*** This page is a work in progress ***

This page is intended to be a comprehensive source Hillside umps can review to perform your best at managing the games you choose to officiate.

• official videos, guides, etc. from Little League itself
• videos, guides, etc. from other sources considered helpful
• division-specific rules for games at Hillside (including the in-house, post-season tournaments)
• situation-specific calls to make

Q: Where is the strike zone?
A: For purposes of consistency among all Jr. and Sr. umpires covering games at Hillside and to encourage batters to swing at more pitches, the strike zone is deemed to be "chalk to chalk" and between the armpits and the knees when the batter assumes a natural stance. Chalk to chalk means the entire empty space between both sides of the plate and the batters box. This does NOT include the chalk making up either batter's box.

From the Little League website:

"If the batter is standing either in the very front or very back of the batter’s box, the umpire MUST take the batter’s normal strike zone to the area over home plate and not call the batter’s zone where he/she is standing. The strike zone is where the pitch crosses through the batter’s normal strike zone, or is caught by the catcher in relationship to where the home plate area is located."

"The batter’s normal stance should be determined when the batter swings at a pitch or takes a practice swing. The umpire should be aware of a batter who tries to give the impression of a small zone by squatting. Once the umpire determines the batter’s normal stance, he/she should call that strike zone no matter what the batter may do to alter his/her stance and zone."

Tips for establishing a consistent strike zone:
     - Umpires should always “think strikes” and make a ball convince you that it is a ball. “Borderline” pitches should always be called strikes. This will encourage the batters to be more aggressive at the plate and swing the bat. This is not showing favoritism, because the teams switch sides each half inning.
     - A called strike is a pitch that is not swung at, and in which any part of the ball passes through any part of the strike zone. This is a very important concept for all Little League umpires to understand and remember. The umpire should call the strike zone as stated in Rule 2.00 – Definition of Terms, regardless of where the catcher catches the ball or, as happens in many Little League games, doesn’t catch it.
     - Consistent plate mechanics, including proper “slot” placement, will establish a quality strike zone. In turn, you are likely to earn the respect of the game’s participants.

Plate Mechanics: Explaining “The Slot”
Putting Ball in Play
Swinging Strike 
Called Strike
Called Ball
Foul
Foul - Tip
Uncaught 3rd Strike
Uncaught 3rd Strike (obvious)
Uncaught 3rd Strike - Tag
Uncaught 3rd Strike - No Catch
Safe - Ball on the Ground
Check Swing (Ask for help)
Check Swing, Batter Offers

Tips to Help a Base Umpire with Timing
A Position – No Runners On
Description of the “Basic Six” Field Mechanics - A Position
B Position – Runner on First Base
C Position – Runner on Second, Third, or Bases Full
Hands on Knees
Out
Set-Out
Out - On the Tag
Safe
Safe - Off the Bag
Set-Safe
Foul-Left

     - No new inning after 75 minutes (1hr 15min)
     - Hard stop after 105 minutes (1hr 45min)
     - Six inning max
     - Six run max per half inning
     - No on deck batters during play
     - Pitching
          - Kid-pitch during ODD innings
          - Coach-pitch during EVEN innings
          - Coach-pitch after ball four
          - Coach-pitch after six total pitches to one batter
          - Coach-pitch after batter hit by ball
          - One pitcher per inning
          - During kid-pitch, if coach pitches and two strikes exist at the time, strike count will be reduced to one before coach-pitch begins
          - All players and coaches must pitch from the rubber. Coaches may stand, squat or take a knee to pitch.
          - No walks allowed
     - Base Running
          - No extra bases on overthrows
          - No stealing
          - Once ball reaches the infield, regardless if fielder has control, play stops but runners are allowed to finish advancing to the base they are already headed to at their own risk

Minor
     - No new inning after 90 minutes (1hr 30min)
     - Six inning max
     - Six runs max per half inning (NO limit for post-season tournament play)
     - No on deck batters during play
     - Run (Mercy) rule
          - 15 runs after three complete innings
          - 10 runs after four complete innings
     - Uncaught (aka "dropped") third strike
          - Not allowed. Batters may not advance and are out
          - Base runners may advance at their own risk
     - Base Running
          - Base runners may lead off/steal only WHEN the ball passes the plate
          - If leaving early, runners will be returned to base without an out (See examples)
          - Runners may advance at their own risk on overthrows
          - Home is closed after defense stops the runner at third base
          - Home is open if overthrow is made at third. Runner may advance at their own risk
          - If ball is thrown out of play (outside of fence, inside dugout or not reachable by a fielder who indicates), runners will advance one base
     - Fielding
          - Three or four outfielders max (must be agreed upon by both teams prior to game if four outfielders)
          - Minimum eight players
          - Six infielders max, including the pitcher and catcher

Major
     - No new inning after 90 minutes (1hr 30min)
     - Six inning max
     - Eight runs per half inning max (NO limit for post-season tournament play)
     - No on deck batters during play
     - Run (Mercy) rule
          - 15 runs after three complete innings
          - 10 runs after four complete innings
     - Uncaught (aka "dropped") third strike 
          - Prior to May 1st, coaches must discuss prior to game starting
          - On May 1st, all teams will have batters advance
               - Permitted situations
                    - When first base is unoccupied with fewer than two outs
                    - When first base is occupied with two outs
     - Base Running
          - Base runners may lead off/steal only WHEN the ball passes the plate
          - If leaving early, runners will be returned to base without an out. (See examples)
          - Runners may advance at their own risk on overthrows
          - Home is open at all times
          - If ball is thrown out of play (outside of fence, inside dugout or not reachable by a fielder who indicates), runners will advance one base
     - Fielding
          - Nine players max (only three outfielders)
          - Minimum eight players
          - Six infielders max, including the pitcher and catcher

Content coming soon...