Plays at 1st Base

[mcrowder]

Also, make sure you're not too close. I was missing calls a few years ago (based on my own filming of the games, not coach or player reaction), and learned I was about 2-3 steps too close, which caused my head to still be moving when the ball got there. Backing up a bit let me focus in better.

[RPatrino]

I have heard something that works for me, sort of an addendum to the 2SF principle. You move toward the fielder making the play and STOP when he fields it. Read the throw and move your eyes to the base. Get into some sort of "lock" in (hands on knees, standing set, modified scissor), listen, confirm possession, make the call.

Also, if your initial instinct was to call an out on a banger, you are probably 99% correct.

[Mrumpiresir]

I booted one this past week simply because I took a bad angle.
Legion Ball, No one on so I am in the A position.
Little blooper over the pitchers head that is eventually fielded by the 2nd baseman. Because the play took so much time to develop, I moved too far into the infield. I watched F4 field the ball and make a good throw toward first base from the area of second base. I switched my view to 1st base and simply missed the call because I was shielded by F3 taking the throw. All I could see was the runners foot but had no idea when he actually arrived at the base. I called him safe, a bad call later confirmed by the 1st base coach.
If I had taken those two steps into fair territory I would have seen the entire play. Fortunately we had done a very good job prior to this and the deefensive team were understanding that I had missed this call, but the point is that losing concentration can cause a normally good umpire to make a bad call. -- Just wanted to get that off my chest.