any umpires ues the hand method?

[tiger7171]

we all have to remember where to spot the ball after an incomplete pass. I'm going into my second year as umpire  in varsity games. i used the rubber band method to remember what side field was on but i never used the hand method.
now you put your hand up . the end fingers are the hash marks. index and ring finger are the post and of course middle is middle of field.  i have never heard that explained to me and  i just heard about it. just a heads up. I'm sure some of the veteran umpires use it but would just like to help those starting out tin the position. i used to work wings before i moved inside. i love my  too much 

[BenG]

Maybe a dumb question - but aren't they the same thing?

I don't work Umpire very often - but when I do it one hadn for down number (using a rubber band/down marker). The other hand is lateral position - using a rubber-band/down marker over each finger for the lateral postion.

Left Outside finger for left hash - left inside finger for left post - right inside finger for right post - right finger for right hash.

I also loop the marker/band over the two inside fingers when the spot is dead centre.

[Etref]

I frequently give my umpire the middle finger but I do not think that is what you question was about.

[ETXZebra]

Maybe a dumb question - but aren't they the same thing?

I don't work Umpire very often - but when I do it one hadn for down number (using a rubber band/down marker). The other hand is lateral position - using a rubber-band/down marker over each finger for the lateral postion.

Left Outside finger for left hash - left inside finger for left post - right inside finger for right post - right finger for right hash.

I also loop the marker/band over the two inside fingers when the spot is dead centre.

This is the method I've used for almost 20 years. And yes Rick I've had the middle finger used on me way too many times to count.

[TampaSteve]

I frequently give my umpire the middle finger but I do not think that is what you question was about.

They set you up for that one.  Too easy, eh?

[jjseikel]

any umpires ues the hand method?

I might be careful asking an Umpire if he uses a hand method. 
This might be private information or he may tell you more than you really want to know! 

[Grant - AR]

I frequently give my umpire the middle finger but I do not think that is what you question was about.

[tiger7171]

i just remembered where ball was on side.if it wasnt on hash it was lined up with goal post. i never used full hand. just my 3 fingers. now i know more then i knew yesterday. like i said i didnt start being an umpire until last year so i didnt train for the position when i started out like i did as wing guy.

[With_Two_Flakes]

Seldom work Umpire myself, but do a lot of rookie training so I cover this issue with them. You are marking 5 positions - left hash, left post, center field, right post, right hash.

All the Ump's I ever work with used one of two methods,

Thumb and four fingers - Thumb for hash, index for post, middle finger for center field, ring for post, pinkie for hash.

Just four fingers - index for hash, middle for post, loop it over BOTH middle and ring for center field, ring for post, pinkie for hash.

[Amir]

I've always used the five-finger method using a normal down marker, with the band looped under my left hand across the palm - this way it doesn't get in the way of my finger whistle (when I use one), and it's differentiated from the other down marker which I have looped over the back of my right hand (a very useful aide-mémoire for me).

[Matt]

I've just used the four fingers. I use a black indicator on my right hand for downs and a white indicator on my left for field position.

[Dommer1]

Just in case you get your left mixed up with your right? 

[110]

All the Ump's I ever work with used one of two methods: Just four fingers - index for hash, middle for post, loop it over BOTH middle and ring for center field, ring for post, pinkie for hash.

Pinkie: left hash
Pinkie/Ring: halfway between hash and left post
ring: in line with left post
ring/middle: middle field
middle: right post
middle/index: halfway between right post and hash
index: hash

Canadian fields are wider, so maybe that's why I've gone with the seven-option technique. I use my left hand with a downcounter for umpiring, only. Right hand is normal downcounter.

Nothing gets in the way of my whistle, as I use a lanyard (having gravitated to a finger whistle for all but U positions.)

[Amir]

Just in case you get your left mixed up with your right? 

No, just taking my lousy memory into account. Also, it takes my lousy memory into account.

