Umpire’s manual
NTBSS
Tactfulness pays huge dividends in umpiring.
A diplomatic manner often will prevent ill will and resentment.
Tactfulness encourages a cooperative attitude among players,
coaches and spectators. It goes a long way toward creating
a willingness to accept decisions. Your conduct and actions
are for settling controversies rather than starting or continu-
ing them. You are there to judge plays, not players. Avoid
any urge to scold or chastise.
Courtesy is the lubricant for good human relations. Some-
times umpires think politeness implies softness. This is far
from the truth. A polite umpire can be strict and exacting.
Timely and positive decisions are essential, especially on
close calls. Timidity or hesitation causes a lack of confidence.
Self-confidence can be developed. Many decisions can be
questioned no matter how they are called. Pause slightly
to “see” and visualize the full play but do not hesitate too
long, as that looks like you are unsure or even guessing
1. RULE KNOWLEDGE: Umpires must know and under-
stand the playing rules. They should routinely read and
study the rule book.
2. TECHNIQUE: Lack of technique is the difference be-
tween the best amateurs and any professional. Technique con-
sists of being in the right place at the right time. See the
play completely and make the call effectively
3. JUDGMENT: No provocation should cause an umpire
to lose sight of the fact that his primary responsibility is to
keep the game going and that an angry person is never the
master of the situation. As the game’s rule enforcer, it is up to you
to handle all game situations fairly. Experience,
exercising self control and using sound judgment will en-
able you to manage any situation. You will keep the game
under control and on schedule.
COLLISIONS:
A collision is contact likely to cause injury.
NTBSS wants to prevent injury, therefore, runners must
make every effort to avoid a collision. If, in the umpire’s
judgment, the runner misses a base to avoid contact, the
runner should be called safe. If the fielder is not making a
play, it is obstruction. If the fielder has the ball, and the run-
ner had time to stop, slide or peel off, it is interference.
For example, if a batter hits or tops the ball on a slow roller
toward first base close to the foul line, and the batter-run-
ner, running in a direct line to first base, is on a collision
course with the first baseman, both players have the legal
right to the position but also the responsibility to avoid the
collision.
On a batted ball, the defensive player has the right-of-way,
if in the umpire’s judgment he can make a play. If the run-
ner impedes him, the umpire should call interference. If
the umpire does not believe the first baseman has a play to
make, and the first baseman impedes the runner, the um-
pire should call obstruction.
The umpire must decide: 1) Could the first baseman have
made an out on the play? 2) Did the batter-runner make
any attempt to avoid the collision? 3) Could the first base-
man have avoided the collision and still fielded the ball?
It boils down to the umpire’s judgment.
Remember: If a batter-runner misses first base while avoid-
ing a collision, rule the call as if the runner touched the bag
Situations on Bases, Base Paths
Whether one or two umpires are working a game, so much
can happen on the base paths that sometimes even two sets
of eyes are not enough. Expect the unexpected. Know the
rules to enforce. Hustle for the best views.
RUNNING LANE: A violation of the three-foot running
lane along the first-base-line may be interference and calls
for the umpire to take charge. It is a violation if the run-
ner runs outside the lane and, in the umpire’s judgment,
interferes with a fielder taking a throw at first base. If the
violation caused interference, the umpire should step into
the play, throw his arms high above the head, and shout
“DEAD BALL.” Step toward the interference, point with
the left hand, give a strong overhead out signal and say,
“That’s interference, the batter-runner is out.” Instruct any
other runners to return to the last legally touched base at
the time of the pitch.
OUT OF THE BASE LINE:
Running out of the base line to
avoid a tag also is a violation, but does not result in a dead
ball. The umpire should point with his left hand indicating
that the runner ran out of the base line, say, “Out of the base
line, out,” and follow with a strong over-head out signal.
Other runners may continue to advance at their own risk.
Remember: The runner creates his own base path until be-
ing played upon. He may go around a fielder making a play
on an batted ball. He may zig zag across the infield, as long
as no play is being made on him.
