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Southbury Youth Baseball
Umpire Test

All umpire candidates are required to complete the exam and submit the completed answer sheet by March 31st, 2010. You must achieve a minimum score of 70 to qualify to ump this year. There will not an opportunity to retake the test. You may use the rule book to assist you in taking the exam. Answers can be submitted to me electronically via the website or you can print it out and mail to:
Ken Theodos
252 Horse Fence Hill Road
Southbury CT 06488
Must be postmarked by March 31st, 2010.

** If you wish to keep your answers for your record click file > print before submitting your answers. Once your answers are submitted you will not be able to see what you submitted.

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Question 1: A very enthusiastic sub is at bat. The pitch is just outside, and the batter wants a piece of it so badly he swings with everything he has. The force of the bat carries him all the way around and causes him to bump the ball with the bat just as the catcher is getting the ball under control. The ball jerks out of the catcher's hands. The umpire shall call the batter out for interference. True False

Question 2: In the championship game of a regional tournament, a team has used all its subs and its starting second baseman takes a hard drive to his ankle. He falls to the ground and it is determined he needs to go to the hospital for x-rays. Since all subs have been used, the second baseman's coach must select one of the other substitutes that have already entered and been taken out of the game to take the place of his injured player. True False

Question 3: During the third inning of the game, the manager goes to the mound to talk with his starting pitcher. After being lit up by three more batters in the same inning, the manager calls for a pitching change from the bench without actually entering the field of play. The starting pitcher must be removed from the game as a pitcher even though no manager or coach made a second trip out to the mound. True False

Question 4: Jones is the starting pitcher. In the second inning, the manager makes his first trip to the mound to tell Jones to cool off a while and switch places with Lucas, the second baseman. After Lucas pitches to two batters in .the second inning, the manager advises the plate umpire that -Lucas and Jones will trade places again and Jones is coming back in to pitch. The manager does the same thing in the third and fourth innings. The umpire is correct in allowing this. True False

Question 5: At the bottom of the 4th inning, batter number 8 is the last batter to bat, grounding out to first. At the bottom of the 5th inning, batter number 1 steps into the batter's box. Realizing that batter number 9 should be up, the umpire advises the manager of the home team that the wrong batter is in the box and advises him to produce batter number 9. The umpire correct in avoiding an obvious error in the batting order. True False

Question 6: In a Cal Ripken state tournament game, the host team's ace pitcher pitches 6 innings against what is probably the toughest team they will face in the tournament. The pitcher has a great game and his team moves forward in the winner's bracket. Their second game is scheduled against a team that had a bye, and is anticipated to be very weak. That team fails to show at the field for the game. The umpire rules in favor of the host team 6-0 as a forfeit. The following day, the host team faces another tough team in game 3. Luckily, the starting pitcher has 6 innings available to him to pitch. True False

Question 7: A delivery by the pitcher hits the ground in front of the plate and the umpire calls out "Ball." But the pitch skips over the plate and the batter slams it over the right field wall. It is a homer. True False

Question 8: Anyone warming up a pitcher at home plate must wear a catcher's mask except an adult manager or coach. True False

Question 9: Runner on first, one out. The batter hits the ball sharply and directly to the first baseman who quickly tags first base almost before the batter-runner gets out of the batter's box. The quick first baseman has already fielded the ball to the second baseman long before the runner from first reaches second base. The runner from first reaches second base without being tagged, but the second baseman is already in contact with second base with the ball in his possession. The runner at second is out on a force play. True False

Question 10: After beating out a grounder the batter overruns first base by about 20 feet. He comes to a stop in Fair territory, turns in the direction of second base and immediately returns to first base. Even though he turned in fair territory to return to first base, he is not liable to be put out. True False

Question 11: If a base coach is ejected from a game, he must remain in the dugout and not come onto the field to conference with his players. True False

Question 12: If a base coach is ejected from a game, he must remain in the dugout and not come onto the field to conference with his players. True False

Question 13: In the Cal Ripken Division of Babe Ruth League, Inc., when a balk is committed, the ball is dead. The umpire shall warn the pitcher of the infraction and if the infraction is repeatedly committed, the umpire may remove the pitcher from the game as a pitcher only. True False

Question 14: In Cal Ripken Baseball, the batter is out when a third strike is caught or not caught by the catcher. True False

Question 15: In tournament play, all players on a team must wear uniforms that are identical in color, trim, and style. True False

