After each out or play, communicate and confirm the number of outs with your partner.

Make eye contact and flash the number with your fingers. It may seem like overkill, especially if you do it even when the leadoff batter reaches base, but it's a good habit anyway. If you lose track or disagree, it's far better to figure things out before the next play than to get caught in a potentially game-changing blunder.

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: http://www.littleleague.org/umpires/index.asp

Also, chartered Little Leagues can order a copy of the Little League E-Rules CD, which includes videos of selected rules. Click here for more details: http://www.littleleague.org/media/rule_example.asp