Two-Umpire Mechanics
2012 Indiana ASA State Umpire Clinics & Schools
Plate Mechanics
1. Feet should be in a heel-toe stance at least shoulder
width apart to have good pelvic alignment
2. Set up in the slot: inside ear on the inside corner of
the plate with shoulders squared to the front outside
corner; turn head & eyes to see the pitcher
3. Go set when the pitch begins…
 FP: when hands separate
 SP: when the pitcher makes any motion with the ball
after the required stop
4. Set your eyes at the top of the zone
Plate Mechanics
5. Track the ball with a slight head movement to
improve your timing
6. Verbal pitch calls are made in the down/set
position
7. On a called 3rd strike, there should be 2 verbal
calls
8. When the ball goes behind the catcher, the plate
umpire should pivot the same way as the catcher
Plate Mechanics
9. Take your mask off with your left hand and exit to
the left of the catcher
10. Plate umpire should trail approximately 1/3 of
the way to 1B
11. Trail with no runners on base or lone runner at 1B,
unless ball takes you elsewhere
12. Move to holding zone once batter-runner
approaches 2B and will not come back to 1B
Base Mechanics
1. FP: 18-21’ walk the line with no runners; set
position with a runner on base; always shade the lead
runner (left shoulder of 2B, left or right shoulder of
SS)
2. SP: start off the left shoulder of 2nd baseman
with no runners on base or a runner on 1B or 3B; start
off right shoulder of 2nd baseman if runner at 2B
3. 90o angle to the throw from the infielder, but not
past a 45o angle from 1B (would lose view of swipe tag
and/or pulled foot)
Base Mechanics
4. Always attempt to obtain a 90o angle and be about
12-15’ from a tag play
5. Move parallel with the runner on pickoff or steal
6. For pickoff at 3B, move toward the foul line to get
an unobstructed view of the play
Base Mechanics
7. FP: When starting behind SS, move toward the
pitching circle for force play at 1B; plate umpire is
responsible for subsequent throw to 3B or home plate
8. Buttonhook 10-12’ inside the baseline & foul line:
plant your right foot, pivot with the runner and watch
them touch 1B. Then pick up the ball and move
parallel to obtain a 90o angle on a possible tag play
Responsibilities – Plays in
Infield
1. Force plays at any base except home
 FP: BU has all force plays except home
 SP: PU has force plays at 3B or home plate
Responsibilities – Plays in
Infield
2. Force play at 1st base on batter-runner followed by
a play at 3rd base on a different runner
 BU has force play at 1B
 PU has subsequent throw to 3B
Responsibilities – Plays in
Infield
3. Play at 3rd base followed by a play at 2nd base on a
different runner
 FP: BU has first throw at 3B and any additional
plays on bases
 SP: PU has first play at 3B, BU has plays on
additional bases
Responsibilities – Plays in
Infield
4. Play at home plate followed by a play at 3rd base on
a different runner.
 PU has play at home plate
 BU would have any plays on bases on a subsequent
throw
Responsibilities – Plays in
Infield
5. Force play at 1st followed by a throw to 2nd base on
a different runner
 BU has force at 1B and any additional plays at 2B
 PU would be responsible for plays at 3B or home
plate if the lead runner advances past 2B
Responsibilities – Base Hit to
Outfield
1. Play at 3rd base on the trail (last) runner
 BU always takes the trail (last) runner to 3B
 PU would move back toward home plate from
holding zone once throw goes to 3B
Responsibilities – Base Hit to
Outfield
2. Play at 3rd base on the runner who started at 2nd
base
 PU has the first throw at 3B on throw from the
outfield
 BU would be responsible for plays at 3B with the
trail (last) runner
Responsibilities – Base Hit to
Outfield
3. No runners on base, fair/foul call down right field
line followed by a play on the batter-runner at 2nd
base
 FP:
 Option #1: PU has fly ball & BU would buttonhook
and take play at 2B
 Option #2: BU chases fly ball & PU would be
responsible for all plays in the field
 SP: PU has fly ball & BU would buttonhook and
take play at 2B
Responsibilities – Base Hit to
Outfield
4. Runner on 2nd base, base hit, runner rounds third
base, a throw goes home, then she turns around and
goes back to 3rd base
 PU would move back to home plate from holding
zone on the throw
 BU would take 3B after a throw goes home
Responsibilities – Base Hit to
Outfield
5. With a runner at 3rd base, the left fielder drops
the ball, throw goes home, then a pickoff attempt is
made at 1st base
 PU moves to holding zone for tag up, then moves
back to home plate
 BU buttonhooks & has pickoff
Questions?