Self preservation

o date, we have our new umpire set up behind the catcher, hopefully within six inches. There are more than a few umpires who set up at least two feet behind the catcher. They think that the farther they keep themselves from danger, the less likely it is that the danger will hurt them. That is a false assumption.

I sent a video to little brother Jimmy showing him the animated moves I've been describing for these articles: signaling a strike, a safe, an out, and the "dance steps" that precede coming set behind the catcher. I've noticed when teaching clinics, and recalled from the first time I tried the skills, that students tend to be very cautious of how close they get to the catcher. It's a built-in characteristic for human beings. It's called self preservation.

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