud and say it proud.  Let everyone in the park know the call.
• Let them see your call

 Strike Zone

• It is a strike if any part of the ball touches any part of the strike zone
• The strike zone goes from the letter to the knees and covers the entire width of the plate
• As a matter of practice, at the minor and major little league levels, the strike zone should expand because pitchers have trouble throwing strikes.  Your goal as umpire is to encourage hitting and keep the game moving.  When a new batter steps into the batters box, decide where the strike zone is based on the players normal hitting stance.  If you call a pitch a strike, it has to be hittable with normal natural effort.  The key is to be consistent for all batters throughout the entire game.

 Slide Rule

• If the fielder is not making a play on the ball the runner has a right to the base path
• If the fielder does have the ball or is making a play to get the ball the runner must slide or avoid the fielder
• This is still a judgment call, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.  You must judge who was wrong, the fielder or the runner

Information from Umpire Field Clinic:

The most important thing to remember…SAY IT LOUD, SAY IT PROUD

First Base

• Be ready and aware for a check swing call
• Put yourself at a good angle to make the call
• The closer the play, the more animated and loud a call should be
• You must show your call and say your call.  SAY IT LOUD, SAY IT PROUD
• On a ball hit to the outfield, move onto the infield grass and make sure the runner touches the base  

Second Base

• Let the ball turn your head.  This means that you should not turn to quick on a double play.  Make sure the ball is being thrown from second to first. 
• Be ready to make multiple calls on one hit.  There could be a call at second, then quickly a call at first. 

• Be sure to get a good angle.
• Know who (plate umpire or field umpire) his this call
• Many times the slide rule will come into play at third base.

• Be consistent with your strike zone
• Be sure to keep the chest pad up.  Don’t drop it as the pitch comes in.  Cover your shoulders.
• Keep your clicker current.  Be sure to click every pitch
• Work on your strike calls.  Know what you are going to do before your first game.

• Dress warm for the early season games
• Both umpires should have and use a clicker
• Turn your cell phones off
• Make your calls loud.  You will avoid many arguments this way
• Be sure to show your call.  Don’t be afraid to practice the calls at home
• Judgment calls are just that…your judgment.  Don’t change your judgment call.  If it is a rule call, talk it over with the other ump and get it right.  That is the most important thing. 
• You should never get yelled at by a coach.  If you do the right thing (make a strong call, have your cell phone off, show up on time, do your very best) a coach should never yell at you.
• Never yell back.  Be the bigger man

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