TASO - Baseball
Houston Chapter
Three – Umpire
Mechanics
NFHS
The objectives of
3-umpire mechanics
• Try to keep one umpire AHEAD of the lead
runner
• If possible, “box” the runner between three
umpires
Field Umpire
Positions
C
D
B
A
Umpire Positions
NO Runners
Umpire Positions
Runner on First
Position to get a view of the pitcher
off the left shoulder after the
runners primary lead
Umpire Positions
Runners on
First & Second
Umpire Positions
Runners on
First & Third
Umpire Positions
Bases Loaded
Umpire Positions
Runner on Second
Umpire Positions
Runners on
Second & Third
Umpire Positions
Runner on Third
If U3 goes out
there will be a
rotation
CHECK SWINGS
• Go to the “Open” umpire
– U2 for RIGHT handed batters
– U3 for LEFT handed batters
Fly Ball Coverage
Someone goes out on
EVERY fly ball ------
If you GO OUT
You STAY OUT
Fly Ball Coverage
U3 is IN
(in F)
Fly Ball Coverage
U3 is IN
(in F)
Fly Ball Coverage
U3 is in C
INFIELD
Catch / No Catch
2B
SS
3B
1B
P
Fair / Foul
Coverage
When there is a
possible play at
1st Base on hit
to infield
Positioning for
calling plays at
1st Base
“SLIDE”
Come in and make
your pivot
“Reverse Rotation”
Pickoff
Plays
Clean base hit to
outfield……
watch runner touch
first, then rotate Home
when runner commits
from 2nd base to 3rd.
Positioning for
calling plays at
2nd Base
Runner
advancing from
1st base
Runner
returning to
2nd base
Positioning for
calling plays at
3rd Base
Pickoff
Plays
All plays at
3rd on
runners after
base hit
No Runners
Base Hit to the
outfield
Rotation
Rotation
No Runners
Hit to Infield
If ANY umpire goes out
on a fly ball………
Revert to
TWO-UMPIRE Mechanics
No Runners
U3 goes OUT Fly
Ball No Catch
No Runners
U2 goes OUT Fly
Ball No Catch
Runner on 1st
U2 goes OUT Fly
Ball Catch or No
Catch
Runner on 2nd
U2 goes OUT Catch
or No Catch
Runner on 2nd
U2 goes Out Catch
or No Catch
Runner on 3rd
Fly Ball to Left –
Pause to see touch of
plate
Runner on 3rd
Fly Ball to RF to
Center –
Runner on 1st and
3rd
Fly Ball to RF to
Center –
Runner on 1st and
3rd
Noone goes out
clean base hit
U3 will
have all
calls at
2nd and
3rd
Stay after
Batter
runner
commits to
2nd
U1 will
stay
home
No Matter What Happens…..or
Who misses a rotation
FILL THE HOLE !!!
We can talk about missed
coverage later……….but
SOMEONE has to MAKE THE CALL