# Law 14: The Umpire (Official Baseball Rules)

Baseball · Law 14: The Umpire · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/baseball/laws/law-14-the-umpire/)

The umpires' authority, ejections, why judgement calls are final, appeals of rule decisions, the umpire-in-chief's duties, field umpires, conflicting calls, reports and how umpires conduct themselves.

## 14.141 Authority and Appeals

The size of the crew, disqualification, final judgement calls and appeals on the rules.

### Test 1: The umpires' authority and appeals of their decisions

- A game has an umpire-in-chief at the plate and one, two, three or five field umpires. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14)
- Each umpire has authority to rule on any point not specifically covered in the rules. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.1.2)
- If a player is disqualified while a play is in progress, it does not take effect until no further action is possible in that play. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.1.3)
- Judgement calls such as ball or strike, fair or foul, safe or out are final, and no one may object to them. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.2.1)
- An appeal against a decision said to conflict with the rules is made only to the umpire who made the call. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.2.2)
- No umpire may be replaced during a game unless he is injured or becomes ill. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.2.4)
- Umpire jurisdiction over confrontations and unsportsmanlike conduct towards them runs from arriving at the game site to leaving it. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.1.4)
- The umpire who made the call may consult a colleague before ruling; no umpire criticises another's call unless asked. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.2.2, 14.2.3)
- Players and coaches leaving their places to argue balls and strikes are warned; if they continue, they are ejected immediately. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.2.1)
- Arguing balls and strikes is not allowed; an umpire may eject anyone who objects to judgement calls. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.1.3, 14.2.1)

## 14.142 Duties on the Field

What the umpire-in-chief and the field umpires decide, reports, and how umpires behave.

### Test 1: The umpire-in-chief

- Deciding a forfeit belongs to the umpire-in-chief; field umpires have every power except that one. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.3.1.6)
- If a time limit has been set, the plate umpire announces the fact and the time before the game starts. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.3.1.8)
- The plate umpire informs the official scorer of the batting order and any changes, on request. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.3.1.9)
- The plate umpire makes all decisions on the batter, as well as calling balls and strikes. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.3.1.4)
- The umpire-in-chief calls the umpires together and decides which decision prevails, based on position and likely accuracy. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.3.3)
- The umpire reports violations and incidents to the Federation, League or WBSC office within twelve hours of the game. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.4)
- Among his duties, the plate umpire announces any special ground rules at his discretion. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.3.1.10)
- The umpire-in-chief consults the crew, picks the decision most likely right, and play proceeds from it alone. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.3.3)
- Violations and disqualifications, with the reasons, are reported within twelve hours; flagrant offences need a full report. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.4)
- The umpire-in-chief, behind the catcher, calls and counts balls and strikes and takes charge of the game. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.3.1)

### Test 2: Field umpires and conduct on the field

- A field umpire may take any position he thinks best suited to the decisions on the bases. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.3.2)
- A field umpire makes all decisions on the bases except those specifically reserved to the umpire-in-chief. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.3.2.1)
- A field umpire has concurrent jurisdiction in calling Time, balks, illegal pitches and defacement or discolouration of the ball. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.3.2.2)
- Field umpires have equal authority in enforcing the rules and discipline, except the power to forfeit the game. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.3.2.3)
- The general instructions tell umpires not to indulge in conversation with players on the field. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.5)
- Umpires keep out of the coaching box and do not talk to the coach on duty. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.5)
- Umpires are told to be courteous to team officials but to avoid visiting team locker rooms and dugouts. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.5)
- Decisions on the bases belong to the field umpire, who watches the tag and signals the call. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.3.2.1)
- Field umpires share the calling of balks with the plate umpire; a balk is dead ball and runners advance one base. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.3.2.2, 13.10)
- Plays on the bases are called by the field umpires; the signal shown, both arms out, means safe. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 14.3.2.1)

Sources: WBSC Official Rules of Baseball 2025-2026, Rule 14 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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