Positioning and Getting Help

[Justme]

Kaliix:

Like Sal said, we have to get the call right. If you’re not 100% sure of your call then go to your partner for help no matter how the coach asks you to (the reaction from the coaches and the crowd are sometimes good indicators that you kicked the call). Change the call if necessary and if it’s possible. Changing the call (getting it right) would have prevented this from being the worst call you made this year. The days of living or dying with a call are coming to an end. You see that in MLB & NCAA.

In this situation with runners at 1st & 2nd (with no outs) and the defense goes for the double play 2nd to 1st. The runner at 2nd is probably going home. The PU should stay home (he should have signaled his intent to stay home to you). He should position himself slightly in foul territory a couple of feet toward 3rd (so he has a clear view of the play at 2nd). From this position the PU keeps everything in front of him. The PU needs to: look for interference at 2nd; watch for a pulled foot or swipe tag at 1st; see the runner touch home (and be ready for a play at home); and if possible see the runner touch 3rd.

In the 2-man system it is impossible to always be in the ‘perfect’ position to see 100% of the plays. You can rest assured that there is not an umpire anywhere who has not ‘kicked’ a call in the situation you described.