Apr 4

2023 Umpire Exam

2023 Umpire Exam

45

2023 MSF Umpire Exam

NSF/MSF

Umpire Exam 2023

This exam is based on the rules/definitions found in the NSF/MSF Softball Rulebook, 4th Edition.

Select the most correct answer. Read the question, and all selections carefully and completely.

If abbreviations or acronyms are used in this exam, F = fielder, B = batter and R = runner.  FP is for fastpitch; MP refers to Modified

The following questions may be applicable for Slowpitch, Fastpitch, and Modified Pitch.
If the rules differ for the three, the first set of questions default to Slowpitch rules.

If you fail to receive a passing score on this test you must retake it by going to the right–hand side of the MSF Umpires page on www.msf1.org and click on 2023 Umpire Exam and take a new random one.

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1 / 75

In youth FP, a batting helmet shall be worn by offensive personnel while:

2 / 75

If a batter hits a pitched ball with an altered bat, it is considered an “illegally batted ball”.

3 / 75

The ball becomes dead in all of the following situations, EXCEPT:

4 / 75

The proper signal for an illegal pitch is:

5 / 75

The pitcher may pitch the ball between the legs as long as it is in continuous motion.

6 / 75

If a runner dislodges a base while sliding, they are required to follow the base and remain in contact with it, to avoid being tagged out.

7 / 75

In which of the following situations is the batter out?

8 / 75

If a pitched ball passes through the strike zone and strikes the plate

9 / 75

A slide is illegal if:

10 / 75

In slowpitch, 1 pitch must be thrown before the batter can be awarded an intentional walk by the defense.

11 / 75

Runner is on first base with one out.  Batter hits a long fly ball to left field. The ball is over foul territory when first touched and is dropped by Fielder. On the fly ball, Runner touched second base and was moving to third as the ball was dropped. Runner shall: 

12 / 75

In FP, Which of the following would be an illegal pitch?

13 / 75

An interpretation of an umpires call may be requested by the manager of either team playing.

14 / 75

Which statements about bats are correct?

15 / 75

A runner, while not in contact with a base, is struck with a fair untouched batted ball that a fielder could have made a play on. An OUT is called.

16 / 75

If a runner runs in front of a fielder or outside a base path to avoid interfering with an infielder making an initial play on a batted ball,

17 / 75

For a foul ball to be caught by the catcher for an out it must travel above the batter's head.

18 / 75

A runner must return to the last base legally occupied, when

19 / 75

If the catcher accidentally bumps the batter's bat as they are swinging at a pitch, and the batted ball subsequently is a ground ball to the infield:

20 / 75

Each team may use only 1 courtesy runner per ½ inning.

21 / 75

Which of the following are NOT appealable plays?

22 / 75

Which of the following situations would not result in the batter being called out? 

23 / 75

A “drag bunt” is not allowed in FP or MP, only in Slowpitch  .

24 / 75

Runner is caught in a rundown between second and third base. As Runner is attempting to return to second base, he/she is obstructed by Fielder and subsequently tagged while off the base by another Fielder. What does the umpire call?:

25 / 75

For MP, Which of the following is true for a legal delivery:

26 / 75

If a fair batted ball strikes an umpire before passing a fielder other than pitcher:

27 / 75

In Slowpitch, On a fair batted ball hit over the outfield fence without being touched, the batter

28 / 75

Which situation is not a possible appeal play?

29 / 75

A Runner is at second base. Batter hits a ground ball to an infielder who throws to first base. Batter-runner touches only the white portion and collides with Fielder who is standing on the white portion about to receive the ball. The correct ruling is:

30 / 75

In FP, A team may use a FLEX/DP option only if they have made it known in the pre-game conference before play has begun.

31 / 75

The pitcher may deliver a pitch from the glove, as long as it is a continuous forward motion.

32 / 75

The batter hits a ground ball to the pitcher. The batter starts to run, but seeing the pitcher in a position to tag them, takes 1 step back towards home to avoid the tag, then reaches 1st base before the throw.

33 / 75

In the top half of the third inning with two outs, it is discovered that the pitcher's plate is set at the wrong distance. 

34 / 75

Gloves or mitts may be worn by any defensive player.

