3 umpire system discussion

[Tru_in_Blu]

One other matter I wanted to bring up was communication when no umpire chases.

I thought I made a comment somewhere in this forum that if no umpire chased, the PU would declare "All in!". Someone claimed to have never heard about that and it wasn't an approved mechanic.

Well, I picked up on it somewhere be it a NUS or an actual National Tournament. I can't remember exactly where I learned it. I don't have the opportunity to do many 3-ump games, but will make that call on occasion especially when one of the BUs declines to chase when they should have.

In any case, it does now appear in this year's Umpire Manual:

USA Softball expects umpires to use all three forms of communication
throughout the game in the Two and Three Umpire Systems. What umpires
specifically verbalize to their partners are up to them if it is clear, concise,
direct and loud enough. If a base umpire chases, they would verbalize,
“going”, “chase” and or “2 umpire” and the other umpire(s) should verbally
confirm. In the three umpire system when no umpire chases, the plate umpire verbally confirms that the crew remains in a three umpire system.
Terms such as “3 umpire”, “all in” etc should be used to do this. If a Plate
Umpire checks with Base Umpire for a check swing, they may verbally ask
“did they go”, “swing”. The ultimate goal is to COMMUNICATE.
Umpires need to understand that not rotating to the proper position in a
timely manner can be a form of a “breakdown” in the rotation. Umpires
that do not commit and move to their position for a play per USA Softball
Mechanics could communicate to their partner(s) that they are NOT rotating,
creating confusion between umpires.

[teebob21]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

In any case, it does now appear in this year's Umpire Manual:

USA Softball expects umpires to use all three forms of communication
throughout the game in the Two and Three Umpire Systems. What umpires
specifically verbalize to their partners are up to them if it is clear, concise,
direct and loud enough. If a base umpire chases, they would verbalize,
“going”, “chase” and or “2 umpire” and the other umpire(s) should verbally
confirm. In the three umpire system when no umpire chases, the plate umpire verbally confirms that the crew remains in a three umpire system.
Terms such as “3 umpire”, “all in” etc should be used to do this. If a Plate
Umpire checks with Base Umpire for a check swing, they may verbally ask
“did they go”, “swing”. The ultimate goal is to COMMUNICATE.
Umpires need to understand that not rotating to the proper position in a
timely manner can be a form of a “breakdown” in the rotation. Umpires
that do not commit and move to their position for a play per USA Softball
Mechanics could communicate to their partner(s) that they are NOT rotating,
creating confusion between umpires.

In days past, I worked a lot of ASA ball and not very much NCAA ball. Recently, I've been working a lot of NCAA ball and not a lot of ASA/USA Softball games. I haven't yet read my 2019 USA manual...but this verbiage sounds a LOT like what the NCAA leadership is saying.

I'm happy to see these codes start to align in their philosophies again. It makes it easier on us, and it does Miss Emily proud (even though she's stepped away from the college game as far as I knew last).

To the post: #1 - Don't pregame a deviation. The manual is there for a reason.

#2: Yes - if you go out, don't stay out with your back turned. If you see OBS in your general area, and your partners miss it badly, get it. (Get credible angle and distance first.)

#3: Always communicate. I'm guilty of this sometimes...I go on a fly ball and don't talk to my partners. My bad: always communicate.