"Never Talk During The National Anthem!"
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Gearing Up For The Post-Season

Congratulations, you have made it to the post-season. For most umpires in youth baseball this means working higher calibre games, better pitching, quality hitting and hopefully umpiring that pushes our capabilities as officials. It also means working with crews of four or six umpires, a significant change from the two umpire crews we work throughout the regular season.

Let's go on the assumption that you belong at the level you are going to work at. You are an exemplary official, in full control all aspects of your game and the rules. You are comfortable handling everything from coaches, to players, to fans and can deal with the best and the worst baseball can throw at you.

A lot of the suggestions that follow are simply common sense umpiring issues yet so many are not a part of our normal day-to-day umpiring that they bear repeating and study. Here, not in any order, is my best personal advice for the umpire moving on to upper level tournament and post season play:

Days Before The Game

Study, study, study. With championship play comes a level of order and often rules that are not part of regular season play. Be aware of any and all differences in rule interpretations, particularly substitution rules. Leave any local or house league rules at home. Know the spirit and intent of the rules as related to the age level you are calling.

Develop a positive mental image you officiating a championship game. How many times have I run a play in my head, each time visualizing the hit, my movement, the play and the call. When the play finally happened I was ready, in position and made the right call. Visualize your strike zone: see the pitch on the outside corner, the high corner, the ball outside. See the fly ball and react, all in your mind.

Prepare to leave your house league strike zone at home. Competitive baseball is no place to be calling "he-could-have-hit-it" strikes. You plate skills and strike zone should be refined and honed. Focus on the strike zone and call the complete box. Give the plate "east-west" never "north-south." If you have never called a game at this level, with this control and velocity of pitches, this is not really the time to learn. Call your last season games with the same intensity as if you were in the World Series. The upper levels of play are generally not the best place for "low-ballers."

Check your equipment and shine your shoes. Have a packing list. Do not trust anyone with any aspect of your clothing or equipment. Have extra shoe laces, a back up mask, indicators, brushes and especially additional pants and shirts with you. Even if you have been told you will be working only bases carry your plate equipment as a precaution. Last minute changes occur with great regularity at the ball field.

On The Day Of The Game

Develop the same diet as an athlete. You can get as much food after the game as you wish but before the game eat smart and bring your liquid levels up, particularly on a hot day. Dress according to the weather conditions. Always have rain gear and a coat at the field.

Look sharp even as you arrive at the field. Watch what you wear to the diamond. Especially watch who you talk to before the game, fans are taking notice. When you are at the diamond, especially when in uniform, treat others with the same respect and cordial businesslike attitude you wish to command on the field.

Have a complete pre-game meeting with your crew. Go beyond the basics. Find out the scouting reports on the teams on the field. Be aware of any problems that previous crews have experienced. Going up against a team that has already run three suicide squeezes? A pitcher who can drop a runner at a base in a flash? A team that gets physical or has four track stars in the starting lineup? These are important things to know. Be aware of any items or rulings previous crews have had to deal with and special ground rules. The tournament will usually have a site co-ordinator to guide you through these matters.

Find out about the little things. How can you get water during the game? How do you get new baseballs? Who and where do you report lineup changes? Is the dressing room a secured area? Will there be food available after the game? This can put your mind at ease during the game.

Be aware of the protocol for any opening exercises. If your crew is on the field during the anthem or pledges then know where you will stand, how you will hold your hats and never talk or chew gum during the anthems.

During The Game

If it can happen, it will happen quickly. Have you ever seen a 280 foot throw out from right field retire a runner at the plate? You can never relax. You must always know where the ball and the runner is. The ball is not always going to be thrown to the second baseman!

Take control. Have a quality plate meeting. It sets the initial tone. Go in with an attitude that says I am going to call honest strikes. Did that pitcher not pause? Call balk now or forget it throughout the entire game. You set the atmosphere and your limitations right for the start. You must not change, you must remain constant.

