Hi Fall Umpires,
Below are the rules that we will be using at Siebert, Alimagnet, Richfield and Nieman.
PLAYING RULES
1. Regular high school playing rules will be in force, except as noted.
2. Special emphasis will be on the force play slide rule at 2B
3. No courtesy runners will be used.
4. No ten-run rule will be in place.
5. Free substitution will be allowed with no restriction on number of players in the batting order.
6. The decisions of the umpires are final and no protests will be allowed.
7. Three free visits to the mound are allowed per game. On the second trip in an inning for the same pitcher, the pitcher must be removed. This is the college rule. So, make sure you don't just use the high school rule only.
8. They will not use base coaches either in most situations because they are trying to get the runners to make decisions on their own.
9. Not more than four innings shall be pitched on a single day by a single pitcher (exception: pitch count below 50 after 4 innings). The same pitcher shall not pitch on consecutive days or in both games of a double header.
10. No game shall go beyond 9 full innings. If the score is tied after 9 complete innings, then a tie shall be declared.
11. At Neiman there is a time limit of 2 hours. They won't go extra innings here.
12. Also, if the coaches stop the game to instruct one or more players, let them do it. It is an instructional league. Work hard but and help the game keep moving but if they coaches are teaching, let them do it.
First Base Mechanics Q & A.
21. What two choices does the BU have to get good position for plays at first when the throw is originating from the right side? If he should take the play from fair or foul territory.
22. When should the BU go into foul territory for force plays at first base? When he reads pressure.
23. List three examples of pressure. 1) The second baseman moving to his left, 2) the 1st baseman moving to his left and 3) sometimes when the pitcher tries to cover 1st base.
24. Describe the proper footwork and action for the BU when a throw is originating from the shortstop playing in a normal position. Step up, turn and face the ball. Bust to your angle and distance. As the fielder fields the ball come to a standing set, square your feet to the base while still facing the fielder. If he makes the throw, watch his release and read if it is “true” or not. If it is “true”, turn your upper body and square it with 1st base too. Go into a hands-on-knees set (HOKS). Now focus on the 1st baseman’s foot, base and the BR’s foot as you listen for the sound of the ball striking the leather of the mitt. If the ball beat the runner, you have one piece of vital information but you now must use your eyes properly by shifting them to the mitt and observe if the fielder has firm and secure possession and that he is about to voluntarily release the ball. When all that is in place, you now may signal the results of the play, which is an out in this instance. If the runner beat the ball, you would have already signaled “Safe!” because there is no need to check on a dropped throw because he was safe without it.
25. Which foot should you always start with when the ball is hit into the infield? Your left foot.
26. Illustrate the diagonal of first base and state when it will help you establish the proper position for force plays at first. Looking at the square base below, the umpire will move to a position so he is straddling the diagonal line from the top left to the bottom right at about 15-18 feet from the base. He should square his feet to the base while still facing the 3rd baseman and/or the pitcher who has fielded the ball on the dirt of the mound. This is called the built in angle for force plays at first base. The base umpire should also come to a hands on knees set when he reads a true throw from the pitcher or 3rd baseman. I am trying to show this in my drawing below but I can’t square the base umpire to the play.
I was unable to draw this and then copy it to this e-mail so most of this answer is meaningless. We will cover this positioning at the orientation meeting at the International School of Minnesota.
BU – I don’t draw very well but the BU shoulders should turn and square up with the base at 1st. BU
27. Name the two set positions for plays on the bases and give examples of each. Standing Set and Hands-On-Knees Set (HOKS). The standing set is used for fair/foul, catch/no catch, plays at the plate, interference, obstruction, overthrows, tags between bases, and any other play in which a follow-up play is likely (e.g., front end of a double play). The HOKS is used for all routine force plays at first, most tag plays on the bases, all pick-offs, and all steals.
28. When should the BU go into a hands-on-knees set position for a force play at first base? After the release of the throw by the infielder and the umpire reads a “true” throw.
29. Describe the umpire’s eye movement on a ground ball to the shortstop who makes a good throw to the first baseman when:
a. the throw beats the batter-runner. The base umpire will move his eyes from the base and now focus on the fielder’s mitt or glove to see if there is firm and secure possession. If there is, the umpire will now signal the out. If there is not, the umpire will signal the safe.
b. The batter-runner beats the throw. Since the runner beat the throw, there is no need to know if there is firm and secure possession because the runner is already safe. He will still be safe if the ball is juggled or dropped.
30. What is the closest an umpire should be from the first base bag with no one on base prior to the pitch? 10-15 feet.