35 / 75

The batter hits a high fly ball down the line to right field. Fielder, with both feet clearly in fair territory, reaches across the foul line in an attempt to catch the ball. While the ball is still in the air, completely over foul ground, the ball deflects off of Fielder’s glove and lands in fair territory. The correct call is:

36 / 75

A fair batted ball rolls or bounces through a hole in the outfield fence. The umpire should:

37 / 75

A runner is not required to run in a direct path to a base if a fielder in the direct line does not have the ball and is not attempting to make a play on the runner.

38 / 75

If the ball is thrown out of play by an infielder, with a runner between 2nd and 3rd and the batter-runner not yet to 1st base, the umpire should award:

39 / 75

The pitcher's plate is how wide?

40 / 75

At the time of the pitch, all defensive players must be in fair territory.

41 / 75

Players from either team may warm up in the opposing team’s on-deck circle.

42 / 75

The batter is called out, if any coach or member of the offensive team, except a runner, interferes with a fielder attempting to catch a fly ball in foul territory.

43 / 75

All Youth FP batting helmets must be affixed with a NOCSAE approved face protector.

44 / 75

A runner is struck with a fair batted ball they attempted to avoid while touching a base,

45 / 75

Concussion symptoms typically include:

46 / 75

All of the following are true regarding the catcher's box, EXCEPT:

47 / 75

The batter-runner or runner may touch either the white or colored portion of double 1st base when advancing on a fair ball hit to the outfield when there is no play attempted at first base.

48 / 75

If an fielder intentionally catches a fair batted ball just past the infield, with their cap or detached glove:

49 / 75

Which members of the offensive team are permitted to be outside the designated bench/warm-up area during play?

50 / 75

The batter’s box is 4’6” wide by 6’6” long.

51 / 75

If you can hear thunder in the distance, you are in jeopardy of being struck by lightning.

52 / 75

In NSF-MSF Postseason Tournament Play, players may be added to the scorecard/lineup after the first pitch is thrown.

53 / 75

An infield fly may be called by the umpire in which situation:

54 / 75

In FP, an intentional walk requires all pitches to be delivered to the batter.

55 / 75

Players found to be using altered, illegal, or banned bats will be:

56 / 75

If the courtesy runner’s time to bat comes when they are on base:

57 / 75

A runner starts at 1st base and overruns second base on a hit by the batter-runner. In the ensuing rundown, both runners end up on second base. A fielder tags both runners with the ball. The correct ruling is:

58 / 75

Any player showing signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion, or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from the game and shall not return to play until cleared by the umpire.

59 / 75

The score for a forfeited game, with play never started, is recorded as:

60 / 75

Caps, visors, scarves, and headbands are optional and not considered part of the player's uniform.  They may be any color or style and can be worn forward or backward. 

61 / 75

A pitcher must do all of the following prior to delivering a legal pitch in slowpitch, EXCEPT:

62 / 75

A runner must always slide to avoid contact at home plate.

63 / 75

For FP and MP, If a pitch touches a batters clothing,

64 / 75

Once play is suspended due to a thunderstorm, A good rule to follow is to wait at least 30 minutes following the last lightning seen or last thunder heard before resuming play.

65 / 75

The pitcher shall release the ball within 5 seconds of either receiving the ball or the umpire saying Play Ball, or it is considered an illegal pitch.

66 / 75

Adult Slowpitch pitchers are allowed to take a position up to 6 feet directly behind the pitching plate, as they initiate a pitch.

67 / 75

Interference is committed by the team at bat (offense) and may be either physical or verbal.

68 / 75

Bases are loaded with two outs. Batter hits a fly ball that lands in left-center field. Runner tries to score from first base. Which of the following timing play statements are applied correctly?

69 / 75

In FP, a No Pitch is called if the pitcher attempts a quick return of the ball before the batter has taken a position in the batter’s box or if the batter is off-balance.

70 / 75

The defense or batter-runner may NOT use either color of a double 1st base when:

71 / 75

An umpire’s decision involving judgement may be questioned by the manager of the home team.

72 / 75

A Runner is obstructed by a defensive player and then remaining on their feet maliciously crashes into a defensive player

73 / 75

There is a play at 1st Base on a fair batted ball. The batter-runner beats the throw by 2 steps and touches only the white portion of the double-base. The defensive player controls the ball and touches the white portion of the base.

74 / 75

The umpire signals that play is ready, and the pitcher has the ball in position to pitch, the batter

75 / 75

A batter can be assessed a penalty strike if they intentionally delay the game.

Your score is