First Game Tomorrow...
 

HS JV on the bases. Any advice?

John,

Don't suck.

Have fun.

JM

First game ever?

Slow down.

Concentrate on safe and out (and fair/foul when on the line). Leave all the game management, balks, etc, to PU.

Go out on almost all fly balls when on the line (better to be out wishing you were in than in wishing you were out, and that also applies to umpiring)

Slow down.

Use crisp mechanics all the time.

Slow down. See the entire play and then decide and then announce the decision.

I think Bob's post is the best.

He forgot something, though: slow down.

Watch the ball, glance at the runners.

Great suggestion, I would only add, look the part. Dress nice, crisp, and don't spend much time fraternizing with coaches etc.,

Show up, do your job, and get out of dodge.

Thanks
David

I agree with Bob and with what David added.

Good luck and have fun!

Don't get hit. For some reason this year quite a few guys in our association have been finding the ball.

What is the protocol regarding the pre-game meeting? Do we come dressed and pre-game in the parking lot? Do we leave our stuff inside somewhere? What about waterbottles on the field?

--rookie

John,

What I try to do is arrive at the game site at least 45 minutes before the scheduled game time. I wear my "street clothes" while driving to the game. As soon as I arrive, I walk to the field, introduce myself to the head coaches (whose names I already got from the schools' website - though w. underclass, they're not always there). Something like...

"Hi Bill, my name is JM and I'm your umpire today. Just wanted to let you know I was here. I/We'll be back on the field at 10 minutes before game time to check the bats and helmets. Would you please have your players have them ready for me/us to check? Have you got any paperwork for us to fill out? Thank you."

Then back to the parking lot to get dressed and pregame with my partner. Leave the parking lot 15 minutes before game time (yeah, I know, I told the coach "10"), ask the coach if he would please have his players get the bats and helmets out for us to check (yeah, I know. You'll see.), check the "hats and bats", name and number in the scorebooks, conduct the plate conference (reintroduce, lineups, groundrules, "properly & legally", "sportsmanship") then the HT takes the field for pitcher/infield warmup and we go.

Yes. Generally the trunk of your car.

JV game? Heck, I'd bring a bottle of Jack Daniels.

On a more serious note, in this venue I see no problem with bringing a water bottle on the field. Just put it someplace "out of the way".

Oh, and in case nobody's mentioned it, slow down.

JM

Entirely area dependent. Call your partner /assigner / mentor / someone in the area you trust and ask.

Don't forget to watch for the foot touching the bag and listening for the ball to hit the mitt. Do this and you will nail the close ones.

Did anyone mention slow down?

Report back and let us know how it went.

thanks for all the help, guys.

i probably won't be able to internalize all of it, but i'll be sure to sprint from place to place, make calls before the play is finished, and in general to keep my mind racing at 1000 MPH.

Good luck.

That's funny!

So, how did you do? Do tell, do tell!:)