pointing on strikes?
 

I know ASA requires hammer for all strikes but I know FED, PONY, LL don't really care so much. Does anyone use the point for strikes in non-ASA ball? I also do baseball, and I prefer the point much more than the hammer and i'll use the hammer for strikes only when I absolutely have to. In non-ASA ball, I compromise a bit and use the hammer for called strikes and point for swinging strikes. I really think that strikes should all be pointed with and the hammer should be reserved for outs and only outs. We all remember the Doug Eddings hammer ambiguity right? and I just point to one side without turning my head...

If you point you are just pointing out the fact that you're a little ball umpire. Coaches will conclude that you don't really know the game / rules of softball.

For NFHS mechanics training this March, we used the ASA Umpires Mechanics DVD.

The only thing we were told that differs is the between inning locations of the umpires. And NFHS allows a called strike to be verbalized in either the set or upright positions.

Ted

I thought most b-ballers were going to the hammer, too. Seems like a lot on TV do.

When I did BB and SB, I would point in BB and hammer in SB. I've only been doing SB, mostly FED, for a few years now.

Who the hell is Doug Eddings?

Baseball mechanics seem to be more about showmanship than practicalities.

The purpose for signals is to inform those at a distance, not to do something which looks "cool". The defense always used is "individuality". And to do that, many little ball umpires make disparaging references about softball umpires and robotics. That only means they don't pay attention.

I honestly think the "point" looks stupid. I'm always looking over at the home team dugout wondering who the umpire is pointing at. A hammer or any variation of it looks best to me but that's only my opinion.

I do both baseball and softball and use the hammer for both. To me the pont just looks plain stupid.

Last year at the end of fall ball I blew out my rotator cuff playing coed and I used the point in ASA ball... they wanted me to call left handed.. but I didnt. I pointed because I couldnt raise my arm up. No one noticed or cared. But this is one of them "do as your told" things for softball. Anyway, I suppose I could use it in mens FP but I dont.

hmm, i'm kinda curious, now what if the next incarnation of Ron Luciano and Durwood Merrill took over ASA? The two most flamboyant umpires in baseball governing softball, a sport known for its robotic signals...

sometimes i think about "shooting" a runner out just to see what kind of reaction I'll get, though I don't want to risk losing future game assignments for doing it. Maybe I'll try it at my high school's preseason alumni scrimmage next year...since i won't be allowed to umpire their real games anyway due to a conflict of interest....

Ha, we were talking about shooting out a runner Luciano style this weekend..likewise, we didnt have the gonads to do it though :D

I shoot a runner about twice a month just to do it...so ball up and just do it.:D (Yes I know I am crazy...)

Also, if we have a Canadian team I will call an out in Canadian eh.

Maybe mens FP... I dunno about shooting em in JO...

Fun to talk about though :D

Besides I believe Luciano style would be like outoutoutoutoutoutoutoutout outoutoutoutoutoutotuotuo

You doing that to them canucks? :D

Here we go, another ******* who hasn't got a clue. You are obviously too young to know the real umpires of baseball. AFA flamboyant, Dutch Rennart made those two look like clowns on the field. Durwood wasn't that bad. Luciano thought he was being entertaining while the players laughed "at" him. Luciano would probably think that a line like, "His best shot was his last" would be funny, but he chose cabon monoxide instead.

As previously stated, showmanship, just like P.T. Barnum and Tom Thumb.

Unless this is some other FED of which I am unaware (and believe me, with the alphabet soups that keep appearing every year, this is possible), NFHS is very clear on the mechanics they want their umpires to use. Pointing is not an option. Read the NFHS Umpire's Manual if you wish to see the proper mechanic, just don't assume because Joe Suchandsuch has done NFHS ball for a long time, and he uses it, it is an okay mechanic with NFHS.

The correct mechanic as per NFHS is given in minute detail on page 24 of the manual. Step 4 of calling the strike states, and I quote, "Raise your right hand to 90 degree 'hammer' position. The hammer should be made with the forearm and the upper arm forming a 90-degree right angle with the elbow slightly forward and the fist facing your ear. With your peripheral vision , you should be able to see your elbow out of the corner of your eye." I see no mention on this page of this being an optional mechanic.

Do you really feel the need to be that much a part of the game? The point of being an umpire in both baseball and softball, is to administer the rules and otherwise be as unnoticed as possible. It is the players' game. Not a forum for wanna be vaudevillians to ply their craft. :rolleyes:

I'm impressed you could spell vaulde...vaultvill...vaudevilai.......DAMN!

All of these years in public education (aka vaudeville) have paid off!!! ;)

When I started in LL about 10 years ago I did the hammer for SB, and always have. I've done the point for BB, but it was "pointed" out to me that I was turning away from the field, so I switched to a hammer for BB as well.

You know, at first I thought they were robots, too, even as an umpire who did a lot of softball. But as I have worked my way up through softball, I have seen that these "robots" all signal a slightly different way, and behind the "robotic" signals there are umpires with excellent game management skills and rules knowledge.

What I'm trying to say is, you're right: some people just weren't paying attention. :)

I had a partner (PU) yesterday with a cast on the ring finger of his left hand. He had to show the count on his right hand only. He told the coaches at the plate meeting what he was going to do and did it. He did a good job of it as he vocalized the count as he held up fingers for balls and strikes on his right hand.

Too bad it wasn't his middle finger. That would lead to some hilarious "gesturing". :D

yeah, it's fun to imagine what would happen if I shot out a runner in a game. How many of you really think I would imitate Luciano on the field in a real game? I may joke around alot about doing goofy stuff on the field but when I'm really on the field, it's the same professional image that any other umpire in my chapter projects.

You need to know the history of the game to understand the point and the fist.
The use of signals came about because there was a deaf outfielf player (BB of course) and he needed to know the status of pitches etc.
The point came about because in the old days, the scorekeeper would be near the 1st base dugout and thus the plate man pointed in that direction.
We don't need to point as it does not signal anything useful except that your finger is on your hand.:D
Make your signals clear and complete in accordance with your associations requirements.:mad:
I umped long enough ago to remember having to "flush the john":eek: for an out or strike. In other words you reached up like you were pulling the chain on an old fashioned style of commode. (yep, that is old)
Pointing is a favorite of the arrogant ones, of whom I was a member for a long time. I started in small ball and you JUST HAD TO because they always had before.
If you want to get some respect from the coaches and players, not to mention your partners, call it the right way or plan on enduring the eye rolling and snide remarks about the noob who doesn't have a clue.

As an aside, do any of you remember where the left hand to right elbow (in calling a strike) mechanic came from and why?:confused:

Same as the left hand to belly on the out hammer. It was introduced as a separate step to slow down the hammer.