• Any time a fly ball THAT HAS POTENTIAL OF BEING CAUGHT OR THREATENING THE FENCE is hit in the "wing" umpire's coverage area he will go out to cover the fly ball.
  The other two umpires revert to the 2-umpire system.
• Pause, read and react. IF YOU TAKE MORE than one step towards the outfield go hard and get a good angle. Come set (stopped) before the play occurs.
• Once you go out do not return until the play is complete.
  • However from outside the diamond you can still assist with location of base runners if ball enters dead ball territory if other plays occur after the catch/no catch.
  • Also, if a runner gets caught in a run-down and you can assist the other base umpire by getting back in just like a plate umpire helping out on a run-down in the 2-umpire system - then do it.

NOTE: When base umpires are at their bases on the line they are known as a "wing" umpire or being on the "wing".

Using this "Basics of Baseball Three Umpire Mechanics" the wing umpire will go out to cover a fly ball when the ball is hit in his coverage area for these reasons:

• Until all three umpires working the game have a solid knowledge of three-umpire mechanics, experienced in all aspects of three-umpire mechanics and can read "trouble fly balls" we need to keep it simple and go out and cover the fly ball. The other two umpires will (and know how to) use two-umpire mechanics.
• Also, the game is probably a high school or younger level game in which ALL fly balls are trouble balls.

READ: Pick up the area were the ball is going by watching the fielders' reactions, then...

REACT:

• If the fly ball that is clearly NOT going to be caught or NOT threatening the fence, such as a gapper - DO NOT go out. Instead use the "Batted Balls to the Outfield" Mechanics.
• If the fly ball is going to be caught in or threatening the fence in YOUR coverage area and you are on the wing, communicate to the other umpires that you are going out and GO OUT and cover the fly ball.
• If the fly ball is going to be caught or threatening the fence in YOUR coverage area and you are inside the diamond, DO NOT leave the middle of the diamond. Instead move to a position near the edge of the grass to cover the fly ball and rule on the catch/no catch. If you have a runner at 2nd base you may have to line-up the tag-up with the catch.
• If the fly ball is going to be caught or threatening the fence in the other base umpire's coverage area or hit down the line were the plate umpire is covering read and react to his actions. DO NOT watch the fly ball, it is not your responsibility. You have runners touching bases and tag ups to cover.

• Plate Umpire: At Plate
• 1st Base Umpire: At 1st Base
• 3rd Base Umpire: At 3rd Base

Coverage and Movement of the Umpires:

• With both base umpires on the "wing" the outfield will be split 50/50.

1st Base Umpire:

• Will go out and cover fly balls to the centerfielder straight in, straight back and towards right field line.
• On balls to the centerfielder's back, if the centerfielder initially "opens up" to the 1st base umpire then the 1st base umpire will go out and cover the fly ball.
• The 3rd base umpire will run towards 2nd covering any plays at 2nd.

3rd Base Umpire:

• Will go out and cover fly balls to the centerfielder moving towards the left field line.
• On balls to the centerfielder's back, if the centerfielder initially "opens up" to the 3rd base umpire then the 3rd base umpire will go out and cover the fly ball.
• The 1st base umpire will run in and pivot taking the batter-runner around the bases.

Plate Umpire:

• Does not have any fly ball coverage with bases empty.
• When 1st base umpire goes out to cover fly ball run up 1st base line and cover batter-runner at first.
• When 3rd base umpires goes out to cover fly ball move up 3rd base in foul territory and help were needed.
• Remember you are in the two-umpire system because one of the wing umpires went out to cover the fly ball.

• Plate Umpire: At Plate
• 1st Base Umpire: At 1st Base
• 3rd Base Umpire: At 3rd Base

Coverage and Movement of the Umpires:

• With both base umpires on the "wing" the outfield will be split 50/50.

1st Base Umpire:

• Will go out and cover fly balls to the centerfielder straight in, straight back and towards right field line.
• On balls to the centerfielder's back, if the centerfielder initially "opens up" to the 1st base umpire then the 1st base umpire will go out and cover the fly ball.

3rd base umpire DOES NOT have tag up responsibility in this situation. Instead the 3rd base umpire will head directly towards 1st base and cover any plays at 1st and/or 3rd if the runner does not tag up.

3rd Base Umpire:

• Will go out and cover fly balls to the centerfielder moving towards the left field line.
• On balls to the centerfielder's back, if the centerfielder initially "opens up" to the 3rd base umpire then the 3rd base umpire will go out and cover the fly ball.

