Tracking the pitch

[canump]

I've been going over some of my last few evaluations. It's been suggested that I try tracking the pitch into catchers glove with very slight head movement. I've always been told that I have excellent slot positioning and a very consistant strike zone but my last couple of evaluations both UICs suggested I try tracking the pitch with my head.
Have any of you guys/gals tried this or do you do this and find it helps?
Just wondering.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by canump

I've been going over some of my last few evaluations. It's been suggested that I try tracking the pitch into catchers glove with very slight head movement. I've always been told that I have excellent slot positioning and a very consistant strike zone but my last couple of evaluations both UICs suggested I try tracking the pitch with my head.
Have any of you guys/gals tried this or do you do this and find it helps?
Just wondering.

Standard operating procedure for quite a few years, FP & SP.

It really shouldn't affect you strike zone, just following the ball to the glove.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by canump

I've been going over some of my last few evaluations. It's been suggested that I try tracking the pitch into catchers glove with very slight head movement. I've always been told that I have excellent slot positioning and a very consistant strike zone but my last couple of evaluations both UICs suggested I try tracking the pitch with my head.
Have any of you guys/gals tried this or do you do this and find it helps?
Just wondering.

Tracking the ball with your head makes it easier to keep the ball in focus than tracking only with your eyes. It is the same principle as a video camera on autofocus tracking a moving object; if you keep the camera still and expect the autofocus to do the job, you hear the lens mechanism churn and churn, as it works to keep up. If you use a tripod and swivel the camera, keeping the object in the middle of the screen (as professional videographers would), the focusing mechanism stays on the object with less work, less audible churn.

Holding your head still and just turning your eyes makes your eyes and the eye muscles work too hard; you can lose momentary focus, and gain a headache. If you continually point your nose at the ball, the eyes work less, the ball stays in focus better, and you will be less tired from the activity. This is particularly important in upper levels of fastpitch, where the better pitchers can use late movement to change the result of a pitch that can often be missed if you don't track to the mitt.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Hi Canump,

I'm in my third year umpiring. I've asked about evaluations from a couple of different UICs but I've been told there's nothing formal. I get a "no complaints" comment when I've asked a couple of times. I occasionally get some unsolicited positive feedback from tournaments. A couple of coaches remarked that they hadn't seen me doing any HS games and wondered why because I had good game management skills [at least on that day!]. But I'm only certified as an ASA ump. Maybe I'll look into HS in the future, but it does conflict with regular day jobs.

I did attend the ASA National Umpire School this spring in the Boston-Metro area. I thought it was pretty good, particularly for someone like myself who is relatively inexperienced as far as umpiring goes. Although I played for almost 30 years, I now find that I'm not young enough to know it all. Kevin Ryan, Supervisor of Umpires, was one of the instructors. He told everyone that "if you can't get inside the diamond on a base hit to the outfield...RETIRE!" I think some of those retirees re-located to New Hampshire.

Anyhoos, at the training, they did some exercises on tracking the pitch and the instructions were:
"Move your eyes and head "slightly" toward the pitch as tracking the ball."

The instructors didn't want a lot of head movement followed by body movement. Some trainees would track the ball with head and body from the slot position to the outside and low part of the plate and almost lose their balance.

So other than the biased evaluations I get from parents sitting in bleachers, I really haven't had much in-game feedback. I'd like to...

Ted

[whiskers_ump]

Rachel,

You still have pic you took of me tracking? I lost every-
thing on my computer when Rita came thru. Have
started over on most things.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by whiskers_ump

Rachel,

You still have pic you took of me tracking? I lost every-
thing on my computer when Rita came thru. Have
started over on most things.

I heard Sasquatch got it. BTW, what were you tracking?

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I heard Sasquatch got it. BTW, what were you tracking?

Oddly, the very same critter you said got his picture!

[whiskers_ump]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

Oddly, the very same critter you said got his picture!

Alright guys, Rachel does, or did have a pic of me doing a set up game in the Nats
where she caught me in a good tracking mode.

Rachel, help.

[Rachel]

I'll look for it after the game. I'm sure I do.

[whiskers_ump]

Originally Posted by Rachel

I'll look for it after the game. I'm sure I do.

Thanks, can't get these guys off my butt.

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by canump

I've been going over some of my last few evaluations. It's been suggested that I try tracking the pitch into catchers glove with very slight head movement. I've always been told that I have excellent slot positioning and a very consistant strike zone but my last couple of evaluations both UICs suggested I try tracking the pitch with my head.
Have any of you guys/gals tried this or do you do this and find it helps?
Just wondering.

After some good instruction of NUS's JJ, I decided to try it this year and this is how I did it. Before this season I did not do it. What I did was:

Practice.

I'm not being flippant, thats what I did.

Every game you walk on the field you should be working on something right? That particular issue I worked on for awhile before I got it down.

I found my zone did improve once I had it down. It has a few fringe benefits I'd say, other than zone, such as helping your timing and selling your zone.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

I'm not being flippant, thats what I did.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Rachel

I'll look for it after the game. I'm sure I do.

Then we all want to see it, in spite of the subject.