We start with the one thing you have to know before you can even think about calling a balk: is the pitcher in the windup or the set position. That single distinction changes everything downstream, including what counts as a legal pickoff attempt and what doesn't.

From there we walk through the full list of what actually constitutes a balk, not just the two or three violations everybody already knows. We also get into why umpires freeze up on borderline calls, and it's not a knowledge problem, it's a courage problem. And we close with the mechanic that trips up even good umpires: why a balk with no runner on base isn't actually a balk at all.

If you've ever felt unsure calling this rule, or you're a fan who's always wondered what's really going on when that flag goes up, this one's for you.

Out now on Amazon Music.

In this episode, we break down the three things that actually keep you functional during the longest stretches of tournament season:

1. Mental Awareness — It's OK to not be having a good time. Accept the grind instead of fighting it. The moment you stop trying to be positive all weekend is when you actually reset.

2. Physical Foundation — 2 to 6 hours standing in heat will destroy you if you're not hydrated and fueled going in. Your body failing means your mental game fails. Hydration, water, snacks. Non negotiable.

3. Personal Recovery Strategy — You need to know what you need off the field to be your best on the field. For some that's staying fully immersed in baseball. For others it's completely disconnecting. There's no one right answer. But knowing yourself? That's vital.

This is how you survive tournament season without burning out. This is how you call good games on Day 13 when everything says you shouldn't be there.

Listen on Amazon Music. New episodes every Wednesday.

This week is all about catcher icks. The habits, behaviors, and little annoyances that catchers bring to the plate that drive umpires crazy. From framing pitches that bounced in the dirt to turning around to argue balls and strikes, we're naming names (well, not literally) and breaking down why these habits hurt catchers more than they help.

But this isn't just a venting session. We'll talk about what great catchers do instead, how the umpire and catcher relationship actually works, and why the catchers who treat their umpire like a partner tend to get the benefit of the doubt all season long.

If you're an umpire, you'll be nodding along the whole episode. If you're a catcher or coach a catcher, consider this your scouting report on how to stay on your umpire's good side.

New episodes every Wednesday on Amazon Music.

What we cover:

• Position A, B, and C — the right spot for every runner situation
• Angle over distance — the rule that wins when you can't have both

Positioning is visual. Follow along with the MechaniGram diagrams in the 2025-2026 NFHS Baseball Umpires Manual, available at store.referee.com.

That's Strike 3 is built for baseball umpires around three pillars: Mental Game, Craft, and Rules Knowledge.

A few years ago, I asked for feedback — genuinely asked for it — thinking I was operating at a level I hadn't actually reached yet. What I got back was tough. Honest. And it forced a decision that every umpire eventually has to make: do you use the feedback to get better, or do you convince yourself the feedback was wrong?

This episode is about that moment, and what it taught me about growth in this game.

What we cover:

• Why self-assessment as an umpire is often more generous than accurate
• What it actually feels like to receive hard feedback you weren't ready for
• The two roads every umpire faces when criticism lands
• Why baseball demands continuous improvement — and why that doesn't happen without honest feedback
• How to build a mindset that turns tough evaluations into fuel

The bottom line: You can't get better in a vacuum. The umpires who level up are the ones who learn to sit with hard feedback instead of dismissing it.

Let me rewrite it:

THAT'S STRIKE 3 — End of Season Reflection

This season reminded me that growth doesn't announce itself. It shows up quietly, in the middle of a playoff game, in a conversation with a partner after the last out, in the moment you decide to stop worrying about the seventh inning and just call the next pitch.

I had a good season. Two district playoff games, both plates, a zone I'm proud of. But the lessons I'm taking out of this year aren't really about the results — they're about the decisions I made before the results were possible.

This episode is about those decisions, and what they taught me about what it actually takes to grow in this game.

What we cover:

• The mantra that changed how I approach plate work — and why the mental game is won or lost one pitch at a time
• Why you're never going to feel ready for the big moment, and what happens when you take the plate anyway
• How I approached feedback this season — who I asked, what I did with it, and why not implementing all of it was the right call
• What a rising tide actually looks like inside an umpire association
• Why the umpires who grow fastest are the ones who stay curious after every single game

The bottom line: The zone doesn't lie. Neither does the scorebook. If you want to get better, you have to be willing to ask hard questions — of your partners, of your mechanics, and of yourself.

