Plate Conference

[wadeintothem]

I'll go with Mike's too. I dont do the sportsmanship warning though.

For coin flip, I usually pick who will call it or who is heads. I dont do the who's farther, roll a ball to the circle, rock paper scissors, flip twice stuff. Usually the person who was out there first calls it. I dont tell jokes, goof off, conduct uniform inspections or any of that stuff. Slam bam thank you maam, play ball.

[Steve M]

I'll jump on here with Mike's list, too.

For high school ball in Pa, we're required to read a sportsmanship message.

[Chess Ref]

I'm also a slam bam thank you ma'am kinda guy .

But around here at the end we ask our partners if they have anything to add. I'm thinking of seriously dropping that. Partners come up with some weird things.

Yesterdays partner gave us the lecture on how its only a game. Decent enough guy,decent enough partner, so after the game I asked about it. Its kind of a thing with him and the world taking softball so seriously..."shrug"

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by Chess Ref

I'm also a slam bam thank you ma'am kinda guy .

But around here at the end we ask our partners if they have anything to add. I'm thinking of seriously dropping that. Partners come up with some weird things.

Yesterdays partner gave us the lecture on how its only a game. Decent enough guy,decent enough partner, so after the game I asked about it. Its kind of a thing with him and the world taking softball so seriously..."shrug"

Definitely know your audience before asking "Anything to add?"

[tcblue13]

I also check the line up and let the coaches give is a final once over. I left that off my list.
Our association requires the reminder about sportmanship. One of our umpires handles it uniquely though. He says something along these lines, "I know I don't need to say anything to you about sportmanship."

[Dukat]

After I ask them if they are legally equipped I have started specifically mentioning jewelry and let them know that I consider anything around the wrist or neck to be jewelry including items that were designed for the hair.

Even then I usually still get at least one team warning a game.

[wadeintothem]

I'm guessing the "properly equipped stuff" would be a NFHS only addition to pregames?

Should have specified - mine I was thinking ASA

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

1. Handshakes/player greetings

2. Umpire introductions - "Mr. Jacobs is your base umpire, I am Mr Sherwood your plate umpire"

3. Jewelry notification - mandatory in NYS

4 Sportsmanship notification - also mandatory

How long the two above take depends on the level/time of year - 7th/8th grade games early in the season: the cards get read, usually by team captains. By this time of the year, I get it done in two quick lines: "You all are aware of sportsmanship, right? You all know about no jewelry/hard objects, right?"

5. ground rules

we also have been told to remind teams about one minute in between innings, but I will usually take care of that talking to the coaches during our pregame chat/gossip session...

On a good day the plate conference is over in less than a minute! Had a partner last week, however, who took five excruciating long minutes to get it done.....

[Skahtboi]

1. Intros coaches, captains, umpires (usually plate introduces both officials)
2. Review line-up cards as per Mike's list.
3. Ask home coach to identify site administrator, since they are never there early enough to meet before walking on the field. (NFHS and college only.)
4. Are all player legally and properly equipped? (NFHS)
5. Ask home coach to cover ground rules
6. Any special provisions
7. Coin toss if necessary.
8. Let's play

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

For coin flip, I usually pick who will call it or who is heads. I dont do the who's farther, roll a ball to the circle, rock paper scissors, flip twice stuff. Usually the person who was out there first calls it. I dont tell jokes, goof off, conduct uniform inspections or any of that stuff. Slam bam thank you maam, play ball.

The "legally and properly equipped" applies only in NFHS, as does any sportsmanship reminders. I can't think of anything that gets coaches wondering about an umpire's knowledge more than attempting to apply a standard that doesn't apply before the game even starts. College coaches, as well as upper level travel teams, immediately identify you as a "high school ump"; and that isn't meant to be a compliment by most.

I give even less options than Wade on a coin flip. I assign the team to my left "heads", and the team to my right "tails", then I flip. Same every time, less chance of mixing anything up. A coin flip decision doesn't require giving anyone a choice; just a 50/50 chance. (Besides, the coach can go back saying "he" didn't lose, I did.)

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

The "legally and properly equipped" applies only in NFHS, as does any sportsmanship reminders. I can't think of anything that gets coaches wondering about an umpire's knowledge more than attempting to apply a standard that doesn't apply before the game even starts. College coaches, as well as upper level travel teams, immediately identify you as a "high school ump"; and that isn't meant to be a compliment by most.

I give even less options than Wade on a coin flip. I assign the team to my left "heads", and the team to my right "tails", then I flip. Same every time, less chance of mixing anything up. A coin flip decision doesn't require giving anyone a choice; just a 50/50 chance. (Besides, the coach can go back saying "he" didn't lose, I did.)

I do the same on the coin flip.

[wadeintothem]

Thats also my preferred method especially in championship play... sometimes though I do pick someone to pick at the showcases and whatever. In championship play, no goofin around with even that.

I agree that most upper level coaches immediately identify you as "just another goofy umpire" type if you go into all these unnecessary things in the pregame. Coaches that have been around 10-15+years - what are you really telling them when you go into your diatribe (NFHS mandated statements aside)?

[Chess Ref]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

I do the same on the coin flip.

Had a double flipper a couple of weekends ago. First time I ever had a partner who did the double flip.

[MichaelVA2000]

Originally Posted by Chess Ref

Had a double flipper a couple of weekends ago. First time I ever had a partner who did the double flip.

NSA wants a double flip during their tournaments.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Chess Ref

Had a double flipper a couple of weekends ago. First time I ever had a partner who did the double flip.

OK stupid question...what the heck is a double flip?