INTERFERENCE:
When a runner or offensive team mem-
ber impedes or confuses a defender attempting to execute
a play, the umpire should give a vigorous dead ball sign
with both arms extended high in the air above his head.
Say, “Dead Ball, that’s interference, out.” Halt any further
play as soon as possible. Three things must occur on an in-
terference call: 1) the ball becomes dead; 2) an out is called,
and 3) all runners must return to the base they last occupied
before the act of interference.
OBSTRUCTION:
Know all three types.
1) Obstruction on a runner not being played on, which is
a delayed dead ball. (Example: A first baseman gets in the
way of a runner rounding first while the ball is in the out-
field.) Protect the runner to the base he would have reached
had there been no obstruction. (Even if there is a play after
the protected base, if it is close, the runner is still protected.) If the
runner is put out prior to reaching the base he would have reached
had there been no obstruction, it should be treated the same as a
runner being played on, dead ball. Award the runner the base or bases he would have reached and award all other runners the base(s) they would have reached had there been no obstruction. Note: The runner does nothave to keep running after obstruction to be awarded bases.
2) Obstruction on a runner being played on, which is an
immediate dead ball. Throw your arms up giving the dead
ball signal, point to the violator and call “That is obstruc-
tion. Dead ball.” Stop play and award bases accordingly.
Note: In SSUSA play, a base runner obstructed in a run-
down should be awarded the lead base.
3) Catcher obstruction, which is a delayed dead ball. The
plate umpire should wait to see the result of the play. If
the batter-runner reaches first, and all other runners safely
advance one base, the obstruction is canceled and all play
stands. If the batter-runner and other runners have not
reached one base safely, the offense has the choice of ac-
cepting the result of the play or having the batter-runner
awarded first base. Other runners advance only if forced.
3) Catcher obstruction, which is a delayed dead ball. The
plate umpire should wait to see the result of the play. If
the batter-runner reaches first, and all other runners safely
advance one base, the obstruction is canceled and all play
stands. If the batter-runner and other runners have not
reached one base safely, the offense has the choice of ac-
cepting the result of the play or having the batter-runner
awarded first base. Other runners advance only if forced.
RUNNING LANE:
A violation of the three-foot running
lane along the first-base-line may be interference and calls
for the umpire to take charge. It is a violation if the run-
ner runs outside the lane and, in the umpire’s judgment,
interferes with a fielder taking a throw at first base. If the
violation caused interference, the umpire should step into
the play, throw his arms high above the head, and shout
“DEAD BALL.” Step toward the interference, point with
the left hand, give a strong overhead out signal and say,
“That’s interference, the batter-runner is out.” Instruct any
other runners to return to the last legally touched base at
the time of the pitch.
OUT OF THE BASE LINE:
Running out of the base line to
avoid a tag also is a violation, but does not result in a dead
ball. The umpire should point with his left hand indicating
that the runner ran out of the base line, say, “Out of the base
line, out,” and follow with a strong over-head out signal.
Other runners may continue to advance at their own risk.
Remember: The runner creates his own base path until be-
ing played upon. He may go around a fielder making a play
on an batted ball. He may zig zag across the infield, as long
as no play is being made on him.
INTERFERENCE:
When a runner or offensive team mem-
ber impedes or confuses a defender attempting to execute
a play, the umpire should give a vigorous dead ball sign
with both arms extended high in the air above his head.
Say, “Dead Ball, that’s interference, out.” Halt any further
play as soon as possible. Three things must occur on an in-
terference call: 1) the ball becomes dead; 2) an out is called,
and 3) all runners must return to the base they last occupied
before the act of interference.
Adversity & Arguments
ARGUMENTS:
Cussing at an opponent or umpire. Intimi-
dation tactics or F-bombs aimed at an opponent or umpire.
These are mandatory ejections. And yet, ejections should be
used sparingly. Learn to calmly stop chirping, which can
lead to volcanic eruptions if allowed to simmer. Avoid “rab-
bit ears.” Hear only what the player intends for you to hear.
Avoid actions that may show up a player.
Never follow a player into a dugout during an argument.
