WORKING OUTSIDE THE DIAMOND
A State Adopted Softball Mechanic
Generally umpires have been instructed to come inside the diamond when the ball is in the outfield
and to stay outside the diamond when the ball is in the infield. The idea of this mechanic is that it will
keep the ball in front of the umpire.
This would be true if the diamond were a straight line but it is not. It is a diamond, and if the ball is
outside the diamond on one side of the diamond and the umpire comes inside the diamond on an
opposite side of the diamond, then, very often, the umpire is actually putting the ball behind him.
Rather than always coming inside or always staying outside, umpires must learn to determine what
position will best serve them on each type of hit. If coming inside the diamond puts the ball at your
back, it is probably not the best choice.
Read the ball. Know what your initial and subsequent responsibilities are. Choose the best
positioning for umpiring the particular play at hand.
By not automatically coming inside on every ball batted to the outfield an umpire reaps other
benefits that are not at first apparent. For instance, the umpire can save many steps over the course
of the game. By not pivoting inside the umpire has more time to assess the action – will the ball
likely be caught, dropped, go through and roll to the fence – and thus is better able to know what
will be required of him. By being still and alert, as opposed to moving inside, umpires should have
more accurate judgments on tag-ups and clear views of any obstructions.
Every play is unique and requires an evaluation and choice by the umpire. Some generalities that can
usually be applied are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
With no one on and the ball hit center or left field – stay outside
With no one on and the ball hit right-center or right field and there may be a play on the
batter-runner – stay outside
With no one on and the ball hit to right-center or right field – pivot inside
From B position and the ball hit to center or left field – stay outside
From B position and the ball hit right field – pivot inside
From C position, since the umpire will always be responsible for the batter-runner at first,
the umpire must come inside on nearly all runner configurations and the ball hit to the
outfield.
Rather than trying to memorize anything, or always doing this, or always doing that, umpires
should work towards making good choices of positioning no matter where they are on the
diamond, no matter how many runners there are, and no matter where the ball is hit.
With no one on, the ball hit left field, the umpire
chooses to stay outside, and it turns into a triple:
SUMMARY
On balls hit to the outfield, umpires can choose to pivot inside the diamond or stay on the outside.
This choice is governed by runner configuration, where the ball is hit, and the type of hit. Umpires
should a position that keeps the ball in front of them and allows them to achieve the best angles for
executing their initial and any subsequent responsibilities.