Plate umpires always SIGNAL and SAY the ball live. That point at the pitcher means everything to the other umpires. You MUST also say "play" each time (just as the rule book says) so that the catcher and batter know the ball is live as well.

Always know if ball is live before you make any call. The pitcher is about to drill the ball to your base and nail the runner cold. Make sure that you have a live ball before you call "Out." There is no excuse for getting caught with this error.

Know when you can and cannot call "Time" With 3-2 on the batter and the pitcher in motion you had better think about shutting down the play because a ball has rolled from warmup mound or stands and is along the side fence.

Watch the catcher's glove. At the upper levels of baseball the catcher can be your best friend. The last thing you do before you lock in to call the pitch is make note of exactly where the catcher's glove is. If you know he put the glove on the outside line of the plate, at the batter's knee and the pitch nails the glove what are you going to call? If the catcher sets up 6" off the plate and the ball smacks straight in, tell him quietly, "Hey catch, nice try, but you've got to get the ball over the plate."

Know your rotations and run them every time. The first time you don't cover on that lazy drifter to the left fielder will be the exact time the play goes bang-bang at your base. You are most likely working in a four or six umpire rotation, know the game situation, know your movements and execute them every time. Didn't follow the runner up to first? That play was your call .... oops!

Be prepared to cover for other umpire errors. Often a base umpire will not pick up on the play. The lights at a night game can completely blind an official. Sometimes two umpires will accidentally drift out to cover a deep hit. Be vigilant and prepared to move and adapt the rotation.

Forget "click-thud!" Too many umpires rely on sound to assist them with close calls. Often you hear them say "I heard the ball hit the mitt before I heard the batter on the base." With a screaming crowd of several thousand you will probably hear nothing. See the play, make the call.

Get into position on every call. Never assume the ball will be easily caught. You should also be in the appropriate set position before making the call. The simple toss over from the shortstop may be bobbled and you should be in position to see it.

Understand pressure mechanics. At this level balls that would have screamed into the outfield are going to be knocked down and played. Not every call can be made at the perfect 90 degree angle. Every batted or thrown ball should be called from fair territory. Know how to compensate.

Do not be in a rush to make any call. Particularly "Out" and "Foul." There is never a rush. Control your timing. Umpires who call quick are quickly called to account for their mistakes.

Be ready to help on the checked swing. If it will be you call then be ready to make it at all times. If you know the plate umpire is coming down to you then stay in your set position and make a clear "Yes" or "No" call.

Anticipate what is about to happen. Don't be the only one in the park surprised when the batter gets plunked after hitting a home run. Know the offense is going to try the take out slide. If you are at second base it may require you to move to outside the base to properly monitor the jockeying going on behind you. Be one play ahead at all time. Tempers rising? Issue the warnings before the game goes out of control.

Never allow a runner to show boat on a home run! Shut him down, dog him, warn him and do everything in your power to stop his antics. If you don't the next pitch is going right at the batter, a level of control is being lost, and this hotdog is the reason why. Listen to what that runner says as he rounds the bases - those who choose to snipe eventually get shot at.

When The Game Is Over

After the game take some time to talk and unwind. It is important to remember that you are still recognized as an official and should conduct yourself appropriately. Avoid getting into public discussions of the calls made during a game. Similarly it is often recommended that you choose the place you will go to eat or relax carefully; getting away from the ballpark and the potential glare of the fans of the losing team.

Proper officiating is so much more than a legal application of laws of the game. Understanding the philosophy of the league you are about to work at is one of the most important qualities of a tournament official. Know what you are not supposed to see or hear, know what you must pay attention to. Become blind and deaf when appropriate. See and hear with the skills of an eagle at other times.

Working in advanced tournament play is a delicate balance for the umpire. It combines years of officiating instinct and experience with teams that are honed to test your speed and skills. Officiating at this level is not a spectator sport. Only in the rarest moments can you relax and enjoy the game: even the bases loaded home run to claim the victory requires the official to stay focussed all the way to the last touch of home plate.