Umpire Level 1
Course Content
Rules are written for the players, managers, umpires and fans. There are rules for the offense and rules for the defense. The rules are not meant to hinder or restrict play but rather to guide the game so that it is played fairly without one team gaining an unfair advantage over the other.
Umpires are there to apply the rules without favour, bias or emotion. Umpires are the judges of whether the game is played fairly. Umpires take pride in their judgement and mechanics. Included in mechanics are the umpire’s positioning, the umpire’s signals, umpire’s hustle, the umpire’s game management and the umpire’s attitude. Mechanics are all about the umpire.
This manual assumes that you have some basic knowledge of the fundamentals of the game, and of umpiring, and is written to provide guidelines to the WBSC preferred method of umpiring and the expectations of a WBSC umpire.
Umpiring has existed for many, many years and it is not the intention of the WBSC to re- invent the wheel. The standard signals and mechanics used in umpiring are adopted here with variations offered to some accepted practices to improve an umpire’s view of a play.
The course covers:
- WBSC Fast Pitch Softball Rules 2022 – 2025
- Umpire Manual
- Casebooks
- TSSA Bylaws
- 1 man umpire system
For the sake of brevity and clarity some questions will use the following symbols:
For Fielders:
F1 = Pitcher; F2 = Catcher; F3 = 1st Base; F4 = 2nd Base; F5 = 3rd Base; F6 = Shortstop; F7 = Left Field; F8 = Centre Field; F9 = Right Field.
For Runners:
R1 is always the lead runner, followed by R2, R3 etc.
For Batters:
BR is the batter-runner; B1 is the lead-off batter, followed by B2, B3, B4 etc.
For Substitutes:
S1 is the first substitution player, followed by S2, S3, S4 etc.
For The Bases:
1B = 1st Base; 2B = 2nd base; 3B = 3rd base; HP = Home plate
UMPIRE MANUAL
SECTION 1 – BEING AN UMPIRE
1.1 Why be Umpire
1.2 This Manual
1.3 Mission Statement
1.4 Prerequisites to Good Umpiring
1.5 Helpful Hints for Umpires – DO’S and DON’TS
SECTION 2 – WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN WBSC UMPIRE
2.1 WBSC Umpire Code of Ethics
2.2 Ethics
2.3 Responsibilities and Expectations
2.4 Mental Preparation and Game Strategies
2.5 Interaction With the World Around You
2.5.1 Partners
2.5.2 Coaches
2.5.3 Players
2.5.4 Fans
2.6 Behavior
SECTION 3 UMPIRE TERMINOLOGY AND CONCEPTS
3.1 Terms
3.2 Uniform and Appearance
3.3 Umpire Conditioning
3.4 Mental Preparation – Before, during and after the game
3.5 Pre-Game – Self, Partner and Coaches
3.6 Equipment Check
3.7 Forfeits, Protests, and Ejections
3.8 Rain,Darkness,Grounds
3.9 Lightning
3.10 Post-Game – Partners and Self
SECTION 4 SIGNALS
4.1 Standard Umpire Signals
- Out
- Overhand Out
- Punch Out
- Safe – No Catch – No Tag – No Infraction – Trapped Ball
- Sell Safe
- Dead Ball – Foul Ball – No Pitch
- Time
- Fair Ball
- Fair/Foul Indicator
- Delayed Dead Ball
- Infield Fly
- Point
- Home Run
- Ground Rule Double
- Ejection
- Play Ball
- Do Not Pitch
- Strike
- Foul Tip
- Count
4.2 Umpire-to-Umpire Signals
- Infield Fly
- How Many Outs?
- What’s the Count?
SECTION 5 HANDLING EVERY GAME SITUATION
5.1 Appeal Plays
5.2 Catch
5.3 Check Swings
5.4 Conferences
5.5 Dead Ball and Dead Ball Situations at the Plate
5.6 Illegal Pitch
5.7 Infield Fly
5.8 Intentional Walk
5.9 Interference,Obstruction
5.10 Tie-breaker
5.11 The Pitching Circle
SECTION 6 LINE-UP CARD MANAGEMENT
- 6.1 Line-Up Management
- 6.2 Check List
- 6.3 Examples of Giving Changes
- 6.4 Off-Field Umpire Protocol
SECTION 7 BEING IN CONTROL
7.1 Communication
7.2 Game Control 85
7.3 Going for Help
7.4 Preventive Umpiring
SECTION 8 MECHANICS
8.1 General Mechanics
8.1.1 Choosing a position, angles and distance
8.1.2 Guidelines for Umpires
8.2 Plate Mechanics
8.2.1 At the Plate
8.2.2 Being Ready for the First Pitch
8.2.3 Stepping into the Stance
8.2.4 Working the Slot Position
8.2.5Moving to the Down (Set) Position
8.2.6 Footwork
8.2.7 Tracking the Pitch
8.2.8 Timing and Rhythm
8.2.9 The Count
8.2.10 Ball Rotation
8.2.11 Decision Time
8.2.12 Check Swings
8.2.13 ‘Not to Pitch’ Signal
8.2.14 Leaving the Plate Area
8.2.15 Catch and Call Responsibilities
8.2.16 Hitting the Ball a Second Time
8.2.17 Batter Hit by the Pitch
8.2.18 Strike Zone – Mind Set Theory
8.2.19 Consistency is the Umpire’s Ultimate Goal
8.2.20 Third Base Calls
8.2.21 Run-downs
8.2.22 Run Count (Time Play)
8.2.23 Tag Plays at the Plate
8.2.24 Appeal at the Plate
8.2.25 Helpful Hints for Plate Umpires
8.3 Base Mechanics
8.3.1 Techniques on the Bases
8.3.2 Decisions on Bases
8.3.3 Base Calls
8.3.4 The Force Play
8.3.5 Tag Plays
8.3.6 Pulled foot
8.3.7 Swipe tag
8.3.8 One word descriptions
8.3.9 Inside-Outside Theory
8.3.10 Button-Hook
8.3.11 Three Foot Line
8.3.12 Running Out of the Base Line
8.3.13 Interference
8.3.14 Obstruction
8.3.15 Catcher obstruction
8.3.16 Collisions
8.3.17 Illegal Pitches
8.3.18 Helpful Hints for Base Umpires
SECTION 9 PITCHING RULE AND STRIKE ZONE
9.1 Points of Emphasis
SECTION 10 20 SECOND CLOCK PROTOCOL
10.1 Clock
10.2 Pitcher
10.3 Batter
10.4 Calling Time
10.5 Not Subject to Review, Appeal or Protest
SECTION 11 CRITERIA OF UMPIRE ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION FOR WBSC SOFTBALL WORLD CUPS
APPENDIX 1 ONE UMPIRE SYSTEM
APPENDIX 2 TWO UMPIRE SYSTEM
APPENDIX 3 THREE/FOUR UMPIRE SYSTEMS
Requirements
- No previous training required
Features
- WBSC Rules
- TSSA Bylaws
- Umpire Manual
Target audiences
- New coaches, managers, umpires, scorers, players, parents