Catch/No Catch
 

Just worked with a great umpire who just got out of Harry's school. I had a ton of fun as it was extremely nice to work with someone on the same page.

Anyways, I noticed that when a ball dropped he would say "no catch" and signal.

I've always been taught not to use that since it's so close to "catch." I was taught to use "ball down" and signal.

Anyways, I was just wondering what is the rationale at the higher level for using "no catch?"

Thanks for your input.

if I had to guess it makes sense to use one signal...to your partner no catch/"ball down" means the same thing...keep it simple and use one "no catch" signal. if he's using it right out of Harry's school, then that's what they're teaching. I wouldn't use whatever signal you use for "ball down"

We were always taught to use two arm safe signals and say, "it's on the ground, (partner's name)." This way, nobody gets catch and no catch confused. We also were taught to say, "He's out," instead of "catch" to further eliminate confusion.

I've heard "It's down," or "It's on the ground," or "It's on the ground, [partner's name]," and so on, but I have never heard or said "No-catch."

It is either "That's a catch" or "no catch". If I am the plate guy in a 2 man and I see a fielder dive for a ball and miss/drop it, I signal and say" no catch".
If the ball drops untouched in the outfield between 2 fielders, I would probually say to my partner "ball's down". Your baseguy should be watching the ball and glancin' at runners anyway. He should see the play. Anything that you have to "sell" gets a "That's a catch" or "no catch".

Ahh, my fault - I wasn't clear.

I'm not using a signal for "ball down," I'm saying it.


Good stuff, thanks for the replies.

Correct. Both pro schools, PBUC and an NCAA threeman clinic I attended all teach it this way.

No confusion noted between THATS A CATCH and NO CATCH.

I will now be changing from "That's a catch" and "Down" (or "It's on the ground") to "That's a catch" and "No catch."

Thanks, Chris.

If people are confused about what you're saying, they look at you and see you signaling "out" or "safe." At that point, they cease being confused.

Of course, there's that.

Ha! You expect people to be paying attention. That's fun.:D

The verbalizing is mostly, no, correction, ONLY for the benefit of the BU who is usually in the middle of his pivot about the time the catch is being made. You are only talking to your partner, not to the players, coaches, or fans. Those yahoos are who the arm signals are for.