The Set Position
 

http://www.cactusumpires.com/images/...sonkneessm.gif

Is this your set position?

No. I call ASA.

On the bases, that is acceptable. Personally, I don't use that hands on knees, unless I'm worn out; prefer a low waist tuck point that keeps me more mobile.

Plate set; not a chance.

Yes, that is my set position on the bases...when I'm working baseball! :D

For ASA/NFHS softball, I do it just like the manual tells us.

See what the man from Dacula says. I pretty much agree.

Shot of mine behind the plate.
http://www.umpiringsoftball.com/set.jpg

Uh, really?

What's that white line square thing where the catcher and batter are?



;)

In a recent ASA State Umpire school, we were told explicitly to not put our hands on our knees or thighs, but to take on a position more like an infielder, with hands below the waist, weight on the balls of the feet, ready to move any direction.

Well, it is too shallow to be a catcher's box and too far back for a batter's box, but the one thing I know for sure, that is an IP :cool:

Gloves in the dirt? ;)

Those lines are actually drawn wrong (they're too long), so he's not out of the catcher's box. Not going to call an IP on that.

I was referring to the 15' pitch :eek:

Looks 12' to me! :D

Yeah, and does your wife still believe that is 6"?

Well, if you're saying that I'm underestimating the length/height of things, I'll take that as a compliment.

She knows it's exactly what I tell her it is! After all, I am an umpire ;)

Yes. I consider that hand position to be above the knees (albeit not by much), and the ASA Umpire Manual defines the bases set position with a wide stance for a form foundation (check), upright and leaning forward (check), "C) Keep your hands in a comfortable position in front of the body between your upper legs and your belt buckle" (check).

Maybe my anatomy classes are different, but anything above the kneecap that is on my leg is on my upper leg. If we don't exclude the extremes stated, then the extremes are included in the approved range.

The NCAA CCA Umpire Mnaual defines the "Set - Ready" as :" The body is stopped, not moving (sic), the feet are comfortably wider than shoulder width apart and parallel to each other. The hands are drawn in, close to or on, the front of the body at or below the waist."

Again every part of that definition checks with stance pictured above. The location on the leg above the knee is in front of the body and below the waist.

So why the apparent disagreement? Because, despite meeting all the definitions, many of us have been subjected to personal preferences of evaluators, coordinators, trainers, and UIC's, who have told us their version of the truth as if it were the Gospel spoken on the Mount. And, although I agree that this isn't the ideal set (and said it wasn't my standard, either), it meets every printed definition.

Except that it looks too baseball, mind you.:eek::eek::D:D

Don't disagree, but is says "between", not "on" your upper legs.;)

Don't care if it looks like baseball or not, but that is where I got my first experience of "locking" into position like this which was one of the reasons HP gave for not "leaning" on your knees. It is a position, at least for me, that takes a little more effort to disengage.

I stand in a relaxed, close to (but not quite) in a heel-toe stand about shoulder width. I hold my hands just below my belt (in the groin area) in a closed, but not fisted, manner. Much like "walking" the line, I find that I tend to move to the balls of my feet on the pitch and am ready to move in any direction upon the batter hitting the ball.

Assuming the batter is about 6', double his heighth and that is where the ball is. The ball is about twice the heighth of the batter. 15', I bet the batter isn't 7'6" Dave

Now, double the height of the pitcher. After all, before they screwed up the SP plate mechanics, that was what we were taught to use to determine height, right? Unless you were Bob S. who used that tree beyond the centerfield fence. :rolleyes: Since it appears the ball is already descending, it might have even been higher!!

Because the video is at the perfect angle where you can tell all these things. Suuuuuuure. ;)

The pitch was just fine, fellas. :D

And don't forget the type of lens (I'm guessing a slightly wide angled lens) as well as the depth of field perspective.

If you consider the batter 6', then it looks about 11' to me. :D

And here the consensus was that 10' was already the max height for all games in the South.:rolleyes: Guess I was lied to....again. :eek:

I have it on good authority that it was 3.6353748984 meters exactly.

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