Thanks to Matt Smith for his contributions to this article.
The play has concluded
Situation: the batter hits the ball or the situation of the game allows runners to advance (passed ball, wild pitch, dropped third strike, etc.). The action has now stopped and the umpires must move to their next starting position. Now what…?
Mechanics for conclusion of a play
This article is intended to give guidance to what the umpire crew should do at the conclusion of a play. We will start by defining what exactly is the conclusion of a play after the batter has hit the ball or as otherwise noted above. This is different than when a play concludes due to any of the situations which result in a dead ball or a suspension of play, as covered in the rule book.
For fastpitch softball, in all the major softball codes, after the ball has been put into play, the play is “over” when the runners have stopped at their bases and the pitcher has possession of the ball in the pitcher’s circle. Until then the crew must continue to actively umpire. If time is requested by either the offense or defense before the ball is in the pitcher’s control in the pitcher’s circle or all runners are not stopped at their bases, do not immediately grant it. Check to confirm:
• Pitcher has control of the ball in the circle
• All runners are stopped on a base
• Action has concluded
• Then…grant time.
The CCA Manual gives us this general guidance with regard to the movement of the umpires during these important moments during this “down time” which is NOT down time for the umpires. At the conclusion of a play, continue actively umpiring until the pitcher has possession of the ball in the pitcher’s circle and all base runners have stopped on a base.
• One umpire must keep his/her eyes on the runner(s) and pitcher…
• While the other umpire(s) move to their next starting position
• It is acceptable for the watching umpire(s) to move back to their position if they can watch the runners and the pitcher.
• Plate umpire also stays alert for a coach requesting a conference or to make a lineup change.
To keep good game flow, the plate umpire should not stand still and wait for the base umpire(s) to reach their next starting position. There are a few ways to cover this situation so the crew will be ready and react to anything unusual happening; examples – pitcher drops the ball, it rolls outside the circle and runners try to advance; the pitcher retains possession but a runner decides to advance. Here is one efficient way to do this:
• Base umpire(s) start moving to their next calling position as the plate umpire slowly backtracks toward the plate while continuing to watch all action.
• As the base umpire(s) slow down near their next starting position, they should glance at the action on the field.
• The crew should maintain eye contact, using head nods to communicate their movements.
• Plate umpire can now hustle back to the plate as the base umpire(s) take responsibility for watching the action on the field.
When moving to the next starting position, the umpires should keep the key elements in sight – pitcher in circle with possession of the ball and runners stopped on their bases. Example, if a base umpire is inside the diamond, instead of crossing directly to the next position, going more to the outside or around the bases will accomplish this as opposed to potentially being in the way or putting the action behind and out of sight of the elements. This conclusion of the play mechanic can be seamless and efficient.
Note: sometimes in a 3-umpire system the umpires have rotated such that all three are a distance from their next starting position. The plate umpire should call “Time” so the crew can get to their next calling position.
Regarding the Look-Back rule
This mechanic becomes even more important because of the Look-Back rule for college and how it relates to the batter-runner. A quick summary of this rule -after the batter-runner overruns first base, she must:
• Immediately return nonstop to first base or if she does not retouch first base, must make an attempt to advance to second base.
• If after passing first base and while heading back toward that base within the baseline extended, she may make a decision to either continue to and touch first base or attempt to advance to second base.
• Stepping beyond the extended baseline in foul territory commits her to first base while stepping beyond the baseline toward the second-base side commits her to second base.
Two-umpire Mechanic for Batter-Runner Overrunning First Base
Applies when the pitcher is within the circle with possession of the ball:
Base umpire is responsible for the call, PU must be ready to give help.
• Base umpire should increase depth to not let the runner get behind him/her while watching the runner return to and touch first base and also be alert to the runner leaving the baseline
• Plate umpire: watch to see if the runner steps beyond the baseline in
• either foul or fair territory, committing to first or second base.
Three-umpire Mechanic for Batter-Runner Overrunning First Base
Applies when the pitcher is within the circle with possession of the ball:
• U1 is responsible for the call, all umpires give help.
• U1 should increase depth to not let the runner get behind him/her while watching the runner return to and touch first base and also be alert to the runner leaving the baseline.
• U3 should stay set and not move to his/her next position until the BR has returned to first base.
• PU should watch to see if the runner steps beyond the baseline in either foul or fair territory when she commits to either first or second base.