Four man mechanics
 

Working first four man crew today, any tips? Serious only please.

Which association? ASA? USSSA? NCAA?

ASA, as far as I am aware, does not have official, written-in-stone 4-umpire mechanics.

It's quite simple, actually. U1 chases all fly balls from F9 to the right field dead ball line, U3 chases all fly balls from F7 to the left field dead ball line, and U2 chases all fly balls from F7 to F9. When anyone chases, the others revert to standard 3 umpire mechanics, with rotation clockwise; if no one chases, you cover your base. U1 and U3 work the lines; U2 lines up in calling position at 2nd (same place U3 sets up in 3 man with R1 on 1st).

ASA had 4 umpire mechanics that were taught at Advanced National Umpire Schools, and used in National Championship Finals; they were just never published in the Umpire Manual. When the staff changed several years ago, the new staff stopped recognizing it, because it wasn't previously available to the general umpire community. Quite a few of us still have the paperwork.

Federation (High School Playoffs)

What about tag up responsibilities. I figure, take your base and homeplate takes the base of umpire that goes out???

NFHS covers it in their umpire manual. They require an umpire to go out on all fly balls hit to the out field. The remaining crew would then revert to three man mechanics. It is very easy. Just remember that all rotations are clockwise. I would suggest pulling out your NFHS Umpire manual to brush up on everything, but it is really quite simple.

Steve, I still have my handout, with the side by side of three-umpire and four-umpire rotations. Wasn't this only for those who attended the extra ISF qualifying day?

You could be right; I know I got it first in Killeen, that HP had just finished that task per MB's request. I'm just not sure if it was the ISF day, or handed out at the more general sessions.

In a later year, we hosted a National School in Atlanta (Roswell, GA, actually), and Henry passed them out again. I kept several for training reference.

I don't know who much emphasis put into the four-umpire system, but I would like to see that handout become the standard. The ASA umpire manual devotes all of one page. The NFHS umpire manual that we get is similar (i.e. the same) in scope. Does the NFHS publish anything on the four umpire system beyond their umpire manual?

Well...part of the reason for this, I am sure, is when an umpire goes out, you revert back to a three man system, which is covered in great detail in all of the manuals. Otherwise, (base hits...etc.), you are responsible for your own station. No real need, IMO, to go into too great of detail and be redundant.

Agree with Skahtboi

No need for anything more than what they have. It is cake. If you know three man then you know four man. Hardest part is making yourself stay put when you are on the bases.

There are some coverages that aren't that straight forward; little subtle nuances. For example: R1 on third, less than two outs. Fly ball on left field line, and R1 tags and goes home. F2 receives the ball before the runner arrives and makes a great tag. And the out is called by . . . ?

PU, the same umpire who would have made it in the 3, 2 or 1 umpire system.

Exactly!

Isn't that call made by the OC in the 1 umpire system? :D