Whatcha got - discussion of umpire mechanics
 

To keep the rule/mechanics discussions separated. To review, let's go to the video tape:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaIlQg-PqMA&authuser=0

Since this is an NCAA game, the mechanics that covers this play come from page 316 of the CCA manual. And this is my critique, and is for educational and discussion purposes only.

Two ways to start this play: either move to the holding zone, as R2 is your responsibility if she doesn't attempt to score OR point of the plate if you read the play as scoring. Myself, I'm tempted to utilize the former in two umpire (the latter if three umpire and no chase).

The next step is crucial, positioning for the play. So what is the best angle to see this play? To me, anywhere from far edge of RHBB to middle of LHBB would be good (3BLX is a bit far in this case and might miss some elements).

That's just my observations.

What you said, Slick, as far as initial movement. Though I couldn't see R2 as she approached 3B, it appears by the timing that an earlier read and decision to get home could have been made in order to at least approach one of the calling positions you mentioned.

Looks like he ruled INT on the play. Not sure about that one - although my angle ball/runner position at time of contact isn't great. I'm not too sure his was either.

My impression of the initial movement from the plate was (1)lackadaisical/no sense of urgency, and (2) too close to the 3rd base line...which set the stage for (see bolded blue part above) not occurring.

No, we can't see what kind the PU attained on the play, but agree with Slick's assessment that (for me) the far edge of the RHBB would be provide the best calling position to see all the necessary elements of this play.

Regarding what occurred after the conclusion of the play, the comment made by the PU to the coach when he ejected him was highly unprofessional and unnecessary. I have to believe that neither PU's conference coordinator or DA would appreciate seeing that comment in EJ reports.

What urgency? Just where does he need to get to in a hurry?

This may be true, didn't see enough of it to know.

I would probably be a little farther up and back off the line from the batter's box, setting up and then adjusting to the throw and runner's path.

I like 3blx. that is my preferred default.

Just my impression......you've got yours.

I look for certain things in an umpire that I like to see and consider important. On this particular play I simply did not like the PU's reaction to the play in moving out from the behind HP to (I'm assuming/hoping) the holding area. I like to see a sense of purpose in an umpire's movement on the field.....but that's just me.

You're a long time clinician, trainer, evaluator and national tournament UIC and I'm sure that you look for and pickup on aspects of an umpire's game both positive and negative that you personally consider important when observing umpires on the field.

If I were the guy in the stands with the clipboard doing an eval, realtime and watching everything else on the play I may have never noticed it or considered it an issue. My impression came not just from replaying the video numerous times both in the original thread regarding the ruling, and again in this one regarding mechanics.....it caught my attention the first time i played it. But, that's just my impression.....FWIW.







If I were the guy in the stands with a clip board evaluating that would be my comment.

Unfortunately, no softball organization supports that.

And this is just me, but I feel umpires should strike a balance between hustling to get into positions to make expected calls, and casually moving to preserve stamina when no call is likely, particularly when conditions dictate, like in the Arizona heat.

Considering where the ball was hit--in right center to the fence--the PU had no real reason to move out with any urgency. The likely plays here would either be at home on R2, or on the BR at third base. Why should the PU hustle into the HA to watch touches of third, and then hustle back to prepare for the play at home?

Young pups love to bust everywhere on the field. That gets old fast as we get older. :p

That's fairly accurate...it just looks bad...a couple of deliberate steps would have made a better impression. He is usually not that casual moving around....

Wrong.

Deliberate steps where?

When all of the elements are right in front of you, stay opened up and watch the play.

Once it was obvious that the second runner was coming around, I would have gone back to the point of plate / wedge and adjusted based on the throw.

With the number of runners moving on the hit, I would rather the umpire take the time to focus on the field. I know we have all been reminded about vision and focus when running is not advantageous.

I would be more concerned if the umpire ran out to the holding zone trying to find the ball and watching the runners or watching something other than the approaching runners or, even worse, not getting the mask off. Unfortunately, I've actually seen an umpire move toward a holding zone with the mask still on.

After years of seeing umpires bust their tail to a position, but not be prepared if the defense made a play other than that anticipated, I've come to the conclusion that running is over-rated.

