What do you discuss with Coaches during pregame meet?

[wadeintothem]

First! Hello All. My first post.

My question.. as stated in the title.. what do you discuss with the coaches pregame? (besides verifying the lineup is what they want)

I am ASA and do the local small town league girls soft ball for the various age groups.

Just curious...

[TexBlue]

Welcome to the board.

Normally, I start off introducing myself and my partner, or if we're familiar with each other already, just shaking hands.

1) Go over time limits or number of innings

2) Any special rules you're playing by that night or tournament.

3) Any dead ball areas you are familiar with and any potential hazardous areas ( sprinkler heads, holes, etc.)

4) Injuries and how to handle them. I deal with the youth leagues mostly and always cover this. Get out there as quickly as possible and take care of it.

5) Get 'em on and off the field within the 1 minute time limit.

6) The proper way to handle discussions with my partner and me, ie don't cross that foul line until we call time for you.

7) All substitutions come through me, the PU

8) Get the jewelry off ( sometimes they even listen to this one. )

If I haven't run out of breath, and the time limit hasn't expired, I may cover a few more things, but this is what I generally discuss.

[bluezebra]

I reminded them to go the umpire who made the call, then ask him/her to check with their partner.

[whiskers_ump]

I always try to miss the first game, come in on plate
for second game.

"Coach, you have both played here today, received your
special ground rules, know rule run limits." "Play ball,
you're on the clock!"

Just Kidding...

Not much to add to TexBlues post.

[FUBLUE]

My friend from Texas covers it pretty well. I'll just go through what I cover in the conferences.

1. Introductions--me, my partner(s), coaches

2. Line-ups--I include any special situations (free substitutions, bat everyone) that may be local league rules.

3. Field Conditions--ground rules

4. Time limits/inning limits

5. Talk to the umpire that made the call

6. sportsmanship

7. Any questions? Just ask us.

8. Let's have a good game.

I'm sure there are other things, but I don't remember them at this time.

[Skahtboi]

I, personally, believe in keeping the pregame short. For high school ball, I simply:

Introduce myself and my partner.
Ask if there is a site administrator on duty and who they are.
Ask if the team is properly equipped as per the NFHS rule book.
Go over any ground rules, run ahead rules...etc.

Play ball.

I really never like to remind coaches that if they don't agree with the call to go to the umpire who made it...etc. That, to me, almost sounds like ecouragement to question any call that they don't agree with. JMO

[TexBlue]

Originally posted by Skahtboi:

__________________________________________________ _____

I really never like to remind coaches that if they don't agree with the call to go to the umpire who made it...etc. That, to me, almost sounds like ecouragement to question any call that they don't agree with. JMO
__________________________________________________ _________


Yep, you're right. And they get about 2 chances to conduct theirselves in a professional manner. If they start abusing the privilege after every close call, you don't hafta give 'em time and talk.

[FUBLUE]

Yeah, I see your point with not telling coaches to talk to the umpire that makes the call, but I look at it this way:

If I say, "if you have a question, talk to the umpire that makes the call" I've in effect told them that yelling at the umpire will not be accepted. So to me, it's just a reminder that we care about professionalism from coaches.

And the two chances to act professionally is about all they get. If they continue to rant and rave, I won't even listen to them.

I guess it boils down to personal opinions.

[bluezebra]

With me, it was "zero tolerance". Start ranting, a warning, and then leave. I let the coaches know that we will discuss, but never argue.

[wadeintothem]

Would you guys suggest discussing the new changes for ASA in pitching (foot drag) and obstruction (no ball=obstruction)? Or would you just let that be until a call?

I usally mention .. I want the girls swinging... and the strike zone will reflect such.. do you do that?

[Dakota]

I don't give a rules clinic. I don't mention the strike zone. I would never say something like "I want the girls swinging." What does it matter what I want?

Now, I will call a generous zone a lower levels of play, but I would never tell or imply to the coach that I will be encouraging batters to swing at bad pitches.

[Panda Bear]

Especially early in the season, I'll also mention major rules changes new for this year, and the year's points of emphasis per national & local directives. Yes, the coaches should already know these, but I've found this reminder seems to help, and sometimes prompts a question better answered before it arises, rather than after. After a couiple of weeks, I'll drop this back to something like "Remember the rules changes new this year.", and a couple weeks after that, I drop even that.

Also, if I'm aware of a recent local controversy from experience, or postgame meetings with other umpires, I may bring that up and explain the key point, but only if I'm well aware of the issue. That is preventative umpiring, but seems to work well around here. (In my area, we seem to have a pretty decent group of coaches, and they mostly react well to upfront efforts to prevent problems.)

[TexBlue]

I think the rules changes is optional. If you want to, do it. I don't. If it's a low level game, rec league or young age, I'll usually talk to the coach in between innings and tell him if a pitcher is doing something illegal. If it's in a tournament, or high talent game, I don't mention it at all, I just call it.

I never talk about my strike zone at all. If asked about it, I just give some generic statement like " I try to be as close to the rule book's strike zone as I can, in my judgement." Which basically, means nothing at all.

[Skahtboi]

I agree that it is not an umpire's place to either school coaches on the rules or to give a mini clinic on rules/rule changes at the plate conference. They are the coaches, they should be reading the rule book on a regular basis if they want to do the job.

Discussion of the strike zone is something else that will not occur. As I stated earlier, I like to keep the pregame conference short, sweet, and to the point.

[wadeintothem]

First.. I really appreciate this forum...

I usually work alone and I dont think I've ever even met a ranked elite ump or anything like that.. I just do my lil ole thing behind the plate...

So I'm bouncing ideas here.. some of you guys do the top level.. maybe I'll try to get into that... it's just such a drive to get out from my hole in the middle of nowhere..

Strike Zone...

I dont work high talent.. I would agree I would change if I did start doing that.

Let me give some examples...

I will give a wide outside... and a little high.. inside I dont stress on inside due to potential of these girls to hit their hands.. so i'm dead on the plate on inside... a little low on the middle.. its a strike.. if in doubt on low outside, where it seems hardest to see.. i will call a strike instead of the norm on unsure a ball.

If some little girl comes up and scrunches her strike zone to 3 inches... i might call a strike if its acrossed her forehead because I believe the coaches are doing that girl a disservice by training her to draw walks instead of taking her licks.

Thoughts?