Note: The 6-man system is basically the same as the 4-man system with a few minor differences. Those few differences are listed at the end of this document.

Basic simple Four-Man crew mechanics

Abbreviations:

U1, U2, and U3 are the first, second, and third base umpires respectively.  U4 is the plate umpire.

BR is the batter-runner, and R1, R2, and R3 are runners who are at first, second, and third base at the time of the pitch or the beginning of the play, respectively.

U4 - the Plate Umpire:

·        U4 has fair/foul calls up to the front of the first and third base bag, U1 and U3 have the fair/foul call from the bag to the foul poles.

·        U4 has responsibility to see the BR touches first base if U1 "goes out" to the outfield on a fly ball.

·        U4 has responsibility to see the any runner passing third base for touches of third base if U3 goes out to the outfield on a fly ball.

·        U4 has responsibility to judge the tag-up of a runner at third base (R3) if U3 goes out to the outfield on a fly ball.

Base Umpires: 

·        On every fly ball hit to the outfield, one of the base umpires ALWAYS goes out to make a home run call, catch/no catch judgment and/or a fair/foul judgment.

·        When "going out," don't run directly at the outfielder.  You might distract him or get in his line of sight to the plate or cut-off man.  Cut off to an angle to give yourself a good view of the catch attempt.

·        When U1 or U3 "goes out" on a fair/foul call to follow a ball hit down the line, stay on the foul line to use the line and foul pole to make the best judgment.

·        Unless you "go out" to the outfield on a fly ball, your most important responsibility is to always see runners touch (or miss) your base as they go by it.  Watch to see if a runner is obstructed as he passes your base.

·        Unless you "go out" to the outfield on a fly ball, when a fly ball is hit to the outfield move to a position to align your sight-line with the runner tagging-up and the outfielder making the catch to easily judge if the runner left too soon.

·        Once you go out to the outfield to rule a fly ball you NEVER come back into the infield to make a call on the bases during that play.  Another umpire will have the responsibly cover your base.

Positions and coverage with NO runners on, or ONE runner at third.

·        At all times U1 and U3's initial positions are 20 feet behind the bag just outside the line in foul territory.  Same as an "A" position for U1 on a two-man crew.

·        U2's initial position is 15 feet out on the outfield grass behind second base about 15 feet off to the shortstop’s side of the base.  Don't stand right up the middle behind 2B.

·        When he is positioned in the outfield, U2 goes out to rule on all fly balls hit to the outfield in the "V" that are between the right fielder and the left fielder.

·        If a fly ball is hit to right field near the foul line such that the right fielder must go to his left then U1 must go out to make the catch/no catch judgment and/or a fair/foul judgment.

·        If a fly ball is hit to left field near the foul line such that the left fielder must go to his right then U3 must go out to make the catch/no catch judgment and/or a fair/foul judgment.

·        If U2 goes out, U3 quickly jogs to the “deep” C position on the infield and waits there if the BR attempts to advance to 2B. U3 meets the BR at 2B if he makes it to second base. It is important for U3 to first look at U2 to see if U2 will pivot in, or “go out,” before U3 pivots in to “C.” The third base umpire only needs to pivot in to the “C” position when the batter’s hit requires U2 to “go out” to the outfield. Otherwise U3 stays at 3B.

·        U1 and U3 have the priority of choice when going out on a fly to the outfield.  U2 must pause on a shot down the foul line and look to see if U1 or U3 goes out. If U1 or U3 go out, U2 will pivot into the infield grass ready for a play at 2B.  U2 should always come into the infield on the shortstop side of 2B so as not to get in the runner’s way approaching 2B.

·        Two base umpires should never be in the outfield on the same play. 

·        If U1 goes out, then U4 will follow the BR up the line and watch to see the BR touch first base.

·        If U3 goes out, then U4 will watch to see all touches and tag-ups at third base.

·        If U4 must to run to third to cover a play at 3B, then U1 will rotate to the plate to cover any play that might come home.

Positions and coverage with ANY combination of base runners, EXCEPT one runner at third.

·        Just as before, at all times U1 and U3's initial positions are 20 feet behind the bag just outside the line in foul territory.

