RESOURCES
APPENDIX 5: UMPIRES
A. GENERAL INFORMATION FOR UMPIRES
a. The umpire must not be a member of either team.
Examples: player, coach, manager, officer, scorer or sponsor.
b. The umpire should be sure of the date, time and place for the game and should arrive at the playing field 20-30 minutes ahead of time, start the game on time and leave the field when the game is over.
c. Umpire must wear uniforms as approved by Softball Canada or individual provincial associations.
d. Umpires must not wear exposed jewelry that may pose a hazard.
Exception: Medical Alert Bracelets and/or necklaces.
e. The plate umpire in fast pitch must wear a black facemask with either black or tan padding and a black throat protector and a body protector and shin guards with knee protection. An extended wire protector may be worn instead of a throat protector on the mask.
f. The umpires should introduce themselves to the captains, managers and scorers.
g. The umpires should inspect the playing field boundaries, equipment and clarify all ground rules to both teams and their coaches.
h. Each umpire has the power to make decisions on violations committed any time during playing time or during suspension of play until the game is over.
i. Neither umpire has the authority to set aside or question decisions made by the other within the limits of their respective duties as outlined in these rules.
j. An umpire may consult their associate at any time. However, the final decision will rest with the umpire whose exclusive authority it was to make the decision and who requested the opinion of the other.
k. In order to define their respective duties, the umpire judging balls and strikes will be designated as the ‘”plate umpire,” the umpire judging base decisions as the “base umpire.”
l. The plate umpire or base umpire will have equal authority to
- Call a runner out for leaving a base too soon.
- Call ‘’TIME” for suspension of play.
- Remove, or eject, a player, coach or manager from the game for violation of rules.
- Call all illegal pitches.
- Determine and call an infield fly. When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an infield fly, the umpire will immediately declare, “INFIELD FLY, IF FAIR-THE BATTER IS OUT,” for the benefit of the runners.
m. The umpire will declare the batters, batter-runners or runners out without waiting for an appeal for such decision in all cases where such player is retired in accordance with these rules.
n. Unless appealed to, the umpire does not call a player out or penalize them for having failed to touch base, leaving a base too soon on a caught fly ball, batting out of order, being an unreported substitute, being an Illegal Re-Entry, the replacement player or returning withdrawn player who is not reported, being a runner who switched positions on bases with another runner, or making an attempt to go to second base after reaching first base, as provided in these rules.
o. Umpires will not penalize a team for infraction of a rule when imposing the penalty would be to the advantage of the offending team.
p. Failure of umpires to adhere to Appendix 5 is not grounds for protest. These are guidelines for umpires.
B. SIGNALS
a. To indicate that play will begin, or be resumed; the umpire shall call “PLAY BALL” and, at the same time, motion the pitcher to deliver the ball.
b. A STRIKE will be indicated by raising the right hand upward above the shoulder, to a 90-degree angle and, at the same time, calling “STRIKE” in a clear and decisive voice.
c. To indicate a BALL, no arm signal is used.
d. To indicate the total COUNT of balls and strikes, the balls are called first.
e. To indicate a FOUL, the umpire will call “FOUL BALL” and extend both arms vertically above the head.
f. To indicate a FAIR BALL, the umpire will extend an arm toward the center of the diamond, using a pumping motion.
g. To indicate a batter or runner OUT, the umpire will raise the right hand upward above the right shoulder, with fist closed.
h. To indicate that a player is SAFE, the umpire will extend both arms horizontally to the side of the body, with palms toward the ground.
i. To indicate suspension of play, the umpire will call “TIME” and, at the same time, extend both arms above the head. The other umpires shall immediately acknowledge the suspension of play, with similar action.
j. To indicate a DELAYED DEAD BALL, the umpire will extend the left arm horizontally, with fist closed.
k. To indicate a TRAPPED BALL, the umpire will extend both arms horizontally to the side of the body, with palms toward the ground.
l. To indicate a GROUND RULE DOUBLE, the umpire will extend the right hand above the head and, at the same time, indicate with two fingers, the number of bases awarded.
m. To indicate a HOME RUN, the umpire will extend the right hand, with closed fist closed, above the head and circle the arm in a clockwise movement.
n. To indicate an INFIELD FLY, the umpire will call “INFIELD FLY, IF FAIR, THE BATTER IS OUT.” The Umpire will extend one arm above the head.
o. To indicate NOT TO PITCH, the Umpire should raise one hand, with the palm facing the pitcher. “NO PITCH” will be declared, if the pitcher pitches while the Umpire has their hand in said position.