Baseball Instruction/home plate umpire

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Expert: - 5/18/2011


Question
Hi Mr.Hoover, can an umpire touch or lean on a catcher? I'm a catcher and our umpire was hit hard in the junk with a pitch... my question is after he recovered and the game restarted, I didn't like how he was putting his hand on my upperback for support while crouching getting in position to watch every pitch after he got nailed. To tell you the truth, it distracted me and I had problem to stay focussed to catch...and if I don't catch the baseball the umpire could get hit again. Eric

Answer
Eric,

We instruct umpires to never touch a catcher.  Umpires in the professional level will keep a hand very close to the catchers upper back to read where they are going on a passed ball.  However, we now instruct umpires to look at the catchers shoulders to read where they are going, as placing a hand on them is outdated and could be considered inappropriate.

I would have told him not to do that, and if he continued, I would have notified your head coach about how it distracted you.

As for worrying about the care and safety of the umpire, that is not your job.  If he was wearing the proper gear he would have been okay.

I hope this has helped.

-Martin Hoover

Baseball Instruction

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Martin Hoover

Expertise

Questions regarding the Rules and Regulations of Little League Baseball and Softball. Questions regarding the history and organization of Little League Baseball at local, state, regional, and international levels. Advise regarding certain operational procedures and recommendations to Local League representatives.

Experience

Volunteer Little League Umpire since 2000; 2003 Little League, Junior League, Senior League and Big League Softball European Regional Umpire; 2005 Little League Softball Western Regional Umpire; Member- Hesperia National(Hesperia, CA) Little League Board of Directors(2003-2004); President- Hesperia National Little League Board of Directors(2005-Present); 2007 Junior Softball Western Regional Umpire

Organizations
Little League Baseball, Inc is the main operational center. I fall under Little League Western Region, and California District 49. I currently serve as President of the Hesperia National Little League Board of Directors.

Education/Credentials
Western Regional Junior Umpire School(2000)(Named Outstanding Junior Umpire of the Western Region Area); Instructor - Little League Baseball Western Regional Outreach Clinics

Awards and Honors
Outstanding Junior Umpire of the Western Regional Area(2000)

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