OHSAA Softball
Pregame Protocol
Before Arriving at the Field
1. Double Check Arbiter Sports for date, time,
location & partner
2. Check to see that you have all your
equipment.
3. Call partner to verify items in #1.
4. Plan on a place to meet at the facility and at
what time.
5. Discuss uniform: What color pants, Jacket or
no Jacket?
6. What position each umpire will occupy. (plate
or field)
After Arriving at the Field
1. Let head coach or school administrator know
you have arrived.
2. Meet partner and discuss the following:
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New rules
Foul line coverage
Dead Ball area coverage
Review fly ball coverage
1. What happens when the field umpire take a fly ball?
• Review tag up and touch responsibilities
1. We will review in later slide
After Arriving at the Field cont.
3. Meet partner and discuss the following:
• Review coverage on illegal pitches
1. Feet are base umpire responsibility
2. Hands are plate umpire responsibility (also 24”
pitcher’s plate rule)
• Infield fly signal
• Check swing mechanic
After Arriving at the Field cont.
4. Equipment check
• Bats for ASA certification, cracks, dents, bat ring
check
• Helmets for NOCSAE stamp, cracks, loose or
missing screws
• Catcher’s helmet for NOCSAE stamp, cracks, loose
or missing screws
• Mark on lineup card the number of bats each
team has
Home Plate Meeting
1. Home Plate Umpire introduces himself and
partner(s). Umpire-in-chief behind home
plate; field umpire in front of home plate.
2. Get lineup card from home team
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Check for DP/FLEX
Check for duplicate numbers
Check for duplicate positions
HAND BACK TO COACH & Ask coach “to verify”
Do the same for the visiting team
3. Have home team coach review ground rules
• Make sure they are consistent with OHSAA rules
Home Plate Meeting cont.
4. Review any new rules.
5. Review weather policy if applicable
6. Stress safety and sportsmanship
FLY BALL COVERAGE
1. Plate umpire has all infield flies.
2. Plate umpire has all outfield flies unless field
umpire goes out.
1. Go out when ball is going to be caught below the
waist.
2. Go out when 2 or more fielders are converging on
the ball.
3. Go out when the ball is near the home run fence.
4. Do not go out on balls near either foul line when
you are in the “B” or “C” positions.
5. From “A” position, Do go out on balls to right or
center when one of the first 3 criteria apply.
TAG UP COVERAGE
1. Plate umpire has all runners at 3rd base.
2. Plate umpire has all lead runners when there
are multiple runners.
3. Plate umpire has all runners when the field
umpire goes out on a fly ball.
4. Field umpire has all runners at 1st base.
5. Field umpire has runner at 2nd base when
there is only 1 runner, or when there is a
runner at 3rd base.
BASE RUNNER TOUCH COVERAGE
1. Plate umpire has all touches at 3rd and home
(except the trailing runner) or if field umpire
has a play at that base
2. Plate umpire has all bases if field umpire goes
out on a fly ball.
3. Field umpire has all touches at 1st and 2nd
base, and all trailing runners (unless you go
out on a fly ball).
4. Field umpire has touches at 3rd if the play at
that base is their responsibility.
WHAT’S THE CALL?
One out, R1 on 3rd. 3-1 count on B3.
The pitcher delivers the pitch, and it is ball 4. The
pitch gets away from the catcher, and R2
attempts to score. The catcher retrieves the ball
and will put the tag on R2. However, B3 has not
left the home plate area and gets in the way of
the catcher. R2 is safe at home. WHAT’S THE
CALL?
WHAT’S THE CALL?
a) B3 is awarded 1st base, R1 must return to 3rd
base.
b) B3 is out for interference. R1 returns to 3rd
because time is called on the interference.
c) R1 is called out. B3 is awarded 1st base.
d) B3 is out for interference. R1 is also out.
WHAT’S THE CALL?
ANSWER
d) B3 is out for interference. R1 is also out.
Rule 8-2-7….. The batter-runner shall be called out
when: The batter-runner interferes with a play at
home plate in an attempt to prevent an obvious
out at home plate. PENALTY: (Arts. 5 through 8)
The ball is dead and runner(s) must return to the
last base touched at the time of the interference.
(Art. 7) The runner is also out.
WHAT’S THE CALL?
In USSSA Rules, the answer is different:
Rule 3 – Definitions
BATTER-RUNNER – The batter-runner is a player
who has finished their time at bat and has left
the batter’s box (both feet touching completely
outside the box) but has not yet been put out or
reached first base. So in USSSA, B3 is still a batter.
WHAT’S THE CALL?
So. in USSSA Rules, we need to go to the batting
section for the answer:
Rule 7. BATTING - Section 12
A batter shall not interfere with catcher’s fielding or throwing by
leaning over home plate . By stepping out of the batter’s box, by
making any other movement which hinders action at home or the
catcher’s attempt to play on a runner, or by failing to make a
reasonable effort to vacate congested area when there is a throw
to home a there is time for the batter to move away.
PENALTY: Dead Ball, the batter is out.