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

A verbal or physical act by an offensive player to hinder or confuse a defensive player is:

2 / 75

Gloves or mitts may be worn by any defensive player.

3 / 75

In which of the following situations is the batter out?

4 / 75

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

5 / 75

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

6 / 75

The proper signal for an illegal pitch is:

7 / 75

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

8 / 75

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

9 / 75

A runner is on first base when Batter hits a ground ball. Runner stays in the base path and crashes into Fielder, as they are attempting to gain control of the batted ball in the base path.

10 / 75

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

11 / 75

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

12 / 75

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

13 / 75

If an eye/face shield mask or helmet is used in the infield, it can be reflective, as long as it has less than 70% tint.

14 / 75

Concussion training is required for all umpires who umpire games in which players are < 21.

15 / 75

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

16 / 75

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

17 / 75

A slide is illegal if:

18 / 75

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

19 / 75

In FP, 2 complete revolutions of the arm are allowed for a legal pitch.

20 / 75

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

21 / 75

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

22 / 75

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

23 / 75

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

24 / 75

A substitute may enter the game without reporting, as long as they are properly listed on the scorecard.

25 / 75

Appeals must be made:

26 / 75

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

27 / 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. 

28 / 75

If there is reasonable doubt as to the interpretation of a rule by an umpire, the managers from either team may:

29 / 75

Concussion symptoms typically include:

30 / 75

Which of the following are NOT appealable plays?

31 / 75

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

32 / 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.

33 / 75

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

34 / 75

An umpire is required to review video on a close call, if either team offers a recording.

35 / 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:

36 / 75

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

37 / 75

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

38 / 75

The entire pitched ball must pass completely through the strike zone to be considered a strike.

39 / 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,

40 / 75

When a coach makes a substitution during a game, the home plate umpire should report the substitution to:

41 / 75

The game begins when :

42 / 75

If a coach or other player physically assists a runner during play, the result is:

43 / 75

If  runner1 passes  another preceding runner2 who has not been obstructed or put out:

44 / 75

If an illegal pitch is called and the batter doesn’t swing:

45 / 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:

46 / 75

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

47 / 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:

48 / 75

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

49 / 75

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

50 / 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.

51 / 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.

52 / 75

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

53 / 75

The Flop Rule can be invoked if any of the following occur, EXCEPT:

54 / 75

If there are 2 or more umpires on a game, the Home Plate umpire is responsible for which of these:

55 / 75

A runner intentionally interferes with a defensive players ability to complete a double play:

56 / 75

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

57 / 75

If the ball becomes Blocked due to offensive equipment not involved in the game, the ball is dead and all runners are awarded one base from the last base touched prior to the ball being blocked.

58 / 75

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

59 / 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: 

60 / 75

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

61 / 75

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

62 / 75

Which statements about bats are correct?

63 / 75

In FP, If a ball slips from the pitcher's hand during the delivery, it is:

64 / 75

Which situation is not a possible appeal play?

65 / 75

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

66 / 75

A team may use the DP / Flex option provided they follow which of the below rules?  

67 / 75

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

68 / 75

The pitcher's plate is how wide?

69 / 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.

70 / 75

If a defensive player attempts a fake tag on a runner they should be called out.

71 / 75

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

72 / 75

A run is scored when a runner legally advances and touches 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and home plate, EXCEPT, if during that action:

73 / 75

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

74 / 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.

75 / 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.

Your score is