1st base umpire will run towards the working area and cover the batter-runner touching first and be ready for plays at the bases including 3rd base if the runner at 3rd does not tag up. With less than two outs the 1st base umpire will also cover the runner at 3rd if he does not tag up.

Plate Umpire:

• Does not have any fly ball coverage with a runner at 3rd only.
• With less than 2 outs move to a position and watch the tag up at 3rd.
• With 2 outs move back and watch runner from 3rd touch home.
• Remember you are in the two-umpire system because one of the wing umpires went out to cover the fly ball.

• Plate Umpire: At Plate
• 1st Base Umpire: At 1st Base
• 3rd Base Umpire: Inside the diamond in either:
  • Deep B with a right handed batter up or,
  • Deep C position with a left handed batter up due to check swing responsibilities

Coverage and Movement of the Umpires:

• With the 1st base umpire on the "wing" fly ball coverage will be 40-50-10.

1st Base Umpire:

• 40% of the outfield coverage.
• Will go out and cover fly balls to right field and towards right field line.
• On balls to the centerfielder's back, if the centerfielder initially "opens up" to the 1st base umpire then the 1st base umpire will go out and cover the fly ball.
• Get an angle on the glove, come set beofre the catch and stay with the fielder until legally caught.

If the 1st base umpire goes out to cover the fly ball the 3rd base umpire and plate umpire will revert to the two-umpire system. 3rd base umpire will move to cover tag up at first and any throw backs at first. If the ball is dropped coverage is the same as the two-umpire system.

3rd Base Umpire:

• 50% of the outfield coverage.
• All fly balls to Center and Left Field but not threatening the foul line.
• DO NOT leave the middle of the diamond to cover a fly ball. Leaving the middle of the diamond is an advance mechanic.
• Cover fly balls in your coverage area just like the two-umpire system.
• Get an angle on the glove and stay with the fielder until legally caught.

Plate Umpire:

• 10% of the outfield coverage.
• Will cover fly balls going threatening the left field foul line.
• In situations when you are to rotate to 3rd, If the ball is hit in the other umpire's coverage area you will start rotating to 3rd base.
• In situations when you must stay at home watch tag-ups and touches at 3rd base.
• If the first base umpire goes out revert to the two-umpire system to cover situations if the ball is not caught.
• If the third base umpire is covering the fly ball you will cover situations just like the 3-umpire system of rotating or sliding.

• Plate Umpire: At Plate
• 1st Base Umpire: Deep B Position. Can be on the dirt inline with 1st/2nd baseline.
• 3rd Base Umpire: At 3rd Base

Coverage and Movement of the Umpires:

• With the 3rd base umpire on the "wing" fly ball coverage will be 50-40-10.

1st Base Umpire:

• 50% of the outfield coverage.
• All fly balls to Center Field to Right Field but not threatening the right field foul line.
• DO NOT leave the middle of the diamond to cover a fly ball. Leaving the middle of the diamond is an advance mechanic.
• Cover fly balls in your coverage area just like the two-umpire system - get an angle on the glove and stay with fielder until legally caught.
• Cover the tag-up at 2nd base unless its a trouble ball in your area. Put the runner in line with the catch.
• If trouble ball 3rd base umpire will cover tag at 2nd base.

The 3rd base umpire will move to a position outside the diamond near third base watching tag up and action at third. If the ball is not caught coverage will be just like a batted ball that gets through the infield situations.

3rd Base Umpire:

• 40% of the outfield coverage.
• Will go out and cover fly balls to all fly balls to Left Field inlcuding threatening the left field foul line.
• The 1st base umpire and plate umpire will revert to the two-umpire system.
• Get an angle on the glove, come set beofre the catch and stay with the fielder until legally caught.

If the fly bal is hit in the 1st base umpire's coverage area DO NOT get happy feet and move into the diamond. STAY on the outside of the diamond near 3rd base and be ready for any plays at third including touches of 3rd base by runners.

Plate Umpire:

• 10% of the outfield coverage.
• Will cover fly balls going threatening the right field foul line.
• Stay at home watch tag-ups and touches at 3rd base, primarily and 1st base if possible.
• If the third base umpire goes out revert to the two-umpire system to cover situations if the ball is not caught.
• If the first base umpire is covering the fly ball you will cover situations just like the 3-umpire system of staying at home.