Question 16: Metal cleats may not be worn in the Cal Ripken Division of Babe Ruth League, Inc. True False

Question 17: Metal cleats may not be worn in the 13-15 Division of Babe Ruth Baseball. True False

Question 18: Ground ball is hit straight down the first base line. The first baseman stands in the base path to field the ball, and the batter-runner cannot stop his momentum. The batter-runner cannot avoid a collision with the first baseman, who falls to the ground and drops the ball. The batter-runner reaches first base. The umpire should rule that since the runner could not avoid the collision, the batter-runner is safe at first base. True False

Question 19: Stepping off the rubber, the pitcher attempts to pick off a runner at third. However, the throw goes wild and into the visitors' dugout. Since the pitcher is an infielder, the penalty applied is governed by the rules covering a ball thrown by an infielder. True False

Question 20: With runners on first and second, a long fly seems destined to clear the left field fence for a homer. The ball falls short though and the left fielder makes a spectacular catch, then fires the ball to third base. The runner on first tagged up and took off for second, reaching the base safely. The runner from second sees he cannot beat the left fielder's rocket to third and scrambles to return to second base. In the confusion, there are now two runners standing on second base. The third baseman quickly throws the ball to second base, where the second baseman tags both runners. Both runners are out for occupying the same base. True False

Question 21: With a 2-1 count on batter number 3, the offensive team discovers that batter 2 should be at bat. The team shall be allowed to replace the improper batter with the proper batter, and the proper batter will assume the 2-1 count with no penalty. True False

Question 22: Batter hits ball to shortstop who throws wild into the stands. The batter-runner misses first base and is awarded second base on the overthrow. When the defensive team appeals the missed base, the umpire is correct in ruling in favor of the runner since the runner was awarded second base on the overthrow. True False

Question 23: In the Cal Ripken Division of Babe Ruth League, Inc. the pitching distance shall be 46 feet. True False

Question 24: Babe Ruth League, Inc. prohibits the use of all tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco for both local league and tournament competition. This rule applies to all field personnel, which includes managers, coaches and umpires. True False

Question 25: A nervous Cal Ripken pitcher takes his signs from the third base coach. After warning by the umpire, the pitcher, on the next offense, shall be removed from the mound as a pitcher for the remainder of the game. True False

Question 26: The batter slams a hard drive into left field. The fielder sees that the cover is coming off the ball, but fields the ball to second base anyway. The umpire allows the damaged ball to remain in play until the play is completed. The umpire should have called the play dead at the moment the left fielder noticed the ball was damaged. True False

Question 27: Leading off the third inning, the first baseman steps into the batter's box. The umpire notices that it is the shortstop, not the first baseman, who should be up and informs the coach of the error. The umpire's action is proper. True False

Question 28: Batter hits short pop fly that touches the arm of the runner who is attempting to reach second base. The umpire calls "infield fly". The umpire is correct in calling out both the batter, and the runner who was touched by the infield fly. True False

Question 29: With a runner on first, the batter hits a short hop to the third baseman who easily beats the runner with a throw to first. The umpire signals the batter-runner out yet the runner rounds first and continues hard to second. The runner on second takes off for third. The first baseman becomes confused and throws the ball to second to catch the runner. The second baseman misses the ball and the runners continue to advance. The batter-runner, having committed no other violation other than continuing to advance after being put out, will not be considered as having confused, hindered, or impeded the fielders. True False

Question 30: It is permissible for the starting shortstop to act as a courtesy runner for the starting catcher. True False

Question 31: The left fielder is replaced with a fresh defensive player in the seventh inning. The change is not reported to the umpires and no announcement is made. Later in the inning, the new fielder makes a sensational diving catch to save the game for his club. The opposition claims the catch is illegal since no one was notified of the change. This call should be overturned on protest since no announcement was made of the substitute fielder. True False

Question 32: Upon seeing his ball sail easily out of the park for a home run, the batter-runner swipes his helmet off is head upon reaching first base where the umpire instructs him to put it back on. He ignores the umpire and continues to round the bases. Subsequently, the umpire removes him from the game. The umpire is correct in his action. True False

Question 33: The batter has taken his stance in the batter's box and the pitcher winds up. The batter then realizes his shoe is untied and steps back out of the box without asking the umpire for "time". The pitcher delivers a strike. A strike is called on the batter even though he is not in the batter's box. True False