Never raise your voice so spectators can hear. Guide your
actions by how you want to be treated. Most important,
never argue with spectators over incidents or plays on the
Field.
TIPS FOR HANDLING ADVERSITY:
* Stay firm and calm while listing to complaints.
* Situations often are defused by letting the individual air his feelings,
usually resulting in a “cooling” off period.
* Limit how long you listen. Make it clear that you made the decision
based on what you saw.
* When an argument results from a rule possibly being misinterpreted,
consult your partner (if you have one), or get the league official
* Once you order a game to resume following an argument
or dispute (and you have consulted the league official), if the man-
ager or a player refuses to resume the game, eject him. But
remember: Do not remove a player unless it’s absolutely
necessary to maintain order.
** (Taken from the 2026-2027 SSUSA Umpires Manual)
75 Rule:
As amended the 75 rule added the word DIRECTLY into language to help clarify potential conflicts regarding the rule. It appears a few cannot grasp the concept of DIRECTLY. And the concept of the ball “Touching the grass”. Let me provide a few examples to help. If the player who is 75 does not inform the umpire he is 75 then he forfeits all rights to the 75 rule. However he can, at any time during his bat declare he is 75 and the 75 rule applies.
Any play on a 75 ruled player that touches the grass must be a part of a double play and he cannot be the first out. It does not matter if the lead runner is safe or out as long as the ball is not thrown directly to first and must be thrown to a base to get the lead runner then to first.
Scenario 1: No runners on base, a 75 player indicated to the home base umpire he is 75. The umpire steps in front of the home base and raises his arm and spreads his fingers indicating to all fielder this batter falls within the 75 rule. The batter hit a ball to the shortstop who fumbles and the ball rolls into the grass just beyond the dirt. The shortstop recovers the ball and throws the ball to first base before the runner touches the bag. The runner is safe. The ball touched the grass thereby nullifing a out because it was a direct throw and the ball touched the grass.
Scenario 2: runner at third, no outs, the 75 batter hits a fly ball that is just over the reach of the second base fielder and lands in the grass. THe right fielder picks up the ball and throws the ball to first base before the runner touches the bag. The runner is safe. The ball touched the grass and it was a direct throw to first.
Scenerio 3 runner on second base with no one on first. The 75 batter hits a ball to shortstop who allows the ball to roll into the grass. He picks up the ball and throws to third getting the runner out and the third base fielder throws to first before the 75 runner touched the first base bag. The 75 runner is out.
Now even if the runner going to third is not out and the third base fielder throws to first the 75 year old runner is out. Because the attempt was made to get the lead runner then the 75 year old runner. It is not a direct throw to first.
Scenario 4 the 75 batter hits a ball to the middle fielder with a runner on first. The middel ffielder catches the ball on the dirt area with one foot on the grass and runs to second making the out at second then throws to first getting the 75 runner out. This is a good double play. Why? First the ball never touched the grass, the feet do not count if on the grass only the BALL is caught before it touches the grass and the middle fielder made the play at second which when he made the throw to first was not a direct throw. He made the out at second his primary move.
Even if he fielded the ball in the grass and he ran to second to get the lead runner and throws to first the 75 runner is out. It is not a direct throw
As umpires just note where the ball is at the time it is fielded. If it touches the grass then the 75 runner cannot be thrown out at first by a direct throw. The second part is DIRECTLY. Meaning if the fielder throws or touches any base to get the lead runner out then throws to first it is not considered a direct throw. If a fly ball is hit to any fielder whether on the grass or not and is caught then it is recorded as a out. A fielder cannot field the ball on the grass and throw to any infielder who is not in the act or trying to get another base runner out then throw to first. If the fielder fields the ball in the dirt infield he can throw the 75 runner out at first base.
Judgement calls by Umpires cannot be challenged, except for calls involving:
● Checked swings
● Catch / No Catch
● Pulled foot (off the bag)
● Swiped Tag
● ‘Sight Blocked’ - A play where the umpire’s line of sight is blocked/hindered.
(umpire must request help)
