Smart Baseball Umpiring
How To Get Better Every Game
Ed Nelson –Houston Chapter
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Rules
Mechanics
Presentation and Mental Approach
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Climbing the ladder to better games
Wanting to be the best umpire you can be at
the level you are at.
You’ll likely agree with some of the
things offered and might disagree
with others. This is fine, it’s how we
learn together. Apply what makes
sense to you and other umpires in
your area.
No matter how
comfortable you are
with your partner, go
over the fundamentals
 Fair\Foul Responsibility
 Check Swings
 Fly Ball Coverage
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Coverage of 3rd Base Non-Verbal Signals
 Appeal Plays
 Dealing With Coaches –
Is There a History
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"It isn't enough for an umpire
merely to know what he's
doing. He has to look as
though he knows what he's
doing too." - National League
Umpire Larry Goetz
In order to progress umpires must be
assertive and project decisiveness. Those
attributes are commonly described as
“looking good”. A dilemma that many
umpires face is when looking good conflicts
with getting the call right.
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An umpire should seek help when his view is
blocked or critical elements may have been
blocked from view. You should not seek help
if you are 100% confident in your judgment
and view of the play.
Deciding if a home run is fair or foul,
Deciding whether a batted ball left the playing
field for a home run or ground-rule double.
 Cases in which a foul tip is dropped or trapped
by the catcher
 Cases in which a foul fly ball is caught or not.
 Cases in which a fielder may have pulled a foot.
 Spectator Interference
 Balks called by an umpire who clearly did not
realize the pitcher’s foot was off the rubber.
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Most plays in which the sole issue is the
umpire’s judgment is not subject to reversal.
There is no need to confer with your partner
to accommodate a coach’s request.
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Review Penalties – We remember the rules, but
at times fall short on the penalties
Partners – Confirm your assignment with your
partner; know where they are traveling from.
Confirm the uniform you will use. Who will have
the plate?
Places – Where will you park? What time will you
meet?
Practicality – Baseball games are not always
black-and-white. There are times you need to
adjust “act on the fly”.
"Fans and players boo and abuse
umpires, but there isn't one umpire
in the history of baseball who has
ever been proved guilty of being
dishonest. I've very proud to have
been an umpire."
American League Umpire George
Pipgras
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Communication – Strong Pre-Game
Be Proactive – Call your partner and be
prepared
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Are you supportive of everyone, even if they
are not your friend?
Are you holding a grudge against others in
your organization?
Are you jealous of others success?
Clear the air, negativity breeds negativity.
These are the ingredients of a catastrophe.
Assume the lesser role:
If you have a history with a coach, let your
partner (even if younger or less experienced)
handle a situation that your history or
personality would escalate.
Find a mentor:
Find a person that has a strong reputation to
discuss situations, and best practices with.
"If they did get a machine to
replace us, you know what
would happen to it? Why, the
players would bust it to pieces
every time it ruled against
them. They'd clobber it with a
bat." - National League
Umpire Harry Wendelstadt
Get out of your comfort zone:
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You won’t know what you can handle if you
do not try.
Experiment new techniques at the lower
levels.
Learn from your mistakes.
Hustle – Move
Energetically
 Genuine Hustle –
Dedicated and enthusiastic
commitment to fulfilling
complete game
responsibilities.
 Functional Hustle –
Getting in the best
position to view the play.
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False Hustle – Energetic
movement that has no
purpose. Hurried Calls.
 Over Hustle – Getting to
the wrong position where
there is not going to be a
play.
 Demonstrative Hustle –
Perception of positive
movement when finishing
a play or after the
completion of an inning.
 Mental Hustle – Keeping
your head in the game.
Anticipation of a play.
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Hustle is both show and substance. It is also a
behavior and an act of will.
"One of the really wrong
theories about officiating is
that a good official is one you
never notice. The umpire who
made that statement was
probably a real poor official
who tried to get his paycheck
and hide behind his partners
and stay out of trouble all his
life. Control of the ballgame is
the difference between
umpires that show up for the
players and the managers." National League Umpire Bruce Froemming
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Pregame with your partner. Get you and your
partner thinking alike.
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How does a good umpire be in the right place
at the right time?
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What are the coach’s options?
What is the coach going to ask?
Second guessing a coach can hurt your
umpiring. Give the coach the opportunity to
make a decision, and then you know what
your options are.
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Some umpires are very good because they
were hellions as players. Why? They knew
how to strategize and get away with things
when the umpire was not looking. The more
scenarios you play in your mind the more
ready you will be when they occur.
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Speak to people the way you would to be
spoken to. Think before you speak, you do
not have to respond to every remark made.
Respond to the comments you feel that
deserves a response. The best response is
“Coach I hear you and understand what you
are saying”. With good posture and a positive
tone the result will usually be positive.
"When I first went into the
American League, Johnny Rice
told me that the toughest call
an umpire has to make is not
the half-swing. The toughest
call is throwing a guy out of
the game after you blew the
hell out of the play." - American
League Umpire Bill Kinnamon
Think ahead to the possible outcomes of the
penalty.
 Did the contact impact the play?
 Was the contact severe?
 Is a gentle word better than the penalty?
Ask yourself
 If I penalize this player for his behavior, will it
help the game?
 If I don’t penalize this player, will the situation
escalate into something worse?