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Old Fri Oct 24, 2003, 08:06am
Jerry Jerry is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 286
Both the professions of umpiring and coaching belong in the same sport. The smoother all aspects of the game, the more enjoyable it is for everyone involved. From experience, coaches and officials learn the proper way to get the information they need.

As the coach has already seen, asking the catcher for an answer wasn't the best way to handle it. Much better if the coach had asked, "A bit outside, Blue?" Or even better would simply yell out to the catcher, "Hey, Johnnie . . . set up a tad to your left."

As a coach for a semi-pro team (in addition to my umpiring duties in other leagues), I've learned that game-time is NOT the time to try teaching, training or educating the players. It's better to chart the balls and strikes, take notes on situations where your team "booted it" and plan your next practices around what could have been improved upon. Your job during a game is to coach; not to teach.

As my father told me a long time ago . . . pick your battles wisely. Save your arguments for the really big play!
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