Calling Fair and Foul
 

I'm a new umpire - working from 9-10 year olds up to to high school age and beyond. Most of my training has come from what I'm able to read on the internet - umpire training manuals from leagues and park districts. I'm confused about when to call fair and foul as the PU.

I got the impression from some of what I read that you only signal for a fair ball and save the verbal call for foul balls. Is that always true or are there exceptions.

I had a game last night with a fly ball down 3rd base line - I signalled fair but didn't verbally call anything. The play kind of came to a stop with them asking whether it was fair or foul. I assumed they would play it until it was called foul. Should one verbally call fair or foul if it's close and questionable?

Thanks,

Nic

Welcome to the Forum Nic.

Verbally and visually signal a Foul Ball because the ball is Dead. Only visually signal a Fair Ball because it is Live. Players are supposed to know that they are to play until they hear Foul, Dead, Balk, or Time from an Umpire. If they don't know that then shame on their coaches.

MTD, Sr.

What Mark said.....

The reason that you do not use a verbal on both fair and foul balls is because it can be very hard to differentiate between a call of FAIR and FOUL when they are shouted by an umpire.

Therefore, we only use the verbal (with a signal) on FOUL balls and only use a signal on FAIR balls.

Every batted ball is fair, until it is not. That's why we point on close ones - confirming that it is really a fair ball. It's telling everyone that we were watching, we saw it land and it is fair.

That's also why we shouldn't rush to call a ball foul. If we call it foul before it actually is foul, it could possibly end up being fair. That is a bell that cannot be unrung.

Welcome!

Except for that "balk" thing. The relative equivilent is an Illegal Pitch which is a delayed dead ball.

Which means continue play. No Mike, not for you, for the newbies.

Make sure that on the IP that people can hear you, but still are able to play on... As BU, make sure your partner hears you if the ball wasn't hit. If he doesn't, stay with DDB-signal on and get in his sight! Than call it again...
When a ball is hit, wait with the signal on, until play has ended. Afterwards make the right call.

@nicshow: Welcome on board!