·        U2's initial position is deep on the infield grass in front of second about 15 feet off to one side of the base.  U2 should stand at the edge of the grass line, much closer to 2B than the "B" or "C" position in the two-man system.

·        When U2 is positioned on the infield, U2 NEVER goes out to the outfield.  Doing this could possibly distract or obstruct a runner running near second base. 

·        U2's initial position is on the infield grass in front of second base is about 15 feet base off to one side of the base depending on the presence of a runner (R2) at second base or not:

ü      If there is a runner at first (R1) and no runner at second, you want to be ready for a steal attempt by R1.  U2 positions himself on the shortstop side to see the ball and R1 coming to second from the same side.

ü      If there is a runner at second, you want to be ready for a pick-off throw from the pitcher or catcher.  U2 positions himself on the second baseman's side to see the ball and R2 diving back to second from the same side.

·        U1 must position himself for the possibility of a pick-off attempt at 1B by the pitcher when the first baseman is "holding the runner on" first base. U1 must stand about 8 feet behind first base, two steps onto foul territory. 

Special case of fly ball coverage in the outfield.

Obviously the umpire who goes out has the fly ball coverage, however, it U2 is inside the diamond and a shallow fly ball requires the center fielder to run straight in for catch then U2 will make the call from his position on the infield grass.

Fly ball coverage in the infield

We never want to deal with two umpires making opposite calls on a tough fly ball catch on the infield. Therefore, U1 makes all catch/no catch calls for F3 only, U2 makes all calls for F4 and F6 only, U3 makes all calls for F5 only, and U4 makes all calls for F1 and F2 only. Do not render a call on another umpire’s fielder unless you are asked for help by that umpire.   

Special notes:

·        All four umpires have equal responsibility to call the Infield Fly Rule, balks, and "time." 

·        Only U4 may call "play."

·        Any umpire seeing a batter touched by the ball either batted, or pitched, should holler "time!"

·        In this system, U1 never pivots into the infield as he would in a 2-man system.

·        When preparing for a play coming to 3B, U3 should take a position in foul territory in line with the baseline from 2B to 3B so he sees the runner and ball both coming at him.

·        Between inning umpires should not gather in groups of more than 2 men.

Final note: These mechanics are unusual coverages for all of us. It is easy to get confused, so remember that at all times when we leave our assigned base to cover another base, we are always running counter-clockwise, in the direction opposite the way the players run the bases. Base umpires never “chase” runners to the next base, we always “meet” them at the previous base. If we pull off these coverages properly it will look professional, and nobody (except your partners) will notice that it will be a thing of beauty! If we screw it up it will look ugly to everybody. 

Basic simple SIX-Man crew mechanics

Abbreviations:

UR and UL are the right field line and left field line umpires respectively. 

To make this a simple conversion from the Four-man mechanics above, to Six-man coverage consider Six-man is basically Four-man coverage where all the base umpires do everything the same as Four-man, except the 2 base umpires U1, and U3 do not “go out.”

The few differences are:

·        The proper position where UL and UR stand at the time of the pitch is INSIDE the foul line on FAIR territory, (so you can see the batter). As for depth, place yourself about ten feet in FRONT of the outfielder on your side of the field, (so you can easily turn to see a diving catch towards HP).

·        U1 and U3 have the fair/foul call from the front of their base up to the spot where they are standing on the field. The fair/foul call for any ball that lands behind U1 or U3 is the responsibility of UR and UL.

·        UR and UL have all catch/no-catch calls in their sides of the outfield and for F8 if he is coming towards his side of the outfield. Example: F8 is running to his right to dive for a fly ball. That catch/no-catch call should be made by UL.

·        U2 retains the catch/no-catch calls on plays by F8 coming straight in towards the infield.

·        UL has the catch/no-catch calls on plays by F8 going straight back away from the infield.

·        UR and UL never comes into the infield to cover a base.

·        UR and UL never calls the Infield Fly Rule, balks, nor make any rulings on the batter or runners like obstruction or interference.

·        UR and UL have all decisions on homeruns hit over the fence and balls that bounce over the fence.