Your line up card

[Steve M]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

While I'm on the subject, The people who goof around figuring ways to complicate things.. and thus affecting an entire tournament.. also have a 10 minute pregame.

So along with my advice on line ups... this is how you properly conduct a pregame for standard timed tourney pool play..

Stand in position and yell "Coaches captains".. note who gets there first. If someone is lagging yell a few times.. then if you have to, start without them... they'll see you started it and come-a-runnin


QUICKLY go over any tourney specific rules you have too..
If it is game 4 of the day, you dont need to do any of that THEY KNOW IT.. just say "we all know time limits and run ahead rules right?".. they will say yes, even if they dont, thankfully.

This line up official coach?
This line up official coach?
Give it a scan, make sure all is cool.
"Ok coach, any problems in the game, call time and we'll talk."
Any questions? 95% there will be none.

TELL the one who got there first "Call it in the air".. they call it.. you have your answer.

We dont flip the coin twice to determine who calls it or ask and let them debate for 3 minutes about who gets to call it.. the one who hustles calls it, period. If there is a coach on one side and a coach and a player on the other side, an alternative is to always let the player call it. Dont ask and dont goof around, you decide.

"Ok coach, take the field, I'm starting the timer".

Wait a little bit to actually start it, giving them a little bit...but not long! Definitely start it.. we're not waiting on them and we are not waiting for the first pitch.. this is not Nationals, get going.

No talking about sportsmanship, no asking them if they are equipped no speeches, no ground rules unless something REAL unusual is there and MUST be addressed, no inspections to make sure someone doesnt have an ear ring hidden under a bandaid. JUST GIT ER DONE!

OK end of my rant, you guys really need to quit goofing around and complicating things.

Wade,
See what Tom said about the powerpoint presentation - it's still a really good system.
Your pre-game is similar to mine, however we've got some differences
1-I review each lineup card completely
2-as for the flip, 3B side is heads, 1B side is tails
3-Ground rules typically take me 30 seconds or so to review by taking them around the field.
Since it's tournament ball, I agree with you about the sportsmanship & equipment & jewelry.