Own The Box: Essential Tips for Umpiring Inside Pitches

Stepping onto the field as an umpire isn't just about making calls; it's about owning the game from the first look. In this comprehensive guide, Patrick Faerber of GHSA Baseball Umpire Development and Umpire Classroom takes you through everything you need to know from the moment you enter the field until the last pitch is thrown. Discover the secrets to positioning in the slot, directing batters effectively, and making those tough calls on inside pitches. We cover the nuances that set apart the best in the business and ensure you're equipped to handle batters crowding the plate and tricky pitches with confidence.
Enhance your skills further with this week's quiz, designed to test your knowledge on these critical procedures: forms.gle/zmiLpQBtcFVfpoM48
Interested in elevating your umpiring game? Explore our Umpire 101 course for a deep dive into the fundamentals and advanced techniques of baseball umpiring. Visit Umpire Classroom to learn more and subscribe to our channel for the latest updates and tips.
Remember, excellence starts before the game even begins. Join us to learn how to step onto the field with authority, make the right calls, and manage the game like a pro. Thanks for watching, and see you on the field!

[@kevingbenson]

The "Coach Andy" character vs. Patrick the umpire is GOLD. Also, super helpful video. Thanks, keep making more.

[@chadhester2065]

MORE COACH ANDY!!😂😂

[@standyer7482]

I like this little reviews. It's good to read the rules over, and over, but it is also good, and reinforcing to have them presented visually. A lot of what is mentioned here is the same as PBUC, and is especially important for newer, less-experienced umpires. Experience is a good teacher, but no one wants to catch a foul ball in the face as a lesson.

[@dperl5640]

Another great and exact way to remeasure the 6" from home to batter's box is to lay down 2 baseballs side by side touching one another in a straight line. The ball is 3" wide so 2 - 6". Hope this helps.

[@prsguitars42]

Patrick the umpire v.s. Patick the h.c........ LOL!!!...... was that a pillow under coach patricks jersey????.... too funny!!!

[@c.j.mohammed5669]

Thanks for clarifying a batter who doesn't move when hit by pitch. Can you do just a video tutorial for just that situation.Thanks

[@MH-Tesla]

#7. Just a reminder for those umpiring the Little League international tournament. This is legal for Little League. In that rule set you need the entire foot outside the box to be an out if the bat contacts the pitch. The plate is irrelevant. I only mention this, because it seems to come up a lot because high school umpires help out during the tournament.

[@standyer7482]

It is important for umpires to know which rules set they are playing under before any game starts. Little League Rules differ from USSSA, from Triple Crown, from CABA, and from most local leagues. The rules may only differ slightly, but it can make a difference in the game, and it can prevent a lot of problems.

[@davej3781]

I've always been puzzled about the NFHS rule on touching the plate, and figured it was just one of those NFHS oddities probably coming from softball. However in the past year or so as I work more college-level games I learned NCAA has the same rule, and indeed I've talked to some umpires who just assumed batting the ball while touching the plate is illegal in all codes as they work mostly NFHS and NCAA and never explicitly learned OBR or other OBR-based codes. I still find it puzzling why the touching the plate should be special, I don't see any sense to it. It doesn't stop me from properly enforcing it, though I only call it when the batter's foot is CLEARLY on the plate, not just his big toe probably touching.

[@1969EType]

I submit pro umpires have their unique challenges. The hardest thing amateur umpires have to do is work different leagues and be razor sharp on all of the rule variances. In one week, I could work under 4 sets of rules.

[@MH-Tesla]

@@davej3781 congrats on getting some NCAA games. What levels are you doing? The UIC I work with from the adjacent League is getting into college umpiring. He really wants me to go that way too, but I'm content sticking local for now. It's been fun talking with him about the process. He was in Florida during college spring break. I hope you're enjoying it!

[@stefanocossalter5349]

Awesome, thanks! Love the quiz at the bottom to really reinforce the learnings.

[@UmpireClassroom]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dperl5640]

Might wanna check wording on case play 2. I think was meant to say batter rolls elbow out of the batters box and is hit NOT into the strike zone. If the elbow was rolled into the strike zone it would be a strike not a ball.

[@steveisrael9825]

Great video as usual. Any safety tips when younger or inexperienced catchers slide way out to the outside corner of the plate? I assume maintaining the slot position is the safest? Thanks

[@user-cm7ef6hd9e]

Great information, video tutorial, & role playing. #nailedAndyReid

[@patrickkeating2860]

Very helpful as always!

[@UmpireClassroom]

Thanks for watching and supporting!

[@garyhart2689]

I had a similar play in 2023. I called strike 3, batter claimed the pitch touched him-I didn't have that. Coach went nuts arguing batter was hbp and should get first base. He wasn't receptive to hearing that hbp or not was irrelevant because the strike call superceded any possible award, and got himself ejected.

[@bundles3523]

Not Andy Reid in an Umpire Classroom episode 😂

[@cranb3rryA80]

😂😂 great explanation to Andy. Found the video very insightful. Thanks

[@UmpireClassroom]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jtrigg20]

For any illegally batted ball is it an instant call of time/dead ball? What happens to runners on base if there are any on? Great videos! They have helped me a lot going into my second year of umpiring!

[@partspup24]

In NFHS, it is an immediate dead ball, batter is out, and no runners can advance.

[@UmpireClassroom]

Smart guy!

[@neffsoto8928]

Please bring back the Chiefs coach at least once EVERY video!

[@UmpireClassroom]

Haha a fun cameo experience right!? I didn't realize he coaches baseball in the off-season.

[@Vladamir8023]

Case play # is legal. Neither foot is entirely outside the box. Good video overall

[@kyleh1919]

oh my the coach wearing the Chiefs gear with the pillow under the shirt rofl

[@MH-Tesla]

7:20. Making the coach FAT. 😅😅

[@kennyaubin]

Looks a lot like Andy Reed 😂

[@prsguitars42]

LMAO!!!!!

[@davej3781]

I always hate that argument "how can you see the foot, you're supposed to be tracking the pitch!" well, once he hits the ball, there's no more pitch to track, so it's pretty easy to see where his foot is.

[@jpup6006]

make some mechanics videos actually showing folks what to physically do

[@UmpireClassroom]

Any in particular you want to see first?

[@jpup6006]

@@UmpireClassroomplate mechanics is where I would start

[@ingchatboy]

Rule No. 1: Don't be Angel Hernandez Rule No. 2: In doubt, follow Rule No. 1

[@UmpireClassroom]

He makes a lot more money umpiring than I do umpiring. Have to weigh my options.