There are few jobs as thankless as that of a baseball umpire. As if it weren't enough to have the pressure of making snap judgments that could affect the outcome of a game, umpires must contend with heckling from fans and complaints from players and coaches. It takes a special sort of personality to be an umpire, and it doesn't hurt to have an idea of what you're getting into.
Know Your Role
It's vital to know not only the rules, but also your role. Many baseball games feature three or more umpires, each having his own responsibilities. For instance, the home-plate ump is expected to call balls and strikes and determine if a runner is safe or out on plays at the plate. Umpires on either baseline must cover plays at those bases, often in addition to determining if fly balls are fair or foul.
Keep the Count
Umpires in many leagues rotate position, meaning they take turns manning different spots on the field on a day-to-day basis. When handling home-plate duties, you'll be responsible for keeping track of balls and strikes in every at-bat. To do so, umpires use a handheld counter. If you forget to punch in the result of any given pitch, you can alter the outcome of that at-bat -- and, potentially, of the game. In many youth leagues, the umpire is also responsible for enforcing limits placed on the number of pitches an individual may throw in a game. This is done to protect young arms from injury.
Get In the Zone
Because you'll be independently deciding whether each pitch is a strike or a ball, you need to know the strike zone. If a batter swings and misses, it's automatically a strike. Vertically speaking, a "called strike" -- a pitch at which the batter doesn't offer, but is deemed in the strike zone -- is defined as a pitch that crosses through the strike zone. It must cross the plate no lower than the bottom of knees and no higher than the top of the shoulders. Horizontally, it must also cross within the edges of home plate. The height of the pitch is determined in relation to the batter's batting stance, rather than his general height.
Proper Equipment
Umpires manning home plate are expected to wear proper equipment that protects them from injury. The home-plate umpire is especially susceptible to being struck by the ball because it is thrown in his direction at high speeds and is often tipped away from the catcher's glove at the last second. The umpire is also at risk of being struck by the bat. He must wear a thick chest protector, a face mask that includes a throat protector, shin guards and a cup that protects the groin area.
Keep it Flowing
Baseball games can last three hours or more due to the high volume of pitches, pitching changes and breaks that occur from one half-inning to the next. As an ump, it is your responsibility to keep the game moving along. Keep count of warm-up pitches; in most leagues, a pitcher is allow just eight when entering the game or starting an inning. When batters continually fidget outside the batter's box between pitches, call them back to the plate. Allow managers to give feedback to your calls, but don't fall into the trap of letting them initiate five-minute conferences with you once an inning. In short, keep it moving or it will be a long haul for all involved.
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