Baseball Umpire Guidelines

GENERAL

Oak Hill operates under the Pony Rules, which are a supplement of the Official Major League Rules. You are expected to read, understand and have a good working knowledge of the Official Major League Rules, and the Pony Rules and the Oak Hill Spring and Fall Supplements (as applicable) for the specific leagues that you may be umpiring. For tournament play, know the Pony Tournament Rules and the Oak Hill Tournament Rule Supplement(s). Lack of rule preparation may result in fewer or no assignments.

Prior to the Spring and Fall season (as applicable), those interested in umpiring should monitor the Oak Hill home page for information concerning umpire clinics.
There will be a clinic for Pinto (one man) umpires. There will also be several two man umpire clinics, emphasizing the field and plate mechanics. Attending these clinics is recommended, even if you have been umpiring for some time. It is always good to refresh and improve.

The week before the Spring or Fall season begins, sign up your available times for umpiring by: 1) Wednesday of the week before for the next week of the Spring season games (games all week long); and 2) Wednesday of the same week of the Fall season games (games only on weekend) - you must check for assignments, typically by Friday night of each week. Learn and become familiar with the sign up process. If you sign up and you are assigned, Do Not Miss An Assigned Game - if you must miss a game, contact the Umpire-in-Chief as soon as possible. Non-notified or continued missed games may result in fewer or no assignments.

Be responsible - Know your game time, and specific league's game duration time, runs per inning, infield fly rule, open inning, and game ending situations involving score, time left and run rule.......etc. Make your game - be there early, on the field, at least 15 minutes before game time, dressed appropriately and ready to go.

Dress:
$ Required - Umpire's dark blue shirt (tucked in) (other official colors are acceptable, but all should match);
$ Required - Well kept pants/shorts (no bell bottoms) with belt;
$ Preferred (Bronco and up) - Grey slacks, black belt, dark socks and hat;
$ Equipment required - Time piece, clicker, brush, mask, chest protector, cup;
$ Equipment recommended - Shin Pads, black plate/field shoes, ball bag.
When you get to the game, let the coaches know you are there. Make sure each coach has completed their infield, or ensure that it will be done on time. Have the field cleared of all obstacles. Meet with head coaches and discuss any special instructions. The Home Plate Umpire is in charge. Meet with the other Umpire(s) and discuss signs (using the signs and communicating all during the game and in between each half inning - ensure you are on same page).

Locate scorekeeper, indicate game start time to scorekeeper and coaches, Home Plate Umpire check to see if players and Field Umpire(s) are ready (by hand signal of open palm of right hand to the Field Umpire), start game ("Play" or "Play Ball"), point to pitcher to begin game and do the same after each foul or dead ball and time out to put ball back in play (pitcher needs to be on the rubber, batter and catcher ready to go).

Allow eight warm up pitches for new pitchers at the beginning of an inning, five pitches for a returning pitcher. Ten pitches may be allowed for a pitcher coming in cold from the field or bench during the middle of an inning.

Look and Be professional - Represent Oak Hill with class and act the part. Keep your head in game, know and use the appropriate signs, do not have your arms folded or your hands in your pocket at the time of the pitch, hustle to position, stop to make the call, be loud, sell your call but do not show up a player or coach. Do not anticipate the play and make the call too soon - always give yourself one to two seconds. Be consistent.

Be accommodating and respectful to the coaches, grant conferences and listen to the issue and try to resolve fairly. Do not be afraid to conference with the other Umpire. Do not be afraid to ask the other Umpire's opinion on one of your calls. Get the call right. Stay under control, do not eject a coach without a warning, use bench restriction whenever you can. When the violation is minor, it might be best to warn the player before calling a balk, interference, obstruction, thrown bat, objection to a call, etc.

You are not required to know the pitching rules (that is the coach's responsibility), but you are required to know how to enforce any violation of those rules, when appealed or protested by an opposing Head Coach.

BATTER UP, PLAY BALL!