Softball Mechanic Tutorial

•The following situations are meant to serve as a guide based on the field mechanic class

•All situations assume a normal fielder setup

•All situations assume no interference or obstruction

•The following tutorial is for Softball Two Umpire mechanics

•All situations have no umpire going out a fly ball

Responsibilities

Plate Umpire Base Umpire

Foul-Fair

Catch – No Catch

Strike - Ball Tag Up

Look Back

Leaving Early

Missed Base

Obstruction - InterferenceObstruction - Interference

Softball Batters Box 3’

10’

8’ 5”

Catcher’s Box

10 feet x 8 feet 5 inches

Batter's Box

3 feet x 7 feet3’

4’If lines are gone, you decide where the box is

NEVER draw lines

NEVER draw lines

NEVER draw lines

NEVER draw lines

Top of knees

Arm Pits

Official Strike Zone

Strike Zone

A STRIKE is any pitch that either enters the strike zone without first touching the ground or is swung at

by the batter and missed.

ASA Rules Definitions 1.0

STRIKE ZONE When the batter assumes a natural batting stance adjacent to home plate, the strike

zone is the area over home plate between batter’sA. (Fast Pitch) Armpits and top of the knees

natural

Note

Width of home plate is 17”. Diameter of the ball is approximately 4”. The effective width

of the strike zone is 25” 25 inches

B

Plate Umpire will straddle foul line as quickly as possible

Bounding Ball Coverage w/ no runnersFAIR BALL

FOUL BALLPU has call to front of the base

Plate Umpire makes call

P

P

Base Umpire makes this call

Plate Umpire has call before the base

Plate Umpire needs to get on foul line as soon as possible

Base Umpire has call after the base

P

Fly Ball Coverage

Plate Umpire• Move perpendicular to ball• Watch for obstruction• Help with touch calls

Base Umpire• Button-hook inside • Watch for tag up• Watch runners touch

P

B

Fly Ball Coverage with no runners

1st

P

10-12 feet behind 1st base in foul territory

Plate Umpire moves perpendicular to the

ball

Plate Umpire has all catch/no-catch calls

Base Umpire watches for tag at 1st

P

B

Go up 3rd base line if to LF

Fly Ball Coverage w/ runners

2nd

R

Go up 1st base line if

to RF

10-12 feet of left shoulder of 2nd basemanButton hook in and

watch for tag-up at 1st and be ready to make

call at 2nd Plate Umpire has all catch/no-catch calls

P

Base Umpire has tag up calls

Base Umpire has touch calls

Mechanics

Plate Umpire• Watch for obstruction• Help with touch/tag-

up• Be ready to make call

on bases

Base Umpire• Ball is outside – you

go inside• Ball is inside – you

stay outside• Move toward play

B

P

Starting Base Umpire Positions based on Runner

Start in foul territory 12-18 feet behind 1st base

BR

No Runners

2nd

SS

1st 3rd

B

P

Starting Base Umpire Positions based on Runner

Start 10-12 feet behind and off the left shoulder of the

2nd baseman

BR

Runner on 1st

2nd

SS

1st 3rd R

B

P

Starting Base Umpire Positions based on Runner

Start 10-12 feet behind and off the left shoulder of the

shortstop

BR

Runner on 1st and 2nd

2nd

SS

1st 3rd R

R

Runner on 2nd

B

P

Starting Base Umpire Positions based on Runner

Start 10-12 feet behind and off the right shoulder of the

shortstop

BR

Bases Loaded

2nd

SS

1st 3rd R

R

Runner on 3rd

Runner on 1st and 3rd

R

Summary of Mechanics

No runner

Start in foul territory about 10-12’ behind 1st base

Runner on 1st

Start 10-12’ behind and off the left shoulder of the 2nd baseman

Runner on 2nd

Start 10-12’ behind and off the left shoulder of the shortstop

Any time a runner is on 3rdStart 10-12’ behind and off the right shoulder of the shortstop

B

P

Ground ball to Outfield

B

P

B

Plate Umpire trails runner to ½ way to start of running lane

Exit to the left of the catcher

Buttonhook inside to see BR touch 1st

B

PU heads back home to take call

PIn case PU needs to help with call at 3rd

No Runner

Take runner to 2nd if she continues

Take runner to 3rd if she continues

Start in foul territory 12-18 feet behind 1st base

R

BR

R

R

P

Ground ball to SS B

PPlate Umpire trails runner to ¼ way to start of running lane

PU heads back home to play

home

P

PU will take play at 3rd if the first play is at 1st not 2nd

Runner at 1st w/ ground ball to infield

2nd

SS

BR

10-12 feet of left shoulder of 2nd baseman

R

P

Ground ball to OutfieldB

PGo up 3rd base line but watch for

obstruction call at 1st

PU heads back home to take call

Runners on 1st & 2nd w/ ground ball to outfield

R

SS

10-12 feet of left shoulder of short stop

BR

Move toward 3rd for possible play

Plate Umpire Positions for play at the plate

Try to maintain a 45o angle to the play

Avoid being part of the play

Be ready to move on a passed ball

Be aware of the situation

There is no “PERFECT” position for a play

There is a “BEST” position for a play

Plate Umpire Positions for play at plate

Starting position behind the catcher

Ball in coming in from foul territory

After play, return to starting position

P

P

Try to maintain 45o angle to play

Watch to swipe tag

Do not interfere with play

Plate Umpire Positions for play at plate

Starting position behind the catcher

Ball in coming in from fair territory

After play, return to starting position

P

P Try to maintain 45o angle to play

Watch to swipe tag

Do not interfere with play