Rule 10 – Section 2 – UMPIRE-IN-CHIEF

10-2-1   If there are two or more umpires, the umpire-in-chief shall stand behind the catcher. The umpire-in-chief, when behind the plate, shall wear proper safety equipment including, but not limited to, chest protector, face mask, throat guard, plate shoes, shin guards and protective cup (if male). He shall call and count balls and strikes; signal fair balls; call out “Foul Ball,” except on a caught foul fly ball, while signaling a foul ball, except on fair/foul situations commonly called by the field umpire(s); and make all decisions on the batter. He shall make all decisions except those commonly reserved for the field umpire.

10-2-2   The umpire-in-chief has sole authority to forfeit a game and has jurisdiction over any rules matters not mentioned in 10-2-1 and not assigned to the field umpire in 10-3.

10-2-3   His duties include those listed in 10-2-1, 2 and the following:

1. Inspect equipment and condition of field, receive batting order of both teams, announce special ground rules and formulate such if the two teams cannot agree, designate the official scorer (9-2-2) and see that each player takes his glove and other loose equipment to the bench at the end of his term in the field.
2. Call “Play” and use the correct hand signal to start the game or to resume play; and call “Time” whenever ball becomes dead.
3. Eject a player or coach or clear the bench or send a coach from the field or restrict a coach or player (illegal substitution) to the bench/dugout if it becomes necessary.
4. Announce each substitution.
5. Call game if conditions become unfit for play.
6. Penalize for rule infractions, such as balk, interference, baserunning infractions, delay, unwarranted disputing of decision, or unsportsmanlike conduct.
7. Make final decision on points not covered by the rules.
8. Forfeit the game for prescribed infractions by spectators, coaches, players or attendants.
9. When game is played under the auspices of an organization which permits protests to be filed, he shall report the protest to the organization along with all related conditions at the time of the protested play, provided the protest is brought to the attention of an umpire by the offended team at the time of the play and before the next pitch after such play, or before the umpires leave the field if the play in question is the last play of the game. The umpire-in-chief shall then inform the coach of the opposing team and the official scorekeeper.
   1. If there is a question about a rule that was possibly misapplied, the team’s coach or captain shall inform the umpire at time of the play and before a pitch to the next batter of either team, or before the umpires leave the field if the play in question was the last play of the game.
10. Keep a written record of defensive and offensive team charged conferences for each team and notify the respective coach each time a conference is charged to his team. He shall also be responsible for keeping a lineup card and recording all substitutes, courtesy runner participation, and team warnings (1-1-5, 3-4-1, Courtesy Runner Rule #6).
11. Prohibit a player who has been rendered apparently unconscious during a game to resume playing that day without written authorization from a physician (MD/DO).
12. Rectify any situation in which an umpire’s decision that was reversed has placed either team at a disadvantage.
13. Correct a scorekeeping error if brought to an umpire’s attention before the umpires leave the field when the game is over.
14. Order the lights turned on whenever he believes darkness could make further play hazardous. Whenever possible, lights should be turned on at the beginning of an inning.