Game Prep

Provide your availability and check for your game assignment, before the game week.

Arrive at your assigned game field early (no later than 15 minutes before game time if you are dressed and ready to go, earlier if you are not).

Walk on to the field (at least in your blue shirt), find out who the head coaches are and who is home team and inform them that you are their (plate or field) umpire for the game, and whether both umpires are there (best to walk on together).

Ensure that they have begun their infield or get them started. Instruct them, they get five minutes each. They should be finished about five minutes before game time.

You may then leave, get a drink or do what ever else you may need to do to get ready (ie., get baseballs, clear your clicker, have a watch, put plate gear on if haven't already). But try to be ready 15 minutes before game time.

Ask the home head coach who his scorekeeper is. Identify yourself to that scorekeeper. Tell them that you may ask them for information during the game (inning, score, count, outs.......)

If you haven't already, conference with your partner and go over signs and coverages. Then meet with the head coaches, if haven't already.

Get the home team on the field preparing for the game about 2 minutes before game time.

Allow eight to ten pitches warm up for first pitchers. Count the pitches. Based on the timing, inform the catcher when the pitcher gets two more pitches. The catcher should call "Balls in". If he does not, then when that pitch is thrown, instruct him to call "Balls in" (do not call it), then "Coming Down" before the last pitch.

When the ball is thrown down to second, step in and clean the plate. Field Umpire should be moving to "A" position by this time.

Inform the scorekeeper and coaches the game time. Call "Play" or "Play Ball".

Put own your Mask with clicker ready. Look down at your partner and with a hand signal, ask if he is ready. If batter is not in the box, call "Batter Up".

Get ready and point to the pitcher when he is on the pitching plate.

In between each half inning, conference with partner in foul territory (on side that is not batting) and talk about inning. Count pitches (give eight for new and five for returning pitchers). Go through same process.