Mandatory slide crap

[SethPDX]

Originally Posted by LIIRISHMAN

I make it a policy at my pre-game to let both captains or managers know about the crash rule especially at home plate that the runner must give themselves up or slide to avoid being tagged when the defensive player has the ball. Avoiding injury isn't always possible even with all the latest advances that have been made in the last 10+ years.Also with the advent of better design with the hockey style mask it's possible that the catcher could still wear her mask while making the play at home.

I would recommend cutting that part out. Keep it short, sweet, and to the point. You're there to take the lineups, cover any ground rules and league rules, and in Fed games in my area ask if the players are legally equipped and remind them the state emphasizes good sportsmanship.

I see too many umpires who want to put on rules clinics, remind the players to hustle on and off the field, make sure the coaches know to wait until we have granted their request for time, etc. None of that is necessary. They want to get the meeting over with and get the game started, so only go over the things you have to go over.

[wadeintothem]

I actually had a coach THANK ME in the past few weeks for NOT going into all the "call time out, and we'll talk" bs. I just get it over with short and sweet.. intros ground rules time limit/ spec tourney rules which need to be addressed, you call it.. were off. No monologues or old hat boring BS. If they dont know .. thats their problem. They are still accountable. Talking about it pregame does not increase their responsibility or suddenly make them responsible.

[bkbjones]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

I actually had a coach THANK ME in the past few weeks for NOT going into all the "call time out, and we'll talk" bs. I just get it over with short and sweet.. intros ground rules time limit/ spec tourney rules which need to be addressed, you call it.. were off. No monologues or old hat boring BS. If they dont know .. thats their problem. They are still accountable. Talking about it pregame does not increase their responsibility or suddenly make them responsible.

Hear! Hear! For most of our invitationals I don't even go into that much. They are all given a copy of the time limits and run rules. Your lineup coach, that the way you want them, that's official x2; ground rules; hustle on and off and have fun. Does anyone want to be visitors? If not, we flip a coin ONCE (and the winner better choose heads, since no one wanted to be visitors). If NFHS will ask coaches if players are legally equipped. I will ask the coaches if they have any questions, but usually won't ask my partner if he has anything else to add unless I know my partner will answer, "No," with a smile.

Anything else is a freakin waste of time. We have one of the great time wasters up here who talks for 3 minutes about how it is his field and his game and he WILL be respected and this and that. His field -- and by God it is HIS field, just ask him -- is always last to finish each round.

I learned a long time ago that reminding the coaches to get time out and come talk doesn't work...they'll go to the other umpire first half the time. "if we need to get together, we will" is, in my opinion, the first step toward a cop out -- besides, we usually don't say "if it's a judgment call we will not be getting together most of the time."

And now...this post has gone about four times longer than most of my pregames...

[MichaelVA2000]

Originally Posted by SethPDX

I would recommend cutting that part out. Keep it short, sweet, and to the point. You're there to take the lineups, cover any ground rules and league rules, and in Fed games in my area ask if the players are legally equipped and remind them the state emphasizes good sportsmanship.

Ditto!

Originally Posted by SethPDX

I see too many umpires who want to put on rules clinics, remind the players to hustle on and off the field, make sure the coaches know to wait until we have granted their request for time, etc. None of that is necessary. They want to get the meeting over with and get the game started, so only go over the things you have to go over.

During a plate conference last weekend I had a partner pointing out long shoelaces and reminding the players to keep them tied. He also rambled about shirts tucked in and taking off any jewlery.

[vcblue]

AND STOP ALL TRYING TO ENDEAR YOURSELF TO THE PLAYERS. (Sorry for yelling this drives me nuts when I am the BU). Trust me the only reason these girls are laughing a your jokes is because they don't want to get on your bad side, and we as umpires should never put players in that position.