What to teach managers/coaches

[Whowefoolin]

Recently I have had numerous managers and coaches come up to me and question about calls/situations/rulings.

We then discussed that umpires have umpire meetings and managers have manager meetings, but they never interact.

So I thought about having an umpires symposium with managers as the guests. I knocked it around with a couple managers and they thought it would be a great idea.

My question:

What do I go over?

What areas do managers need to know about umpiring?

What would you want managers to know about working the field?

*** This is for kids ball 14-18 yrs.

Any suggestions? Thanx in advance!

Max

[Steve M]

This summer at Pa's state high school officials' convention, we had several sessions of coaches and umpires. It seemed to work out pretty well. Each session was an open one, one run by officials, one run by coaches, and a third that was a joint one fielding questions from the audience (other coaches and officials).

[Bfair]

When you get them to best control behavior and overt derogatory remarks on the field you've made an improvement in every game played---for all involved. You can talk specific rules, but I'd bet "how to approach an umpire" would be a lesson well taught.

As far as the rules themselves, you might allow a certain amount of time to apply toward each rule number. Not all are equal and not all should receive equal time. Let it be understood that when the allowed time has elapsed, you must move on per schedule. Otherwise, you can either end up there all night, or maybe just get through rule #3.

I have offered to have a meeting with the managers to include as many of the umpires who want to attend. I assign a fairly large mens league, and the goal is to understand common ground on rules and behavior to keep everyone happier. I suspect the meeting will happen.

It will be the first year we try it, so the outcome (and attendance) will be interesting to see.

Just my opinion,

Freix

[senior]

You could probably devote a whole meeting to several points that even Umpires sometimes need help on.

1) The concept of a "catch", which seems difficult for many Managers/Coaches to comprehend. Shatter the myth of "he held it long enough" and define "voluntary release".
You will do more for their rules knowledge status with these points of information than any other.

2) The definition of fair vs. foul, and yes, it doesn't matter where his feet were when he touched it.

3) The definition of a bunt attempt, and no, he doesn't have to pull the bat back, because leaving it out there is not an attempt to contact the ball.

If your audience leaves the meeting with these points of rules knowledge established, you will have done an excellent job of eliminating some problem areas for your new season.

[GarthB]

The local PONY league holds a MANDATORY clinic for coaches each February. A two session morning session and one hour afternoon session with the UIC is included in the clinic.

I will email you the agenda I use for these sessions.

The local American Legion league is contemplating something similar.

[JJ]

You might ask the coaches at the very start of the presentation if there's any area(s) they would like to cover. And don't forget to have an evaluation at the end - tell them going in they will be asked for their opinion on what was, and what should be covered. Tell them the evaluations will be used to develop an agenda for the NEXT such clinic, and their input is VERY valuable.

"To know how the lion thinks you must become the lion"...or is that mule????

GBA

[Whowefoolin]

GarthB,

Please, email anything you have to: [email protected]

Would love to use it!

Thanx,

Max

[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by Whowefoolin

Recently I have had numerous managers and coaches come up to me and question about calls/situations/rulings.

We then discussed that umpires have umpire meetings and managers have manager meetings, but they never interact.

So I thought about having an umpires symposium with managers as the guests. I knocked it around with a couple managers and they thought it would be a great idea.

My question:

What do I go over?

What areas do managers need to know about umpiring?

What would you want managers to know about working the field?

Each Group conducts their own meetings first.
From the coaches standpoint - what items do they want to cover and what problems they are having with umpires.

Converesely, the umpires would have their meeting and go over points they want covered with coaches etc.

The meeting should not be personal. Example: if the coaches feel that they are having problems with 1 or 2 specific umpires, that should be handled in a special meeting with the assignor and not discussed in an open public forum. Conversely, if umpires are having problems with only 1 or 2 coaches, that should be handled separately.

As a general rule, it's difficult discussing rules with umpires and coaches present. If your not careful, the meeting will go on too long with nothing being accomplished. Also, at least from my experience, it's not the rules knowledge that coaches complain about but an umpires demeanor.

From each group's comments about each other, get a common denominatior and start with that topic. No matter what kind of meeting you have make certain:

1. You have a written agenda that is handed out
2. Stick to the topics and do not get personal with one another
3. Keep the meeting moving and on time.
4. Have a central place ie; a Web Site: in which follow-up questions can be answered without having to call another meeting.

Good Luck!

Pete Booth