Umpiring 101
Softball Acronyms
2 Umpire System
You Make the Call
HodgePodge
100
This is the number of warm-up pitches allowed for each pitcher in the first innings and with each new pitcher.
What s five (5)?
100
BU
What is base umpire?
100
When the ball is in the infield, the Base Umpire moves or stays in the outfield. When the ball is in the outfield, the Base Umpire moves to a position in the infield.
What is the infield/outfield theory?
100
A pitch comes in, reaches an arc of about 14 feet, and lands perfectly on the back edge of the plate. The batter doesn't swing.
What is illegal?
100
USA softball arc
What is 6-10 feet?
200
The 10-rule
What is the mercy rule?
200
EP
What is Extra Player?
200
These are the four basic elements that must be kept in your vision.
What is the ball, the base, the offense and the defense?
200
The batter hits a high popup right in front of home plate. The wind is blowing heavily, and the third baseman runs in but drops the ball without touching it. The ball lands in fair territory, then spins into foul territory before passing first or third base.
What is foul?
200
In co-ed ths is an option when a male batter is walked with two outs.
What is walk or choose to hit?
300
The line between third base and home.
What is the committment line?
300
DP
What is designated player?
300
The division principle
What is the division of the field in the 2 ump system?
300
A batter-runner overruns first base on a ground ball to the shortstop. After crossing the bag, they turn toward the left into fair territory but make no attempt or motion toward second base. The first baseman tags them while they are off the bag.
What is safe?
300
This rule is in effect when a runner is dancing off third base and the pitcher is standing inside the 16-foot circle with the ball securely in their glove.The runner stops, takes two steps toward home plate, stops a second time, and then dives back to third base.
What is the look-back rule?
400
What is it called when the BU moves from the 'A' position into the infield to track a batter-runner moving toward second base?
What is button hook?
400
BB
What is base on balls?
400
If the ball is close to the foul line, this umpire moves to the line to make the fair/foul call.
What is the plate umpire?
400
A batter has a count of 2 strikes. On the next pitch, they swing and the ball goes directly from the bat to the catcher's mitt and is caught. The ball did not go above the batter's head.
What is an out?
400
The pitcher pushes off the rubber, creates a secondary pivot point in the dirt in front of the rubber, and pushes off again to gain distance.
What is crow-hopping?
500
Golden rule of umpiring?
What is angle over distance?
500
BOO
What is Batting Out of Order?
500
These are the three things the plate umpire is responsible for.
What is: Illegal Pitches, Fair/Foul balls and batting infractions?
500
A batter swings and the ball hits them on the hands while they are still in the strike zone. The ball rolls into fair territory.
What is a dead ball strike?
500
These two conditions are required for dropped third strike rule.
What is:
First base is unoccupied (no runner is on first) at the time of the pitch.
OR, there are already two outs (even if first base is occupied).