Working the Plate is Just That…
• It’s WORK!
Each Pitch Requires your
Utmost & Complete Concentration
• You ready yourself
for the pitch
• You focus on THAT
pitch
• You relax
• You ready for the
next pitch
The Slot
• The area between the catcher’s head and
the batter’s body when the batter is in her
natural stance and the catcher is in her
normal crouched position.
• Adjustments to your position in the slot can
be required based on batter and catcher
positioning
To be properly located in “The Slot” your nose
shall be between the catcher and the batter no
matter which stance you choose.
Mirrored from side to side
Umpire’s Head (chin) shall be
Above the Catcher’s Head
The Slot Position
• By setting up outside the
zone and by looking down &
through the zone
• Umpire gets unobstructed
view of entire zone
• If your head is too low in the
zone you can easily call
pitches outside off the plate
strikes
• Especially the low & away
pitch
The Stance
• Acceptable
–
–
–
–
–
Heel/Toe
Box
Gerry Davis
Scissors
Knee
Getting Set
• Pick the stance that works the best for you
• Head (chin) above catchers head to see the
whole zone every pitch
• Completely set BEFORE pitch is released so
you can ‘set up your zone’
• Motionless when pitch is delivered. You must
be still (locked) to see the pitch come through
Getting Set
• Your set must allow you to see
(not sense) the outside corner
and the knees
• Visualize the bottom of the
zone from the knees over to the
outside. Doing this becomes a
check you can, in fact, see both
the knees and the outside edge.
The Set Position
• Must be Balanced
• Must be Comfortable
• But it is Not a Relaxed
position
– You Relax Between
Pitches
Tracking
• From the set position observe the release
and the entire flight of the pitch…
• Until right before it reaches the zone
• Switch focus to the four sides of the zone
you have set up
• Follow the ball with your nose - head
movement is natural…It is not a location
indicator.
Timing
• Ensures the pitch is completely over
before a decision is made
• Giving yourself time to accurately
assess all the merits of the pitch
• Change your timing – You Create
Doubt
Rhythm
•
•
•
•
•
Consistent timing
A dedicated routine
Sets the tempo
Reflects your control
Inspires confidence of teams &
fans
Parts of Rhythm
•
•
•
•
•
Same stance
Same set
All balls the same
All strikes the same
Timing & Rhythm stay the
same
• Only the Emphasis changes
Calling Strikes
• Be Aggressive in calling
strikes
• Assume the pitch is a
strike
• Make the pitch convince
you it is a ball
Mechanics of the Strike
•
•
•
•
Final decision after catcher catches
Verbalize, stand & signal OR
Stand, verbalize/signal (same time)
Either is acceptable –
do the same thing all game long
• Verbal to hammer should flow with no
perceptible break or pause
Mechanics of the Strike
• Catcher and batter hear the verbal only
a second or so before the whole world
sees the hammer
• This is not a place for individualism
nor is it acceptable – there is no
advantage or reasoning for being slow
or spacing out the two parts of a single
mechanic.
Check Swings
• Always go for help on a
checked swing (required by
rule)
• To open side Umpire if both are
on the line
• To Umpire on the line in all
other situations
• This is not something that can
be changed in Pre-game
The Timing
Between making the decision
and the final hammer must be
– Precise stages
– Flow smoothly - not too quickly
nor too delayed
– Consistent throughout game
The Feet
• Stand straight up (big as you can)
• DO NOT move your feet until the
hammer is over
• After the hammer, step back (out of
your stance), relax, prepare for the
next pitch
• Maintain this rhythm throughout the
game
The Hammer
Minimum
Preferred
The strike signal may be out in front, slightly off to the
side or may be more directly in front
The importance
is that:
It seen by everyone
It is strong
It shows conviction
The Left Hand/Arm
Does it
have to be
here?
No! Just…
under control
 in close to the body
not dangling out there
no distraction from the strength
of the hammer
90º or Better
90 Degrees
Better than 90 Degrees
The Strike Zone
1.108 Strike Zone
• The area above home plate between the bottom of the batter’s
sternum and the top of her knees when she assumes her natural
batting stance. When the top of the ball is on or within the
horizontal plane and either side of the ball is on or within the
vertical plane of the strike zone, a strike is called unless the ball
touches the ground before reaching home plate.
“the strike zone shall be determined from the batter’s stance as the
batter is prepared to swing at a pitched ball.” That is to say, not
when the batter first stands at the plate (folded in like an accordion
attempting to convince the umpire how short he is), and not when
the batter is in the act of swinging at a pitch.
Note: Home plate is the white rubber plate and does not include a
black border.
See diagram at the end of Rule 11.)
THE
STRIKE
ZONE
•REMEMBER, THE
POSITION OF THE
BATTER’S BOX
MAKES NO
DIFFERENCE.
• THE PLATE AND
THE BATTER’S
NATURAL
STANCE ARE THE
CONTROLLING
FACTORS
• WHEN
DETERMINING
BALL OR STRIKE
Top of Front
Knee
Top of Back
Knee
Sternum
Top of
Zone
Top of
Back
Knee
Bottom
of Zone
The Zone
•The strike zone is not just a two-dimensional
rectangular frame (as depicted in the rules book).
•The “STRIKE ZONE” is a living/breathing,
three-dimensional zone.
•You must determine the top and bottom of the
zone with each new batter that enters the batters
box.
•The top and bottom of the zone will float
conforming to each batter’s height and knee
level, and follows the batter’s stride until she is
prepared to swing.
