We tackle the finer points of covering rundowns, how to handle a dropped third strike as a plate umpire and from the bases, infield fly, home runs, and the power of the point.

As always, if you want to weigh in with your opinions, you can email us at [email protected], leave a comment at UmpiringFastpitchSoftball.com, or comment on this episode on Facebook - just search for Umpiring Fastpitch Softball

Listener Nick from NY wanted to understand more about the look back rule. He had heard us talk about it before, but as someone new to the sport, he was a little confused. So, we dropped what we were doing and recorded a "remote" episode, away from the friendly confines of the palatial UFS Studios in beautiful Central Ohio, where we attempted to really dig in and explain the rule.

Next, Nick had another question about a play that happened in a game where a runner was coming home, was deemed safe, then declared out on a coach's argument, then safe again after another discussion. What was going on? What should have gone on? Umpiring Fastpitch Softball Podcast to the rescue!

As always, if you want to weigh in with your opinions, you can email us at [email protected], leave a comment at UmpiringFastpitchSoftball.com, or comment on this episode on Facebook - just search for Umpiring Fastpitch Softball

One of the best ways to start an aggressive discussion online is to talk about calling positions, especially around home plate. A number of times in recent memory, we've seen videos of plays offered for consideration only to have the discussion invariably end up in a criticism that that umpire should have "worked the wedge", or some other critique of his position.

So, what are the correct calling positions (at least according to the guidance for NCAA Umpires)? Where do you start? Where do you go? Is "classic 90" ever okay? What exactly is the wedge? And what does a sextant have to do with any of it?

Check us out this week and we'll try to get into all of it and explain the mechanics in our own special way... a way that uses celestial navigation? Should you start bringing a marine chronometer to games? Tune in and find out.

As always, if you want to weigh in with your opinions, you can email us at [email protected], leave a comment at UmpiringFastpitchSoftball.com, or comment on this episode on Facebook - just search for Umpiring Fastpitch Softball

The remainder of section 7 talks about calling distance and mechanics for tag plays at the bases/plage, correct position for watching for swipe or tag plays between bases, what to watch for on check swings, not calling or echoing obvious fouls, where to be for watching tag-up plays, preparing for your next responsibility, the official guidance on when to offer assistance, and a discussion about "over-hustling".

As always, if you want to weigh in with your opinions, you can email us at [email protected], leave a comment at UmpiringFastpitchSoftball.com, or comment on this episode on Facebook - just search for Umpiring Fastpitch Softball

Section 7 starts a discussion of mechanics in general and then on to what do with pre-pitch preparation/planning and how many things that an umpire should be considering before the pitch. It then follows to discuss some basic calling position mechanics.

As always, if you want to weigh in with your opinions, you can email us at [email protected], leave a comment at UmpiringFastpitchSoftball.com, or comment on this episode on Facebook - just search for Umpiring Fastpitch Softball

Continuing on from last week, David talks about his experiences as part of a four umpire crew, this time focusing on his games at U1 and Video Review.

Was it as bad as last time? Did he let the bad game at U3 wear on him? How does video review work at places that don't have 6 network camera angles? We get into all of that and more (as well as a bonus U3 story) in this week's episode.

As always, if you want to weigh in with your opinions, you can email us at [email protected], leave a comment at UmpiringFastpitchSoftball.com, or comment on this episode on Facebook - just search for Umpiring Fastpitch Softball

Working in a crew of four, David talks about the experiences he had working with the crew, the facilities, and - here in part one - his specific game experiences at the Plate and U3.

How did that go? At the clinics and in prior practice, Plate and U3 were his stronger positions. Did that hold up? Tune in for a very honest review of the games and what he did right and wrong.

As always, if you want to weigh in with your opinions, you can email us at [email protected], leave a comment at UmpiringFastpitchSoftball.com, or comment on this episode on Facebook - just search for Umpiring Fastpitch Softball

Ejected, Tossed, Run, Heaved, Thrown out, Sent packing, Launched, Chucked, Given the hook, Booted, 86'ed, Took the long walk, Got the thumb, Hit the showers early, Banished.

Whatever you call it, we'd like to think that no umpire heads into a game looking to eject people. However, if we are enforcing the rules, ejections are a part of it. In this week's episode, we talk about offenses that should result in someone's day ending early.

As always, if you want to weigh in with your opinions, you can email us at [email protected], leave a comment at UmpiringFastpitchSoftball.com, or comment on this episode on Facebook - just search for Umpiring Fastpitch Softball

We dive into a variety of situations and discuss where umpires might walk the line between preventative umpiring and outright coaching. We discuss everything from guiding younger players through basic rules to stepping in to prevent violence at the college level. How do you know when to speak up and when to remain silent and let violations occur?

We also talk about how context like age level, experience, and sanctions can shift what's acceptable.

As always, if you want to weigh in with your opinions, you can email us at [email protected], leave a comment at UmpiringFastpitchSoftball.com, or comment on this episode on Facebook - just search for Umpiring Fastpitch Softball

Before we get into the meat of the episode, Pete starts us off with a correction from last episode regarding the running lane interference rules across sanctions prompted by some great listener feedback from Carlos in Hawaii.

Next, we respond to a question from Jessica in Illinois about how to correctly umpire some player behavior that might be "ethically wrong" and play in the gray area of the rules.

After that, we talk about a video that made the rounds of an umpire taking a pitch after having forgotten to don his mask. That prompts us to talk about how to try to avoid that and leads us into some other tips for newer umpires.

Thanks again to all of the listener feedback that helped drive this - and other - episodes. We desire that feedback and are very grateful.

As always, if you want to weigh in with your opinions, you can email us at [email protected], leave a comment at UmpiringFastpitchSoftball.com, or comment on this episode on Facebook - just search for Umpiring Fastpitch Softball