Heart of Texas Umpire Clinic

THAT'S A BALK! Get you a partner who is literally on the EXACT same page as you. This could not have been more perfectly timed together.

"Not worth my paperwork" - Baseball can bring out the best and worst in each of us. Players deserve the benefit of the doubt in most scenarios. We can help manage the game more efficiently when we remember to handle situations accoringly - Ignore, Acknowledge, Warn, then Eject. In this video we get to see our plate umpire going through the first 3 steps. Game moves on withouth further incident.

WHACKER AT THE PLATE! Plays at the plate can develop really quickly - especially when the throw comes from the infield. Start Point of Plate, and work to your right. Keep the "wedge" look as you rotate around so you can see through the play. Get your head as still as you can to see the critical elements of the play - catch, tag, touch of base, voluntary release. Then confidently make the call "He's OUT!"

CATCHER'S OBSTRUCTION with bases loaded! As a plate umpire, you don't always see everything, but this something you can hear! Know what the different sounds are - bat hitting glove before hitting the ball. Calmly and confidently award the penalty.

Swipe Tags in 2 man umpire crews are so challenging. As the base umpire: take a read step, get the best angle possible, see all elements of the play, then make an emphatic call. If the coach asks you to get help, this is a great opportunity to get together. Share the information you have with the crew, come to an agreement, know what you are going to call before you break, then come out and make an emphatic call.

Never seen this before...until this game! Intentionally dropped ball! NFHS Rule 8-4-1, intentionally dropped ball is an immediate dead ball, batter is out, runners return. Yes, took a minute to remember the runner goes back to 1st!

THAT'S A BALK! When a runner is stealing and the bench yells "step off," it is important to stay locked in. Observe the play and confidently call what you see. If a coach asks, explain confidently and consisely as possible.

Getting the call right. Slow down, process the play, get on the same page, then make the call. Good fundamentals go a long way! Happy Umpiring!