I confess. With a runner on 3rd AND 1st and/or 2nd, I give very little attention to the runner on 3rd as far as leaving early on the pitch goes. The others are far more likely to leave early. There's just about no reason for the runner on third to jump early. And, it's a whole heck of a lot easier when working a 3-man crew (as is just about everything else on the field).

Unfortunately its that runner on third that a team in the first base dugout will see when they are on defense. Of course, when they're on offense, they just can't seem to get the same angle. Funny how that works.

Just something to think about - we have a team around here that has several very good bunters and loves to try to squeeze the runner in from third. The runner on third has been called more than once for leaving early in the squeeze attempts.

If a team is attempting a squeeze, the BU needs to be watching that runner at third.

almost kidding
 

create a triangle between the pitcher and the base runner with you at the point. Using your peripheral watch both. If the runner leaves the base while the pitcher has the ball and her arm is exptended above her head, you can bet your last dollar the the runner is off the bag before the pitch is released. The closer her arm is to horizontal, the closer the play. From the waist extended to the release, the runner is golden.

The NCAA mechanic on this situation is to watch the runners foot on the base and see the pitcher with your periferal (sp) vision. This was a point of emphasis at last years regional clinics. The pdf's for this clinic can be found on cactusumpires.com. You do not look between them.

The lead runner is the most important.

I would like to thank everyone that responded, it really helped

Isn't that because NCAA assumes 3 umps.