[refjb]

Pinkie: left hash
Pinkie/Ring: halfway between hash and left post
ring: in line with left post
ring/middle: middle field
middle: right post
middle/index: halfway between right post and hash
index: hash

This is the method I use aw well. I also carry but very seldom use a finger whistle.

[KellumSowers]

I use two down indicators, rubber bands, whatever works for you.

[Pop Tart]

Pinkie: left hash
Pinkie/Ring: halfway between hash and left post
ring: in line with left post
ring/middle: middle field
middle: right post
middle/index: halfway between right post and hash
index: hash

That's the method I use too. 

[blindref757]

I frequently give my umpire the middle finger but I do not think that is what you question was about.

I thought you were telling me that I was the #1 umpire!

[MOzebra]

To go along with this thread...do you guys ever have to communicate ball position to another official?  In our area, with D-II officials the white hat spots the ball most of the time; with HS officials the umpire spots it most of the time.  There are times however, when like the white hat is closer so he will spot or vice versa.  I got this tip from a D-II official that they use the number system to communicate the ball position to the spotting official.

Just like with fingers, the numbers 1-5 designate positions on the field.  1 is the hash on the press box side, 2 is the goal post, 3 is the middle, 4 is the other goal post and 5 is the hash opposite the press box.  If you need to tell your white hat the position to spot the ball, all you have to do is yell out the number.

[El Macman]

That's a good technique. There are probably other ways to accomplish the same thing. It doesn't matter so much how you accomplish it - as they say - just do it.

To go along with this thread...do you guys ever have to communicate ball position to another official?  In our area, with D-II officials the white hat spots the ball most of the time; with HS officials the umpire spots it most of the time.  There are times however, when like the white hat is closer so he will spot or vice versa.  I got this tip from a D-II official that they use the number system to communicate the ball position to the spotting official.

Just like with fingers, the numbers 1-5 designate positions on the field.  1 is the hash on the press box side, 2 is the goal post, 3 is the middle, 4 is the other goal post and 5 is the hash opposite the press box.  If you need to tell your white hat the position to spot the ball, all you have to do is yell out the number.

[VALJ]

Well, that could make umpire-referee communication interesting.  "Give it a number 2, ref!" 

[SMATX]

The first year I officiated I worked the Umpire position.  I tried the two indicator system and kept myself confused all the time which hand was the ball position and which one was the down.  It is not that hard to get confused when you are a rookie   What I ended up doing was taking a regular down indicator and cutting the thin loop off of it so I was basically left with a black 3/4” band.  I ‘pinched’ that band up and sewed it at the bottom and up the sides so it was now a band with a tab on it that stuck up high enough to easily grab with my fingers.  I placed that band on top of my regular down indicator and just slid it to whatever position the ball was between the hashes.  It slides very easy but stays where you put it as it is on top of the regular down indicator.  Since that first year, I have worked the Referee position and still use the same style band so now at least two of us (U & R) know where the ball is located at all times.  Umpires can make mistakes so it is good to have someone else to confirm the location.  Some people have said “You should patent those”.  I am not going to waist my time pursuing something like that but it does work VERY well and if you or someone you know can sew at all, you can make one in about five minutes.  I’ve never tried it but you might even possibly be able to use super glue and make one in about 30 seconds.  Hope this helps someone as much as it has helped me over the years.

[bossman72]

When I do work umpire on that rare occasion, I use the 4-finger method for ball placement with a normal elastic down indicator on my right hand.  My left hand has the honigs slider 1-2-3-4 down indicator.  This is so I don't get mixed up using 2 elastic indicators and forgetting which is for what.

[IdahoUmp]

If you get confused or are worried about getting confused on which hand is which, I use the traditional elastic for ball position and the new "slide wrist indicator" for the down. You can use both on the same hand or one on each (as I do).

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Amir]

I like the look of that slide indicator - definitely have to get myself one of those, once Honigs Europe has them back in stock.