Quiet eye gaze behavior of expert, and near-expert, baseball plate umpires.

The quiet eye gaze behavior of 4 near-expert and 4 expert baseball umpires who called balls and strikes in simulated pitch-hit situations was assessed with a mobile eye cornea tracker system. Statistical analyses of the umpires' gaze behavior (fixation/pursuit tracking, saccades, and blinks)--onset, duration, offset, and frequency--were performed between and within 4 stages (pitcher's preparation, pitcher's delivery, ball in flight, and umpire call) by umpire's skill level. The results indicated that the quiet eye of expert umpires at onset of the pitcher's release point occurred earlier and was longer in duration than near-expert umpires.

Visual gaze behavior of near-expert and expert fast pitch softball umpires calling a pitch.

The purpose of this study was to examine the difference in visual gaze behavior between near expert (NE) and expert (E) umpires in a simulated pitch-hit situation in fast pitch softball. An Applied Science Laboratory mobile eye tracker was worn by 4 NE and 4 E fast pitch umpires and recorded their visual gaze behavior while following pitches (internal view). A digital camera located behind the pitcher recorded the external view of the pitcher, hitter, catcher, and umpire actions for each pitch.