THOUGH ALL PHASES OF UMPIRING ARE IMPORTANT, A PROSPECTIVE UMPIRE MUST PROVE HIS ABILITY TO CALL BALLS AND STRIKES IF HE IS TO EXCEL AND BUILD A SOLID REPUTATION AS THE COMPLETE UMPIRE. GOOD JUDGMENT IS NATURALLY A PREREQUISITE FOR ACCOMPLISHING THIS TASK. JUDGMENT ALONE, HOWEVER WILL NOT SUFFICE. ONE MUST UNDERSTAND THE MANY FACETS OF WORKING THE PLATE. THESE INCLUDE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE STRIKE ZONE, THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER POSITIONING, AND THE CRITICAL NEED FOR DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE MECHANICAL TECHNIQUES.
Assume a position behind the catcher looking between the catcher and the batter; you must be able to clearly see the pitcher, the entire plate and the batter's knees. To see all of those elements, it is important to move into "the slot" --that area between the catcher and the batter. The farther you are into the slot, the better you will see the strike zone. Two additional factors have tremendous impact on your view of the strike zone: head height and stability. Your head should be positioned so the bottom of your chin is even with the top of the catcher's helmet. If you work with your head lower, your view of the knee-high pitch at or near the outside corner of the plate will be restricted. The head is straight ahead looking at the pitcher. Your ear closest to the catcher should be just to the outside of the catcher's shoulder. These are good starting positions. From the moment the pitcher releases a pitch until the ball arrives in the catcher's glove, your head should remain absolutely still. If your head moves at all, your view of the strike zone will be blurred and your judgment will be inconsistent.
Assume your crouch when the pitcher is about to release the ball. You'll view the pitch from between the batter and catcher. Don't go down too early, for you will put unnecessary strain on your muscles. Relaxation between pitches is very important. Many umpires wear themselves out for the late innings by staying in a set position for too long a period of time. The upper body should remain in an almost upright position.
One important note, don't kneel down to view the pitch. You must remember that in a two or three-man crew, the plate umpire often covers third base. Going to third from a standing position is far easier and quicker than trying to get there from your knees. (It's true that some great umpires kneel; there are usually exceptions to every rule. But, unless you're an exceptionally fast umpire, stay in a crouch, not on a knee.) When kneeling, you give the impression that you are physically tired or bored and not in the game.
Whichever position you use, it is important that you do not put a hand on the catcher or position yourself against the catcher. Your hands should be kept in front of you. You may hang them at the side of your legs, hold them together in front of you or hold on to your thighs. Don't put your hands over your shin guards at the knees or put them on the catcher. This practice always looks bad to the spectators.
When working behind the plate or on the bases, use the indicator in your left hand. A little bit of experimentation will show that it was not made for the right. Use of the indicator in the left hand frees the right for use in calling strikes. It is very difficult to change the indicator with the right hand and there is danger of throwing it away while calling pitches.
The mask is removed as often as possible when the plate umpire is not actually engaged in calling balls and strikes. The left hand is used in removing the mask, shift the indicator so the thumb is free. Grasp the mask so that the thumb is at the side of or under the jaw and the index and middle finger are gripping the frame. Remove the mask by lifting out first, then up. By using this method, you can be sure that your cap will remain on your head. By keeping the mask in your left hand you will avoid the danger of hitting a player with it or throwing it while calling a runner out. Most people feel that the out signal looks better if made with an empty right hand.
In calling a batted ball hit down the baseline, the plate umpire should remove his mask as soon as the ball is hit. Hustle up the baseline as far as possible(30/45 foot line is recommended) . Be sure to stop before it is time to make your decision. On a hard hit ball the umpire may not have time to remove his mask or get to the baseline. Do the best you can.
The plate umpire should make the decision on the batter running inside/outside the three foot line and interfering with the first baseman taking the throw. This play occurs only on a bunt or slow roller down the first baseline, therefore, he should be in good position while the base umpire probably will not.
As the plate umpire, be sure to give the batter a chance to get set in the box before the pitcher pitches the ball. If the pitcher begins his motion while the batter is not ready and it is unintentional, call "time". If he does it on purpose, call "time" and warn him. Each such pitch after a warning will result in an illegal pitch being called in Little League (with runners or bases empty) and a balk (JR/SR/BG only) with the bases occupied. A quick pitch may be called without warning, but it is good mechanics to stop play the first time because of possible physical danger.
Under normal conditions, the plate umpire will have to go to third base to cover a play anytime a runner goes from first to third on a batted ball. He should go down the line in foul territory, then cross into fair territory as close to the base as possible. If there is an overthrow, the umpire (remain in fair territory) must beat the runner to home plate so he can call the play.
The plate umpire should leave his place behind the catcher on every batted ball. He should come out in front of the plate so he can get a better view of the plays taken place on the field. If there is a possible play at home, the plate umpire will need to move into position for the best possible view of the play.
Flinching is usually an erratic problem. It can irritate the umpire far more than it will affect his umpiring. It's doubtful that flinching will make you miss pitches, but the umpire also is concerned and rightly so with his image, if noticed by the fans or players.
Remedies include forcing yourself to wait as long as you can before getting into the just-before-the-pitch stance. This shortens the time of stressful concentration. Also rest your eyes for a fraction of a second shortly before the pitch. Be sure to give yourself time to adjust for the upcoming pitch. It's a matter of timing, flinching usually does not stay with you for long. Perhaps one reason for flinching is subconscious or even a conscious lack of confidence in the catcher.
Every gesture and motion of the umpire means something. There is even a correct way to dust the plate. The umpire should assume a position (as a courtesy to the fans) with his back to the pitchers mound. The feet should be spread apart about the width of the shoulders. Bend at both, the knees and hips. Brush with a vigorous motion toward and away from the umpire.
The plate should be brushed before each half inning and as needed during play. Above all, do not allow the catcher (or other players) to brush the plate with hand or glove. Ask him to request that you do the brushing.
When a catcher is making remarks about your call, never let him turn around to protest more than once. Put a stop to it, warn him. A good way to do this without embarrassment to him is to brush the plate and look him in the eyes and explain your dissatisfaction. Take more stern action the next time it happens, if he is a slow learner.
The first duty of both umpires between innings is to keep the players I hustling on and off the field. He will then stay on that side of the plate to be out of the player congestion which may occur on the side of the field of the team coming to bat. A good spot to stand is just off the foul line, even with the plate. While at that spot, the umpire should attend such duties as counting warm-up pitches, replenishing his ball supply, inspecting the baseballs in his ball bag, and seeing that there is no equipment such as gloves or bats left on the field. The umpire should never lay his equipment on the ground between innings. (i.e., mask, chest protector, etc.)