Give'em the Finger

[IRISHMAFIA]

I agree with Steve here, but a lot of it comes from what type of training you get.

I've been to some sessions where the point is acceptable depending on who the intructor may be.

I have also seen it as a timing device to slow down an overenthusiastic umpire to slow down the overhand and keep the umpire balanced.

All that said, it should be used as a method of emphasizing a part of a play, but whatever you do, at least make sure you are pointing as something, not just walking around with a finger in the air. Which is another thing.

Do you really point with your finger? I never point at the pitcher or my partner, but extend my left arm with an open hand with the palm facing right. Though I'm sure there may have been exceptions, I pretty much don't point with a finger.

[SRW]

Point at the pulled foot, swipe tags, ball on the ground... weird stuff that shows you saw something... that's what the NUS was teaching at the Advanced Camp this year. It serves the dual purpose of hesitation as well... to let your brain process that weird play you just saw.

2007 ASA umpire manual pages 233-234...

[argodad]

Originally Posted by SRW

Point at the pulled foot, swipe tags, ball on the ground... weird stuff that shows you saw something... that's what the NUS was teaching at the Advanced Camp this year. It serves the dual purpose of hesitation as well... to let your brain process that weird play you just saw.

2007 ASA umpire manual pages 233-234...

Just don't do what one of our newbies did in a JV game this past spring. He had learned that you "point at the foot" to clearly show that the safe call was because of a pulled foot. He did so -- pointing at his own foot.

[NCASAUmp]

The odd thing is that I've been doing that for a while without ever realizing that I was doing it. I'm not even sure if I point with a finger, or if I have all my fingers extended. However, I guess for me, it was to emphasize that I did see the play, and that this IS my call.