Do any of you know of a good website that describes one man mechanics? I have 2 books but the only talk about 2 or more umpires.

worry about the plate stuff and then get out into the diamond and work angles from around the mound.

A good key: Imagine a straight line from your body to the outfield that is parallel to the third base line. This line moves as you move, away from and towards the third base line. NEVER let a runner get between that line and the third base line.

With a runner at second, stay left of the mound. With a runner a third, stay in foul territory.

Work for angles instead of distance, but get your butt out from behind the plate and let the coaches and players know you're working to do the best job you can. Nothing worse that an umpire who looks lazy.

If you'd like, email me and I'll send you a one page One Man Mechanics sheet.


[Edited by GarthB on Mar 18th, 2004 at 11:15 AM]

PreGame
 

A helpful side note (to me anyways) when doing one-man.
Learned this in my HS class last year, my first, when I would be doing all freshman games.
Amidst my pregame yak I would also say.....
"....Guys, Im flying solo here, Ill be hustling for ya out there, but, as you know, that means one man calls"....
Pause after that statement, give em each a quick look in the eye to see that they understood, and move on with your pregame. Dont make it the main point of your pregame, but emphasizing it does help.
Did 32 games last season, and I believe by uttering that one little sentence, contributed somewhat to not having any major problems with the coaches when they came out on me. Had the usual discussions about plays, etc, but I knew that was in the back of their mind when they were in discussion with me.