Three Umpire System - Part 2: Fly Ball Coverage

Learn to master fly ball coverage like a pro with our latest tutorial on umpiring in a crew of three. This second video in our series dives into the crucial roles and responsibilities when dealing with fly balls, tailored for umpires looking to sharpen their judgment and positioning on the field.
Video Highlights:
1. CCA Mechanics vs. Professional Standards: Understand the critical differences between collegiate and professional fly ball mechanics and why we choose the CCA approach for our training.
2. Detailed Coverage Areas: Get a comprehensive breakdown of each umpire’s responsibilities based on different game scenarios to ensure you're always in the right place at the right time.
3. Practical Tips and Common Scenarios: Learn through visual examples and detailed explanations about handling trouble balls, making crucial fair/foul decisions, and maintaining effective communication with your fellow umpires.
Whether you’re new to the crew of three system or looking to refine your skills, this video is your go-to guide for mastering fly ball situations. Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful content and check out our upcoming videos in this series to complete your umpiring education. Join us at Umpire Classroom to elevate your game to the next level!
#baseball #umpire #umpiretraining #baseballrules

[@jameshickam1787]

Pause - Read - React; Trouble Balls only.. ESPECIALLY when runners outnumber Umpires... Great Video again

[@Jimmy-ul3si]

Pause read and react. Pregame weather conditions. If you have an extremely windy day you may want to decide to chase all fly balls.

[@francistower5352]

Fly ball coverage is a necessary pre-brief. Colorado mechanics has U3 in B/C going out on trouble balls. Communication during the game is crucial when going out so everyone knows it's a 2-man game.

[@thomasboyd6242]

I like going out on everything…I think it looks better that an umpire is heading out there to see anything that could happen. These are teenage kids and often funny things happen or they do something interesting.

[@dangreenberg4]

I prefer the mechanic of going out on everything. It's better for optics, and most umpires are very familiar with two man coverage, so it is actually simpler as well. I think the down sides of covering the bases with two are minimal and the upsides are significant.

[@chuckfan1]

In the CCA Unless I'm reading it wrong.. 3 Umpires Example : 0 Outs R1 U1 is on the line in A, U3 inside, B position CCA has U1 ONLY taking trouble balls to the right side, turning anything deemed "routine" over to U3 Fly to right field If U1 determines, in his judgement, that it's "routine", no matter location of hit, close to the line etc, U1 gives that up to U3 "Thats yours" "Take that" or something similar determined pre-game According to CCA, U1 does not take anything "routine" (in the judgement of U1), to that side. Only taking trouble balls. Same idea if U1 is inisde and U3 on the line and a fly to left. This video references CCA as showing U1 taking trouble AND routine on hits to the right, moving toward the right field line. In the CCA, in these situations, anything deemed routine by U1, that now belongs to U3. If U1, is going to "take it", then he's letting his partners know that he is judging that as "trouble", as U1 does not take anything considered routine, on flys to right, with U3 inside And vice versa with U3 on the line and U1 inside

[@UmpireClassroom]

Anything "close to the line" is by definition a trouble ball. Anything taking F9 to the line is trouble. Now, yes he could be playing far from the foul line and several steps to the line wouldn't warrant trouble consideration. But, if F9 is potentially going to the line, when in doubt, go out. And we don't need a verbal que to the partner in the middle. The fact that U1 did not go out is the signal that they are giving up catch/no catch responsibilities.

[@chuckfan1]

​@UmpireClassroom I hear ya. I do college here in So Cal, 3 man. And as U1, with U3 inside, anything deemed "routine" by U1 (as the quarterback), supposed to give that up to U3. U1 has NO responsibility for "routine" balls to the right side coverage area, according to the CCA, which you reference, and that diagram, which doesn't match CCA Now, a crew can modify to what you show, but should be discussed pregame CCA clearly indicates ANY routine fly, is turned over to the inisde guy. Any trouble ball, umpire on the line takes that. That's from the CCA. Again, there is no diagram in the book that shows what you show.

[@chuckfan1]

@@UmpireClassroom NOt trying to get into an argument, etc.. You have valuable material, and I point my students to some of your videos in my HS classes during the season ALL Im saying, you can teach whatever mechanics you want, or modified, or advanced, whatever..... but if you quote it as being CCA, then you are incorrect. CCA clearly, states that with an umpire on the line, and a guy inside, that ALL routine balls are turned over to the inside guy. U1 on the line, reads trouble, he goes out. U1 reads routine "thats yours" U3 on the line, reads trouble, he goes out U3 reads routine, "thats yours" And thats it. Doesnt matter if one of them misreads it or whatever... from the get, thats the mechanic As we know difficult enough to learn all this, and add to that , teaching newer officials. This is more confusion for those that do dig into the CCA. You lead those watching , that seeing your diagram , thats CCA... its not... Dont connect the dots from the CCA to your modified mechanic

[@chuckfan1]

@@UmpireClassroom and if anything close to the line is a trouble ball (not really), then U1 or U3 should go out. There ya go Pre game that "Hey guys, since anything near the line is a trouble ball, to me, Im going out) The thing is , what is the demarcation point? 5 ft from the line, 15? 20? Exactly U1, reads fly, go out or turn it over... Again, THAT is CCA Whether after the fact, the "read" turned out to be incorrect... the play was covered

[@travisbroussard477]

Go out on everything. Makes it easier; sometimes what we think is routine turns into trouble. Better to get a closer view.

[@standyer7482]

He wants us to comment on whether or not we think umpires should go out on everything, or just on trouble balls. For me, it's pretty simple - only go out on trouble balls. Why go out on a can of corn? My experience is that most fly balls can be ruled on easily from the infield. In playoff games, I would talk about this in the pregame, and decide with my partners based on the level, and skill of the teams involved. One thing I always cover in pregame, whether it's two-man, or three-man, is a ball hit on the line. If an umpire has to turn his back on the infield to judge fair/foul, or catch/no catch, just consider him out. With his back to the infield, it's likely others won't hear him yell, "I'm going out!" Logic suggests that if that umpire turns his back to make a ruling, there's no way he can make it back to cover other responsibilities. Just consider him out, and act as if he called going out. In the beginning of the video, Patrick makes reference to the "Pro System." He must be referring to the Minor Leagues because the Pros use six umpires, and they have guys already out there to make those calls.

[@auzmo]

Usually MLB only has 4 umpires. They only use 6 in postseason

[@chuckhall3241]

Only go out on troubled balls. this video really is to show umpires who are new to three man, so I agree with Patrick. Going out on routine balls is not worth the risk of not having coverage back on the bases.

[@tmcevoy1000]

Has there ever been a batter that moves across the box, from back to front, while hitting?

[@tmcevoy1000]

If a batter moves toward the ball ending up in the opposite box when connecting with a pitch, is this legal?

[@standyer7482]

If either foot touches the ground completely outside the batters box he began in before he makes contact with the baseball, he is out, no matter if the ball is hit fair, or foul. If he doesn't make contact, there's no penalty.