Return to Main  
Find It Now !

PlayersCoachesParentsUmpiresLeague OfficialsDistrict AdministratorsMediaLicensees & Sponsors

Umpires Home
Useful Tips
Fairball Newsletter
E-News
Find It Now !
Programs
Insurance
Approved Equipment
Licensed Merchandise
Forms & Publications
Child Protection Program
ASAP Safety Program
2007-08 Regional Clinic Dates


ASAP Safety Newsletters Now Available Online!
Every issue of the ASAP Safety Program Newsletter, from October 1998 to the present, is now available for viewing or download directly from Little League Online!  (see download instructions on the ASAP newsletter page).

Little Leaguer Newsletter Now Available Online!
The "Little Leaguer" Newsletter is now being delivered electronically.  Click here to see the current and previous issues.  Sign up here to receive your free copy each month.

  
Coach's Box Newsletter Now Available Online!
The "Coach's Box" Newsletter is now being delivered electronically.  Click here to see the current and previous issues.  Sign up here to receive your free copy each month.
 


Volunteer Umpire Tip of the Month – April 2006
The first requisite of an umpire is to ultimately get all decisions correct. Umpire pride is important, but never as important as getting the play right. This may involve the reversal of a previously rendered decision.

The correct decision — not the pride of any umpire — must prevail. Following are general guidelines for this policy:

  1. Little League rule 9.02 (c) states, “No umpire shall criticize, seek to reverse or interfere with another umpire’s decision unless asked to do so by the umpire make it.”
  2. An umpire is urged to seek help when his/her view is blocked or positioning prevents him/her from seeing crucial elements of a play. An umpire is also encouraged to seek help in instances when he/she has any doubt and a partner has additional information that could lead to the proper ruling.
  3. In the situations listed below, a partner who is 100 percent certain he/she has additional information unknown to the umpire making the call should approach unsolicited and alert (privately) the other umpire to such information. However, the ultimate decision to change a call rests with the umpire who made the initial call:
    1. Deciding if a home run is fair or foul.
    2. Deciding whether a batted ball left the playing field for a home run or ground rule double.
    3. Cases in which a foul tip is dropped or trapped by the catcher.
    4. Cases in which a foul fly ball is caught or not caught.
    5. Cases in which an umpire clearly errs in judgment because he/she did not see a ball dropped or juggled after making a tag or force.
    6. Spectator interference plays.
    7. Balks/illegal pitches called by an umpire who clearly did not realize the pitcher's foot was off the rubber.
  4. Umpires are not to seek help on plays on which they are 100 percent confident in their judgment and view of the play. Managers are not entitled to a second opinion when the calling umpire is certain his/her decision is correct. On the other hand, and contrary to past practice, umpires are not to “die with a call” in cases where a) the calling umpire is not 100 percent certain he/she is right and, b) another umpire has additional information that could lead to a proper ruling.
  5. When an umpire seeks help, he/she should do so shortly after making his/her original call. He/she should not have a lengthy discussion with the manager or others and then ask for help. If the calling umpire seeks help, he/she should include other umpire(s) who would likely have been in the best position to see the elements of the play. That conversation must take place away from players or coaches. All umpires involved should meet at once. Multiple meetings unnecessarily delay the game.
  6. Judgment calls, which are not subject to reversal, include: steal and other tag plays (except if the ball is dropped without the umpire’s knowledge; force plays (when the ball is not dropped and foot is not pulled); balls and strikes (other than check swings).
  7. Overall, umpires are urged to seek help on reversible plays in which they may have erred by not seeing a crucial element of a play. Such meetings, while necessary, should be infrequent and not become a substitute for umpires seeking proper angles, exercising sound judgment and having the conviction to stay with a call that an umpire believes was properly made.

Remember, umpires can get rule updates, interpretations, useful tips like these and much more, by signing up for the Little League Umpire Registry. Click here for more details.

Also, chartered Little Leagues can order a copy of the Little League E-Rules CD, which now includes videos of selected rules. Click here for more details.


Resources
For more information contact Little League International










Home  |  Players  |  Coaches  |  Umpires  |  League Officials  |  District Administrators  |  Media  |  Licensees & Sponsors
World Series  |  Museum  |  Shop  |  About Us  |  Programs  |  Divisions