Catchers are one of the only players in sports that spends most of the game right next to the official. This means the way a catcher carries himself or herself can have a significant impact on the umpire's environment.
We want the umpires environment conducive to making clear and concise calls so it makes sense to keep up a good relationship with your umpire.
-You cannot guarantee that having a good relationship will do you any favors during the game, but you can guarantee a poor relationship with the umpire will not help you. For this reason, it is important that the catcher acknowledge the umpire and build a relationship that reflects positively on yourself and your team.
How Do You Build A Good Relationship with the Umpire?
Shake their hand and introduce yourself at the beginning of the game
Ask how many warm-up throws the pitcher gets in-between innings
Say thank you when the umpire hands you a new ball
Give the umpire time to recover after being hit by a foul ball(walking the new ball out to the pitcher's mound)
Ask umpires questions about themselves
It's important to note that you need to build a feel for which umpires want to talk and some that don't.
Some umpires prefer a more silent, less chatty workplace so that they can focus
If you have an umpire who prefers silence, stick to the thank you's and short dialogue. You'll get a feel for this based on how enthusiastic or in-depth their responses are to your initial questions/interactions.
What Are Some Examples of These Questions?
- How many games are you umpiring today?
-Are you from around here?
-Do you umpire different levels of play?
Catchers, build a good relationship with your home plate umpire