Question 34: Running the bases on an out-of-the-park home run, the batter-runner trips over a loose second base and badly sprains his ankle. He has to be carried off the field. The umpire may call time, even though the play is still in progress, to allow the offensive team to enter a substitute runner to complete the play. True False

Question 35: The specifications for the Cal Ripken Division bat are the same as for the other divisions except the lower limit for the length is 33 inches and the upper limit is 35 inches (i.e. no Cal Ripken division bat shall be longer than 35 inches). True False

Question 36: On strike three, the ball goes over the catcher's shoulder, hits the umpire's chest protector and as the catcher turns around, bounces into the catcher's glove. The batter is out since the catcher caught the ball before it struck the ground. True False

Question 37: There are two outs, runners on first and second, and two strikes on the batter. The umpire calls the next pitch a strike, but the catcher cannot maintain control of the ball and drops it. The batter could become a runner on a third strike' not caught. Without thinking, he heads for the dugout. The catcher then starts for his dugout as well and does not throw the ball to first base. Before reaching the dugout steps, the batter's teammates yell for him to go to first. He charges to first and reaches it with to attempt by the catcher to throw the ball to the first baseman, or any other fielder. The batter is safe at first and play continues. True False

Question 38: Standing deep in the batter's box, the hitter places his foot on the line marking the end of the box. This is a legal position for a batter. True False

Question 39: In the Cal Ripken Division of Babe Ruth League, Inc. any of the nine starting players, except the pitcher, may withdraw and re-enter once, provided such player occupies the same batting position whenever he is in the line-up. The pitcher may not re-enter once leaving the game. True False

Question 40: Taking a big swing, the batter hits the ball off the end of his bat. The ball lands in foul territory between home and first base then spins into fair territory, where the first baseman picks it up. The umpire should rule it a foul ball since it first landed in foul territory. True False

Question 41: A hot grounder nicks the outside comer of first base and bounces into foul ground. The ball is ruled fair. True False

Question 42: In the Cal Ripken Division, if a base runner leaves the base before the pitched ball has reached the batter and the batter does not hit the ball, the runner is called out. True False

Question 43: In the Cal Ripken Division, if a base runner leaves the base before the pitched ball has reached the batter and the batter does not hit the ball, and a play is made on the runner and the runner is out, the out stands. True False

Question 44: There is a runner on first base when the batter singles sharply up the middle. The runner rounds second and tries for third while the center fielder throws and a close play is obvious. As he nears the base, the third baseman gloves the throw and tags the runner as he passes with the back of his glove. The runner is safe as the third baseman must touch him with the ball rather than with the back of the glove the ball is in. True False

Question 45: The hitter socks a long drive down the left field line. As the ball clears the fence, it is over fair territory by several feet but before landing curves well into foul territory it is a foul ball. True False

Question 46: The batter swings hard at the pitch, barely catching a piece of it. The ball flies sharply and directly backwards and lodges in the umpire's mask. The batter is called out. True False

Question 47: The batter hits a fly ball that is paralleling just left of the left field foul line. The left fielder, seeing that the ball is going foul stands just outside the foul line waiting for the ball to drop into his glove. However, just before reaching the left fielder, the ball hooks right over fair territory. The left fielder reaches out to nab the ball, but it deflects off his glove. The fielder does manage to knock the ball into foul territory, therefore, it is ruled a foul ball. True False

Question 48: In the first round of a Babe Ruth Baseball district tournament game, a thunderstorm sets in for the remainder of the day. The game is in the bottom of the 5th inning with the home team at bat and ahead by five runs. Due to the weather conditions, the umpire calls the game. Since the game has progressed far enough to be considered a regulation game, the game shall be considered complete and the home team is credited with a 7-2 win. True False

Question 49: In a tied game between two perennial rivals with bases loaded and two outs, the batter hits an easy hop to the shortstop who scoops the ball and fires it back to the catcher. Seeing that he isn't going to be able to beat the throw, the runner crashes into the catcher to cause the catcher to drop the ball. The umpire, seeing that the action was deliberate, ejects the runner. This is a correct call. True False

Question 50: During a scheduled double-header, the first game goes five extra innings. Before the second game, the groundskeeper informs the umpire-in-chief that due to the delay, all assistants have gone home and the field cannot be groomed in the umpire's judgment, the field is unfit to play. The groundskeeper refuses to attempt to rectify the situation. The umpire is correct in forfeiting the second game to the visiting team. True False