RULES REFERENCED

• Rule 1-2-9 — Definition and physical requirements of the double first base
• Rule 2-5-1h — Fair ball: batted ball hitting or bounding over the white portion
• Rule 2-16-1h — Foul ball: batted ball hitting or bounding over the colored portion
• Rule 8-2-2a — How the batter-runner and fielder shall use the double first base
• Rule 2-10-3 — Definition of a player-to-player defensive meeting
• Rule 3-4-6 — Defensive player meetings as charged conferences
• Rule 1-6-3 — Prohibition of audio and video devices during the game

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The double first base was adopted to eliminate violent collisions at first base and address running lane violations
• The white portion is in fair territory; the colored portion is in foul territory, divided by the first base foul line
• On an initial play at first, the batter-runner uses the colored side; the fielder uses the white side
• Once the batter-runner reaches first safely, he must always return to the white base — leading off, on a pickoff, or tagging up
• Batter-runner touching only the white portion on a force play and colliding with the fielder is interference
• Defensive player touching only the colored portion and colliding with the batter-runner is obstruction
• Each team is now limited to one player-to-player defensive meeting per half-inning
• No player may wear any audio or video device during a game

SOURCES

• NFHS Baseball Rules Committee Annual Meeting, June 8-10, Indianapolis
• NFHS Official Baseball Rules Book
• Elliot Hopkins, NFHS Director of Sports and liaison to the Baseball Rules Committee
• NFHS website: www.nfhs.org

ABOUT THAT'S STRIKE 3

That's Strike 3 is the official podcast of EBUA, covering rules, mechanics, philosophy, and everything that matters to baseball umpires at every level. New episodes dropping regularly.

We break down the core elements of effective umpire teamwork — communication, trust, positioning, and knowing when to get help. From pregame responsibilities to handling difficult calls, we discuss how partners can support each other without overstepping, maintain credibility, and present a unified presence throughout the game.

This episode is built for umpires at any level who want to improve consistency, confidence, and crew chemistry — because getting the call right matters, but how you work together to get there matters just as much.

From diving plays to bobbles on the transfer, we walk through common game situations that spark debate and clarify why what “looks like” a catch isn’t always ruled as one. This episode is designed for coaches, players, umpires, and fans who want a clearer, rule-based understanding of one of the game’s most argued calls.

That's Strike 3 — Episode 2 "Everyone Saw It But Me"

In this episode, we're diving into the mental side of umpiring — specifically, what happens in your head after everything goes sideways on the field.

John walks through his first varsity ejection: a close game, a bang-bang play at the plate, and a head coach who wasn't going home quietly. What came next wasn't just about whether the call was right — it was about whether John could hold it together for one more inning when the whole stadium was against him.

This episode covers three things every umpire needs in their back pocket:

1. File it, don't fight it — why trying to forget a bad moment makes it worse, and what to do instead
2. Reset your body — the physical anchor that brings you back to the present pitch
3. Trust your preparation — why a coach's anger only lands if you let it, and how your work protects you

Whether you're calling your first varsity game or your five hundredth, the reset is a skill — and it's one worth training.

Key Topics Covered

• Why the mental side of umpiring catches most people off guard
• Nerves — what they mean and how to work with them
• The weight of a bad call and why carrying it hurts your next play
• The loneliness of being the sole decision maker on the field
• Why being part of an association like EBUA makes a difference

Key Takeaways

• Nerves don't mean you're in the wrong place — they mean you care
• A pregame routine is one of the best tools for managing anxiety
• The best umpires have a short memory — reset and move on
• You don't have to figure this job out alone

As umpires, we’re more than just rule enforcers—we’re relationship managers. In this episode, I’m sharing the keys to building trust, respect, and connection with the people on the field who challenge us the most: players and coaches.

From clear communication to consistent calls, I’ll break down the small things that make a big difference. Whether you’re a seasoned blue or just getting started, these insights will help you manage the game and the relationships that come with it.

👂 Listen now and learn how to:

✅ Build mutual respect

✅ Handle conflict with confidence

✅ Stay approachable while maintaining authority

Because sometimes, the most important call you make isn’t with your voice—it’s with how you carry yourself.

#LifeBehindHomePlate #BaseballUmpire #SportsLeadership #GameManagement #UmpireLife #RespectTheGame #SportsOfficials #RelationshipBuilding #MindsetMatters #BehindThePlate

🎧 You'll learn:

✅ Why mastering your level is more important than chasing someone else’s

✅ What makes each level—from rec ball to college—totally different

✅ How the best umpires know their lane and own it

This one’s for the new umps, the seasoned vets, and anyone wondering where they truly belong behind the plate.

⚾ Listen now wherever you get your podcasts — and let’s talk about what kind of umpire you want to be.