I prefer the umpire be alert to and aware of the progress of the play while moving into position. Mind you, I'm not suggesting the umpire NOT get into position, just temper that movement with the knowledge of what is going on in the field.

As it is in the OP, with multiple runners, I probably wouldn't have even made it to holding zone and retreated once I realized a play was coming to the plate and my partner was in great position to pick-up any optional plays.

I work 3blx for college ball.

I do not believe it is that good a position and, IMO, more difficult from which to recover should a better angle be necessary.

I think it has its advantages and disadvantages. its great for offline throws that setup swipe tags and hook slides.

But that may give you a limited view or options on a straight in play or when you have a smart catcher (granted, many of them are not) who doesn't reach for a tag

I was wondering how many posts it would take for someone to catch that.

it also can give you a better look at OBS and ATR or not with respect to positioning of the runner and catcher. if catcher doesn't reach for a tag, then its a matter of blocking the plate.

Another clinician and I spent a 1/2 hour last night at a nearby clinic demonstrating calling positions for plays at the plate. We explained when should we use 1BLE and when should we use 3BLE; where we need to be in order to be able to adjust to either of these positions.

I am a big proponent of 3BLE. The number of times a catcher swipes a tag far outnumbers how many times she has the ball and the runner slides in. I have the numbers and photos to prove it.

With that said, even I wouldn't use 3BLE in this case. I would have been in the wedge and then rotated out two steps to get onto 1BLE. If there were to be a swipe tag possible, it would have to be on the runner's backside, which 3BLE is not designed to cover.

While you may use 3blx for college ball, the initial statement in this thread was using it as a preferred default. That (as a default) is NOT supported by the NCAA, and Big Slick is correct in his statement.

The NCAA mechanic is point-of-plate as the standard default, and then adjusting to the play to use whatever positioning allows you to see what is necessary.

As others have noted, there are times when 3blx is clearly NOT the place to be, when the catcher is set up to block the plate and the runner slides straight in; you cannot see if the runner reached the plate, and even have a poor position to judge obstruction (if contact occured before about-to-receive). On the other hand, 1blx is a bad place to be when the throw pulls the catcher deep and the runner then slides to the front side; and is weaker than 3blx when the runner slides to back door.

Each play is different; point-of-plate allows the most adjustments as the play develops.

What I was really trying to/should have said in my post....so thanks for saying it better than I did.
Trust me, any time I'm able to catch a live stream replay of any of my college games I always see myself having had a couple of "WTF were you thinking/doing on that play" 'cringe' moments that make me say to myself, "I've got to work on/not let that happen again." You hate watching yourself at times but that's the beauty of video as a tool to catch your missteps.

Here's why....

There were runners on first and second, and a hit to the outfield.
In NCAA 2 umpire mechanics, proper coverage has the PU (based on how he reads the play) doing one of the following:
[] "Immediately moving to the holding area in foul territory between home and third base OR
[] If you read that there is no possible play at 3b on the lead runner but a good chance for a play at home plate:
-Move to the point-of-the-plate
-Read the throw and the catcher, adjust to the play".

(P.317 2014 CCA Manual)

Pretty much what has already been posted by BigSlick and AtlUmpSteve.

My 'young pup' days are a long way behind me, but if I feel my age and wear tear dictate that I have to cut some corners on proper mechanics when I work a college DH, then that's when I have to be honest with myself and call it quits working NCAA.

I prefer 3blx over 1blx the majority of the time.

But how to recover ?

How many plays do you miss when you "cut some corners"?

At the collegiate level, where a majority of plays seem to be back door slides, that is a statement with which I could agree. But at an observation and evaluation level, we need to train ourselves to start point-of-plate and let the play tell us where we need to be to best call it.

On this play from the video, I have to believe that 1blx was much more helpful in seeing the ball arrive and the runner's actions going into the collision. If 3blx on this play, you would know the runner didn't change her path, and that the catcher drifted back to the runner's path, but you would then have to see through the catcher to see the arms come up, and have no information if she drove through with the arms or simply used them to protect herself.

I am confident that an NCAA evaluator would tell you that you weren't in the best position for this play if you defaulted to your preference.

And if the catcher holds the ball and makes the tag, you may not see that from 3blx which is what I have seen that bothers me the most.

POP is our holding position.