Attack the Slot: The Umpire’s Guide to Optimal Positioning
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- Опубликовано: 21 ноя 2024
- In "Attack the Slot: The Umpire’s Guide to Optimal Positioning," we dive deep into the crucial aspect of foot positioning to enhance your umpiring skills behind the plate. This detailed tutorial addresses a common oversight among umpires-proper foot alignment for both right and left-handed batters-to ensure a clear, unobstructed view of the pitch and accurate calls on balls and strikes. By demonstrating the "heel to toe" setup and the importance of "attacking the slot," we aim to refine your positioning, offering insights into achieving the optimal vantage point while minimizing injury risks. Through practical examples, we'll show you how subtle adjustments can significantly impact your game perception, especially when transitioning between batters of different stances.
Join Patrick Faerber from GHSA Baseball Umpire Development and Umpire Classroom as we tackle these techniques. We will remind even the most seasoned umpires of the importance of mirrored footwork for consistent, top-tier umpiring. Don't miss our upcoming podcast for more insights and tips-subscribe now and elevate your umpiring prowess with every pitch. 
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Finally figured out recently after umpiring 20 years is that you shouldn't align your head on the inside corner of the plate, but you should put your ear on the catcher's slot shoulder (so, right ear on catcher's left shoulder for a RH batter). You get to see the entire pitch start to finish. The reason most umpires struggle with the low pitch is that they block their vision due to having to look through the catcher's head or adjusting your head height so high that you have a poor angle looking down on the zone. Ear on the catcher's shoulder lets you look AROUND the catcher's head to see the whole pitch. Getting into the slot helps too as you said.
I’ve always set up to the point of the plate with the plant foot and then step into the slot w/other once the batter steps in the box. This gets me in a position to see the low/outside pitches. Like many other umpires, it takes a little more work to set up properly with the lefties AB.
I really appreciate the excellent work Patrick does for NFHS baseball umpires.
I never thought about the possibility that I was approaching LH batters differently. thanks!
Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know. Whoever trained you failed you. Inverse foot positioning when a left handed batter is hitting is basic and foundational training.
Glad to help!
Really excited for the podcast, will it be available on all channels or just your website?
It's out on Spotify and Apple podcasts today!
Wow.... 15 years. I think I have been doing this exact same thing with the footwork. Never realized i was wrong
Patrick can you share your email again?
Patrick@umpireclassroom.com
Test it on the field and I hope it helps!
Oh, the luxury of having a bunch of games to evaluate. First year umpire here, I've been scheduled to work 8 games (all sub-varsity since I'm a complete rookie), but only 3 have been played, and one of them was called after 6 innings due to rain. And next week isn't looking good either. It's so frustrating.
Find a local travel organization. Ask them if you can come in a calls some pitches in bullpens or hitting scrimmages. Great was to see a lot of pitches, and record yourself to learn from it.
Don’t worry the weather will get better and you should have a ton of games in the Future. Normally in March half my games rained out. I average 3 games in March.
I would love to have video of myself to learn from. Do you have any suggestions?
Couple ideas, have friend or relative film you.
Set up a Go-pro on the fence behind.
Just about everyone does game changer. Ask someone to email you the game liink. Good Luck 😀
Try to work at a school with NFHS network!
Not only does working the slot open up better vision, but it also keep the umpire safer. When properly tucked into the slot, the chance of catching a foul ball in the grill is greatly reduced.
So important
“Most of the games I’ve evaluated this year” 😢
We still have snow on the ground here 😭
😢😢😢
Just an observation. The second umpire just didn't look quite right for some reason. It wasn't just the feet. His hat was also on backwards 🤦♂
Actually, and this is not the case for most umpires, that's the flow!
I think we're just surprised when an umpire still has hair like that!
@@UmpireClassroomthe flow? What? Any umpire wearing his cap backward should be suspended and fined.
He’s not an umpire.
@@rayray4192 Youth slang translator: flow = hair