#LifeBehindHomePlate #UmpireLife #BaseballUmpire #LittleLeague #HighSchoolBaseball #CollegeBaseball #BlueCrew #KnowYourLevel #BehindThePlate

From tense standoffs to dirt-kicking showdowns, I’m sharing real-life stories from behind the plate, what leads up to those unforgettable moments, and how umpires decide when enough is enough.

Whether you're a fellow umpire, a player, or just love the game — this episode is packed with insight, a few laughs, and a deeper look into the responsibility that comes with the loudest call on the field.

⚾️ LISTEN NOW — and find out what it really takes to point and say:

“You’re outta here!”

#UmpLife #BehindThePlate #BaseballPodcast #EjectionStories #TheLifeBehindHomePlate

In this episode of Life Behind Home Plate, we’re diving into the best ways to stay sharp all season long, including:

⚾ How to maintain your physical conditioning without burning out

⚾ Mental strategies to stay focused during long games and tough situations

⚾ The importance of rest, recovery, and off-field balance

⚾ Building a support system to prevent fatigue and burnout

If you want to improve your endurance, sharpen your mental game, and keep your passion for umpiring strong, this episode is for you!

In this episode of Life Behind Home Plate, we’re taking a deep dive into the sliding rules under NFHS guidelines. Understanding what makes a slide legal—or illegal—can make all the difference in managing a clean and safe game.

💥 What You’ll Learn:

✅ The difference between legal and illegal slides.

✅ How to identify and handle malicious contact.

✅ Pro tips for umpires to position themselves for the best angle on close plays.

Whether you’re a seasoned umpire or just starting out, this episode will help you feel more confident making the right call when the slide is on the line!

🎧 Listen now on Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts!

#LifeBehindHomePlate #BaseballUmpire #NFHS #SlidingRules #UmpireTalk #GameManagement

⚾️ JV Game Recap: A 31-0 blowout after 4 innings.

⚾️ Varsity Game Recap: A tight 7-5 battle that included 2 ejections for unsportsmanlike language.

⚾️ Key Learnings: How I’m working to be more efficient and effective with game management—tracking subs, warming up pitchers, and keeping conversations with coaches focused and concise.

⚾️ Rule Breakdown: We’re diving into Rule 3.4 on Charged Conferences—what you need to know about defensive and offensive timeouts.

You won’t want to miss this one! Be sure to tune in and let me know your thoughts after the episode drops.

Umpiring isn’t a solo act. Whether you're working a two-man crew or part of a larger officiating team, your success on the field depends just as much on your ability to work with your partner as it does on your ability to call balls and strikes. A strong partnership means better communication, smoother mechanics, and a more enjoyable game for everyone involved.

In this episode, we’ll break down what it means to be a great partner, from the importance of trust and clear communication to small but meaningful ways you can support the person wearing blue beside you. Whether you're a seasoned umpire or just getting started, these tips will help you build better partnerships on and off the field.

So, mask up, get set behind the plate, and let’s talk about how to be the kind of partner every umpire wants to work with. Let’s get into it!

I’m your host, John, and whether you’re a seasoned umpire, a curious fan, or someone who just loves the quirks of baseball, you’re in the right place. Each episode, we dive into the fascinating—and often bizarre—world of play situations and rules that make our favorite game so unique.

Today, we’re tackling three of the strangest scenarios you might see on the field and breaking down the most commonly misapplied rules. From the double-play drama to tag-up tangles, we’ll clear the confusion and bring clarity to the chaos.

So grab your lineup card, dust off your rule book, and let’s step into the batter’s box of baseball’s most intriguing mysteries. Let’s play ball!

In the latest episode of "Behind the Plate," I break down these crucial NFHS rules, share clear definitions, and walk through real-life case plays to help you understand the nuances of each. Whether you're on the field or in the stands, this episode will sharpen your baseball IQ and give you the confidence to make—or trust—the right call.

💡 Highlights:

✅ NFHS definitions of obstruction and interference.

✅ Case plays to illustrate real-game situations.

✅ Pro tips for umpires to signal and manage these calls.

🎧 Tune in now and let’s level up your knowledge of the game!

#HighSchoolBaseball #UmpireLife #BaseballRules #BehindThePlatePodcast #ObstructionVsInterference #NFHSBaseball

⚾ As the crack of the bat echoes and the season approaches, we know one truth: a great season starts with a solid pre-season. In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into the importance of preparation. From sharpening our mechanics and reviewing the rulebook to ensuring we’re physically and mentally ready to handle the grind of the game, pre-season is more than a warm-up—it's the foundation.

👀 So grab your mask, lace up those plate shoes, and let’s talk about what it takes to call a great game and set yourself up for success all season long.

🧢 This is "Life Behind the Plate," where preparation meets passion and every call counts.