The Zone
•The zone follows the upward projection of home plate,
all five sides.
• Using the “sheet hanging on the clothes line” metaphor,
if the sides of the strike zone are the edges of your sheet
and any pitch direct from the pitcher’s hand making any
contact with the sheet is a strike.
•The strike zone has only one shape and one width but a
variety of heights.
•How well we adjust to the different heights is the
determining factor of our success or level of difficulty
behind the plate.
•As an umpire you will develop your comfort level with
balls and strikes over time.
The Zone
It is NOT okay to call a pitch a strike that is
really a ball even if you do it every
time…or vice versa
“I’m consistent” is a COP-OUT
for umpires who cannot or will not call an
accurate zone
Comments on the Strike Zone
•The public's perception/evaluation/judgment of a
plate umpire is the strike zone.
• The plate umpire has a million other things to do like manage the game.
• The participants and spectators see and remember
is the strike zone.
• If an umpire does everything else perfectly, but has
a wide or low or small or inconsistent strike zone
- the poor strike zone is all that will be noticed
and remembered.
Comments on the Strike Zone
•Those millions of other things that plate umpires
do have to be second nature and fully integrated
into their umpiring personality.
•Then, an umpire can truly focus on the strike
zone
- pre-game and during the game.
•All of the different facets of umpiring can be
broken down into
1) Priorities
2) Focus
- Generally, when one is the plate umpire,
the overriding priority is Strike Zone.
Comments on the Strike Zone
•An accurate strike zone is a function of proper
stance, plate mechanics and actually seeing the
entire zone.
•Being consistent is a function of focus and
concentration.
•Focus and concentration come from conscious
decisions to focus.
•Pre-game
-the umpire should consciously think about the
strike zone.
•He/She should visualize an accurate zone from
his/her plate stance
- This should be done considering different
batter's sizes and stances and different catcher
styles.
Comments on the Strike Zone
•The umpire should take the time to visualize
different pitches coming through and around the
zone.
•Often people don't take the time to close their eyes
and visualize because they think they should be
"doing something."
•Active visualization IS doing something - probably
the best something an umpire can do to prepare for a
plate game.
Comments on the Strike Zone
•During the game, the plate umpire must
consciously work one pitch at a time.
•Some may like to think of themselves as a
computer.
-After each pitch, do a soft reset.
•One pitch at a time.
•When the pitcher is on the rubber, getting
ready to deliver, the only priority is that pitch.
•One pitch at a time.
Some Common Goofs
• Holding the pitcher when
there is no need
• This is your STOP sign.
Save it for when you need
it
• Could go a whole game
and never have to use it
Some Common Goofs
• The Point is one of your
strongest most valuable
signals
• Do not waste it
• Do not point at a batter who
swings through the pitch even if it is the 3rd strike
• Do not point at a batter who is
obviously bunting/slapping
Some Common Goofs
• This STOPS everything both arms, up high, be
big
• Use good verbal
• Hesitate slightly after the
signal before making
your ruling (ensures you
have their attention)
MOVEMENT AWAY
FROM PLATE
Trailing the batter-runner:
• Only when the play will go to
first base.
• Trail no more than 15 feet up
the line.
• Be on the line in fair territory.
Trailing the batter-runner:
Front of the Circle Holding Position
Secondary Holding Position
Point of-the-Plate
Holding Position
•This is the area where the umpire sets up to
read how the play at the plate will develop prior
to choosing a calling position
-either the traditional default position or
third base line extended.
•This is not a calling position.
•This holding position is only to be used when
the plate umpire has no responsibilities at third
base.
Point-of-the-Plate
Holding Position
Positioning for Plays at the Plate:
reverse traditional
default position eight feet
traditional
default position
eight feet
third base line
point-of-the-plate
extended eight feet
eight feet
not a calling
position
Random Guidelines
for Plate Umpires
• Plate umpire has all Fair/Foul
decisions unless a base umpire
chases
• This includes ground balls and
bounding balls over first or third base
• This is not an option to be to be
changed in a pre-game discussion
Random Guidelines
for Plate Umpires
• Plate umpire initiates or wipes off the
infield fly signal each time a new
batter steps into the box or wipes it off
if necessary
• Plate umpire initiates timing play
signal each time a new batter enters
the box
Random Guidelines for
Plate Umpires
• On an out-of-the-park home run when
teammates converge at or around home plate
to congratulate the hitter
• Plate Umpire should move inside the
diamond between the plate and the circle to
see the runner touch home while watching for
any touching of the runner by her teammates
• Once the runner has touched home plate, give
a new ball to the pitcher and prepare to
resume play.
Random Guidelines for
Plate Umpires
• Do not trail unless the play is going to
first base.
• Do not needlessly Hold the pitcher.
Most pitchers wait until the batter is
ready.
• Use the Hold signal to control a
situation that needs controlling.
Random Guidelines for
Plate Umpires
• Write down all conferences.
• Report changes to the official scorer
and to each dugout without
disrupting the flow of the game.
• Do not point at your partners to see if
they are ready prior to start of the
game or an inning. Look at them. If
they are in position, then play ball.
Thank You
The bulk of the information provided within
this presentation has been sourced from
Emily Alexander’s original “Working the
Plate” presentation. There have been slight
adjustments made to accommodate changes
that were made within the NCAA Umpire
Manual pertaining to approved stances.
“Thank You Emily”