Plate Conference

[tcblue13]

Run Down your normal Plate Conference - No one will call you a moron or say ooo (Whatever that means) about you. This is just for comparison and education.
1. Intros coaches, captains, umpires (usually plate introduces both officials)
2. Are all player legally and properly equipped?
3. Ask home coach to cover ground rules
4. Any special provisions
5. Sportsmanship reminder
6. Let's play

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by tcblue13

Run Down your normal Plate Conference - No one will call you a moron or say ooo (Whatever that means) about you. This is just for comparison and education.

1. Intros coaches, captains, umpires (usually plate introduces both officials)
2.

Review line-up cards
Return and ask coaches to verify line-up

3. Ask home coach to cover ground rules
4. Any special provisions
5. Sportsmanship reminder
Flip coin, if necessary
6. Let's play

[vcblue]

I am so glad neither of you said, "coaches if you have a problem with a call. Call time and go to the umpire that made the call".

Why don't blues' that say this just say, "hey coach, my partner or I will blow at least one call today, but don't come running out to confront us until I grant you time".

I don't know who started this line, but he/she should be shot.

[Welpe]

Mike's list works for me.

Add on: Issue pre-game warning for bean balls if necessary. Oh wait, wrong diamond sport.

[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.

[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.)

[archangel]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Review line-up cards
Return and ask coaches to verify line-up

The ONLY time I return a lineup card to a coach, is if I notice something wrong (such as a players # missing, or the coach forgot to sign it), which has been rare. Otherwise, whats the point? I will verbally mention each teams DH in what spot though..
If nothing looks wrong, why the need to re-verify? He filled it out. Does anyone think the coach will look over to compare #'s to correct players? All he's going to do is glance at it and hand it back, possibly offended, thinking "whats with this guy?- theres nothing wrong on my card"...

Everyone has their own pregame, sure,..... but I put this one with the "come talk to me if you have issues" comment

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by archangel

The ONLY time I return a lineup card to a coach, is if I notice something wrong (such as a players # missing, or the coach forgot to sign it), which has been rare. Otherwise, whats the point? I will verbally mention each teams DH in what spot though..
If nothing looks wrong, why the need to re-verify? He filled it out. Does anyone think the coach will look over to compare #'s to correct players? All he's going to do is glance at it and hand it back, possibly offended, thinking "whats with this guy?- theres nothing wrong on my card"...

Everyone has their own pregame, sure,..... but I put this one with the "come talk to me if you have issues" comment

From the 2009 CCA Softball Umpires Manual:

"Once the plate umpire is satisfied that the lineup contains the necessary information, she should hand it back to the coach for a final look."

From the NFHS Softball Umpires Manual:

"Make certain you check each lineup card including first, last name, defensive positioning and number of each participant and hand it back to the coach for a last inspection."

In other words, you do it because it is what you are instructed to do. Once the lineup is handed back to you, it becomes official, and any problems that have been hitherto missed by the coach can now be penalized.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

From the 2009 CCA Softball Umpires Manual:

"Once the plate umpire is satisfied that the lineup contains the necessary information, she should hand it back to the coach for a final look."

From the NFHS Softball Umpires Manual:

"Make certain you check each lineup card including first, last name, defensive positioning and number of each participant and hand it back to the coach for a last inspection."

In other words, you do it because it is what you are instructed to do. Once the lineup is handed back to you, it becomes official, and any problems that have been hitherto missed by the coach can now be penalized.

From the 2009 ASA Umpire Manual:

D. Plate umpire receives line-up cards from each coach.
1. Inspects for proper number of players in the starting line-up
2. Inspects for proper information, by rule
3. Returns line-up card to respective coach for final check
4. Accepts as "official" when cards are returned to plate umpire

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by Dakota

From the 2009 ASA Umpire Manual:

Hmm....that about covers it, doesn't it?

[archangel]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

From the 2009 CCA Softball Umpires Manual:

"Once the plate umpire is satisfied that the lineup contains the necessary information, she should hand it back to the coach for a final look."

From the NFHS Softball Umpires Manual:

"Make certain you check each lineup card including first, last name, defensive positioning and number of each participant and hand it back to the coach for a last inspection."

In other words, you do it because it is what you are instructed to do. Once the lineup is handed back to you, it becomes official, and any problems that have been hitherto missed by the coach can now be penalized.

Whoa everyone-- you All are correct. I'm just a currently bored baseball umpire that decided to float to a different sport's forum, and forgot where I was......until I went to change sites and thought "oh, thats right, this is softball, well, if Im wrong, I'll hear about it".

Fed baseball doesnt have the "hand back to coach" rule, just 4-1-3...shall deliver their respective batting orders in duplicate to the UIC. The umpire shall permit inspection by both head coaches...

Glad to know you softball officials are on your toes......

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by archangel

Whoa everyone-- you All are correct. I'm just a currently bored baseball umpire that decided to float to a different sport's forum, and forgot where I was......until I went to change sites and thought "oh, thats right, this is softball, well, if Im wrong, I'll hear about it".

Fed baseball doesnt have the "hand back to coach" rule, just 4-1-3...shall deliver their respective batting orders in duplicate to the UIC. The umpire shall permit inspection by both head coaches...

Glad to know you softball officials are on your toes......

one of them thangs we gots to do.. its the ceremonial "ok its official" moment... after that its a sub.

[tcblue13]

Originally Posted by archangel

The ONLY time I return a lineup card to a coach, is if I notice something wrong (such as a players # missing, or the coach forgot to sign it), which has been rare. Otherwise, whats the point? I will verbally mention each teams DH in what spot though..
If nothing looks wrong, why the need to re-verify? He filled it out. Does anyone think the coach will look over to compare #'s to correct players? All he's going to do is glance at it and hand it back, possibly offended, thinking "whats with this guy?- theres nothing wrong on my card"...

Everyone has their own pregame, sure,..... but I put this one with the "come talk to me if you have issues" comment

Yesterday, I handed the lineup cards back tothe coaches to review and one wrote in a substitute who had come late and another had to double check the number of her flex. Sometimes they are prepared hours before a game and things can change. It is policy for our association and coaches have come to expect it.

[SethPDX]

Things that are required by our NFHS association:
-"Are your players properly equipped?" (usually add, "All the jewelry off?" so they get the picture)
-"Did you bring a first aid kit?"
-Reminder about sportsmanship

One of my partners told me that in volleyball, they must read the entire statement about sportsmanship that the state association prints up on little cards for us. For softball we just tell them to remember good sportsmanship is expected.