Quote:
Originally posted by DG
Quote:
Originally posted by umper
Can anyone remember their first year umpiring for giving advice? I did my 2nd and 3rd games today with the little guys (10 and 11yrs.)
I had three close plays on the bases and all three calls went against one particular team. I really start second guessing my call when the coaches are rambling on about how it wasn't even close.
This leads me to the question. How do you prepare to make that bang-bang call at first? What are your eyes watching for?
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In addition to the good suggestions here about watching the bag, and listening for the ball hitting the 1B glove I would suggest that you not be too close to the bag. 20 feet away with a good angle is better than 10 feet away with a good angle. From 20 feet, the play does not look as bang-bang as it does from 10 feet. On the big field 30 feet would not be excessive.
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Keep in mind that 20 or 30 feet away can end up not "looking" as good tho it is really not on, the 20 foot side especially. Some people think that if you are too far away that you will have blown that "banger" even if you nailed it. So while angle is always best, hustle will help with that distance. I think of it as a controlled hustle because too much hustle can lead to moving while making that call and possible getting you out of position for a subsuquent call.
Also keep you head in the game at all times. Tee mentioned it in an article on the paid side and I fight it myself sometimes. Get your head off in la-la land and something will happen that all the best distance and positioning will not help you with and could even mess with you on basic calls.