First weekend

[jr131981]

before i moved i did the first game of the spring in a rec 10U or 12U town league (i forget the age group).

i hear the coaches talking before and they are going to let little suzy try catching today. she caught exactly ZERO balls the first inning!!! i know these girls arent exactly pudge but cmon. and its not that the balls were hurting me, its just gets old real fast when every pitch either bounces off the catcher/me or rolls to the backstop.

[BretMan]

Originally Posted by jr131981

it just gets old real fast when every pitch either bounces off the catcher/me or rolls to the backstop.

Don't you work slow pitch? You should be used to it!

Earlier this year, I worked a 10U tournament. For one team, the coaches had to be as inexperienced as the players.

First, there was a foul tip (with one strike). Coach argued that the batter should be out because his catcher caught a foul ball. I tried to explain to him what a foul tip meant.

A little later his pitcher walked a batter and the B/R rounded first and continued directly to second base. The same coach argued that the B/R should be out because his pitcher was holding the ball. So I tried to explain to him the Look Back Rule.

When his team went up to bat, one of his hitters swung at a pitch, but the pitch hit her on the arm. I called the dead ball strike and he started arguing that his batter should be awarded first base. Again, I'm over at his dugout giving a mini rules clinic.

Then we had an infield grounder where the throw to first went past F3 and slowly trickled out of play. I awarded his runner second base. He began yelling that she should get third because she was between first and second went the ball went out of play.

I walked over to his dugout, just about ready to unload on the guy...but I didn't. Instead, I took a deep breath, paused, then said, exasperated, "You guys really need to find yourself a rule book".

This was the cool part...the entire bleachers around his dugout erupted into applause when I said that!

[CecilOne]

over at his dugout

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

over at his dugout

I'm with Bret on that one.

It is clear that no one there had a clue; if you are going to explain the rules (mini-clinic, as was said), there might as well be everyone possible getting it first hand. Coaches, players, and parents.

Explaining it to the clueless coach won't get it trickling down accurately.

You have to know the time and the place, but this is a great technique we call "learning moments" in my local youth leagues.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

I'm with Bret on that one.

It is clear that no one there had a clue; if you are going to explain the rules (mini-clinic, as was said), there might as well be everyone possible getting it first hand. Coaches, players, and parents.

Explaining it to the clueless coach won't get it trickling down accurately.

You have to know the time and the place, but this is a great technique we call "learning moments" in my local youth leagues.

I understand that makes sense in certain sitch and for some rules, just didn't want it to look accepted generally.

[BretMan]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

over at his dugout

Well, directly in front of it. If a coach is yelling at you from inside his dugout, and you feel that you need to address it, do you:

- Walk over toward his dugout?

- Summon him out onto the field?

- Go into the dugout after him?

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by BretMan

Well, directly in front of it. If a coach is yelling at you from inside his dugout, and you feel that you need to address it, do you:

- Walk over toward his dugout?

- Summon him out onto the field?

- Go into the dugout after him?

The flip side is that if this disintegrates, then you appear the aggressor, for having "chased" him. Again, you have to know the time and place, and have what it takes to pull it off.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by BretMan

Well, directly in front of it. If a coach is yelling at you from inside his dugout, and you feel that you need to address it, do you:

- Walk over toward his dugout?

- Summon him out onto the field?

- Go into the dugout after him?

How about meeting half-way?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

How about meeting half-way?

Where I work most of my games, the opening of the dugout is FARTHER from PU than where his coach was.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

over at his dugout

eehhh... this is fall ball. If the guy is not being belligerent, I can see helping them out some. "Clinic" might be a little much, and I think bret has more patience than me... but nothing wrong with trying to educate them some in Fall Ball.