Hhaa! or Strike!
 

I'm a newbe and I have a question.

Everything I read about mechanics says to call a strike a strike. But all of the veteran umps say Hhaa! Why? Do I have choice or should I start doing the Hhaa thing?

Do what you are taught. Mechanics by the book are a lot clearer.

In 1989, my first year in softball, I had the pleasure of attending a clinic with Bernie Profato as an instructor. I believe at the time he had a role with ASA in umpire development and training. I'm not sure what his role is now.

In our classroom section of the clinic we had a discussion on how to pronounce, spell or yell the words "stike" and "out." He would ask how to spell strike or how to say out. The proper answer was always "Hhaa!"

Since then I have always done this and never had a problem with it.

Being female, I think it sounds funny and a little too high pitched to say strike. Haa works well for me.

I was taught and follow the Hhaa way of calling a strike. Although my call sounds more like "Hhugh" :D
I think the traditional sound works better than saying Strike unless you're doing 10U JO ball or Womens Slow Pitch. At those levels, a simple Strike works fine.
Practice different ways of calling a strike at home one night. It'll drive your spouse crazy, but you'll get used to hearing yourself.

I'll be the odd man out. I've been to different clinics and have never been told a particular way to pronounce the word so I use the standard English version.:) I do go lower and draw it out a bit compared to the short, choppy "ball" I use. I think the key is to have two distinctly different sounds that you use consistantly. And as some others have said, do what those in charge want you to do.

consistancy is good !!
my strike call comes out more
like
"HIKE"
I do call balls with a distinct
"ball"
and with empahsis on a close one !
I've heard quite a few variations
from MLB pros and the guys doing the
Florida State League here in the summer.

I say "Strike" and have been doing so for 22 years and at all levels of play. It really doesn't matter which one you use as long as they know you are calling a strike. I do use a louder voice for corner ball and strike calls.

For those elitists who think NCAA only uses "Hhaa" they should be watching the recent D1 games on ESPN. Many umpires are saying "Strike" instead of "Hhaa."

I don't think it is an NCAA thing, or even an elitist thing. Call it how you wish, so long as the players recognize what you are calling.

This reminds me of an advanced school given by (among others) Henry Pollard, former Deputy Director for ASA, still Deputy Director for ISF. Henry is famous for calling "oots" (rhymes with chutes), and some of us were teasing Henry about that call. His response was "When I call them oot, they walk off the field. That's all I am looking for them to do; they are oot."

My strike call the last few years has developed into nice, clear, "HIEEEE!"....with the sell third being a "HREE!"...being a corruption of three...in fact, I usually 'warm up' on the way to the game by singing along with whatever CD I have in my player...usually some Rock of some kind - The Who...Stones....something like that....:eek:

Entering my 49th year of umpiring, and no one has ever questioned "strike",(well, that is not true, :) )but they do understand a clear "strike"
and yes, I clearly say "ball" also.

I have never understood the need to say anything else besides the words "strike" and "ball." Guess it is a personal thing to say "hhaa" or "haghh" or "hie" or "harumph" instead of the actual word. I, though, have always used the standard English in my umpiring. :cool:

Just to add my two cents....

I started out using "STRIKE" or "HIIIIIIKE" or some such.

After a few years, I started using the "HAH" sound, I don't know why, it just happened.

When I call a ball, I say "ball" in a normal tone of voice, just about loud enough for the catcher and batter to hear. Every "ball" call is made in the same tone of voice and loudness, regardless of how close the call is.

Personally, I have never been told to do it one way or another. As the others have pointed out, develop something that you are comfortable with and go with it.

STRIKE
STEEEEERIKE
RIIIIIKE
HIIIIIKE
HAAAAH
EEEEEAAAAHHH

etc...

As varied as the third strike mechanic (or more so).

Authoritative voice tenor, as Rachel pointed out, is important. Do drill sergeants enunciate all words? No, and for the same reason.

I use "RIKE" and "ALL" just wish I could find a short version for "ILLEGAL" that sounded right


Don

"Eagle!!!!"

:)

For Strike, I'm a "Haah!" man, as if said by Metallica. Very gravelly.

And regardless of how close the call, if anyone but batter and catcher hear my "ball" call, I'd be shocked.

HEEEK (Strike):eek:
HEEEKHREEE:eek: :eek:


ball:p

She's Out (close but obvious, left early):p

Hhaa (banger):eek:

I'm Starved (time to go home):D

Hhhaaa!
Hhhaaaaaaaa!! for the ol' backward K if you're scoring at home. However, I do try my best to not be too showy...

Ball---same inflection every time unless I screw up.

Out call same as strike call, with the hhhaaaaaaa fer the bangers (bangers usually done one footed, if you see the photos).

SAFE! on sell safes. I take that back, usually it's SAFE! SAFE!

Let's remember that we are announcing a fact, not triumphing over evil or celebrating a player's success.

Looks like your "teacher side" is showing again . . . you're from Texas . . . can you really call your vocalization ENGLISH??:rolleyes:

Gary

Sorry. One of the hazards of the profession.

Yes. Proper English at that. (Also known in some quarters as Texican! ;) )

All have given good advice, use what you are comfortable with. The only "reason" I have heard for teaching the "HUH"(more what my strike call sounds like) or "HAH" instead of the full strike is the way your voice tends to raise and crack on the "ike" part of strike. It was told to younger umpires and even older ones as the game goes on and the throat gets dry at times you tend to sound weaker or have a pitchy (ok that sounds like Simon on American Idol) and they want more solid call every time. Again not saying that is a reason to change what works for you, but I will say that prior to changing a few people at the last clinic I attended I did hear some squeaky calls that made you look accross the gym.

On other comment on Henry's "oot" call, I attended a clinic with him also, good time by the way, he said that he calls everything the same verbally on close plays, meaning sell safe and sell out is the same verbal. He started that when he had a big game with large crowd and he gave a big sell safe signal but said "oot". The fielder asked which it was, you said out but signalled safe......Henry's response?? "Son, your right, but only you and him heard oot, all the rest of these people saw safe, he's safe!" I have noticed this with a few umpires I have worked with there sell safe and sell out are the same verbal, "Haaaaaa" or "HuuuuuH" but then a strong signal for safe and the run, jump punch out.

I usually say "Ha Ha" as I snicker and point..:D

Huhhhhhhhhh?

That's a story from Ron Luciano, I believe in a book called The Umpire Strikes Back. Luciano was a quite colorful major league umpire from the '60s and '70s.

And, that very same story appears in the book "Planet of the Umps", by former major league umpire Ken Kaiser.

Must be one of those generic, older-than-dirt umpire "fish tales" that have approached the status of urban legend!