Umpire To Umpire Signals

( Two person system)

 

Ready Signal:

 

At the start of each half inning the plate and base umpire, after taking their relative position, face each other and extent their right arm parallel to the ground with the hand and fingers extended and the palm vertical. After the signal has been acknowledge by each umpire play may commence.

Following this procedure insures that both umpires are in position for play to commence and that the ball is not thrown when one of the umpires is not looking. It is the responsibility of each umpire to get into position as quickly as possible.

Any time the base umpire changes position it is a good idea to use this signal to indicate you are ready. The plate umpire should not allow the ball to be pitched until the base umpire is ready whether or not they signal that they are ready.

 

Outs:

 

After each out the umpires should indicate the number of outs to each other by extending either one or two fingers of the right hand and holding it in front of their hip. The plate umpire may use either hand.

When both umpires are in their relative position the base umpire initiates this signal and holds it until the plate umpire returns the signal. The plate umpire may have to step to either side so that the signal is visible to their partner.

This signal is extremely important in slow moving games and it is a good idea to repeat the signal if there has been a delay in the game such as a pitching change.

 

In-Field-Fly On:

 

When an in-field-fly situation occurs the umpires signal the situation to each other by holding their right hand flat on their left shoulder.

This signal should be initiated by the base umpire and held until acknowledged by the plate umpire.

If there has been a stoppage in play and the in-field-fly situation still exists it is a good idea to repeat the signal before play resumes.

 

In-Field-Fly off:

 

If the in-field-fly situation is removed by the runners advancing leaving either 1st or 2nd or both unoccupied the umpires signal this to each other by brushing their flat right hand down the left arm from the shoulder to the wrist.

If the in-field-fly situation is removed because of the second out the umpires signal each other by running the right hand with two fingers out down the left arm thus combining the two out signal with the in-field-fly off signal.

This signal is initiated by the base umpire placing the right hand on their left upper arm, when the umpires have eye contact base umpire runs their hand down their left arm and the plate umpire returns the signal.

 

What is the count?

 

Occasionally one or the other, hopefully not both, of the umpires will loss the count and need help from their partner. Don’t be afraid to ask.

If this situation happens the umpire requesting the count holds both hands on their shirt front in the area of their chest and wiggles their extended fingers. The other umpire responds by holding their hands in the same position with the number of extended fingers on the left hand indicating the number of balls and the number of extended finger on the right hand indicating the number of strikes.

Sometimes it is difficult to see the return signals and your partner may ask you to give the signals against your pants. They make this request by moving their hands from their chest to their hips at least twice or until you move your hands down.

If both umpires are unsure of the count ask the official score keeper or check the score board if there is one.

 

Positioning:

 

The plate umpire normally doesn’t start in the wrong position since they have only one position but occasionally the base umpire will forget to change positions after a play. If this happens the plate umpire should get their attention an indicate where the base umpire should be.

 

Notes:

 

It is very important that the umpires make eye contact after each play, make any relevant signals and make sure each umpire is in position before play resumes after each call.