Ground Rules/Pre-Game Coaches' Conference

[IRISHMAFIA]

• Plate umpire leads the pregame conference.
• Call the coaches in and introduce both yourself and your partner to both coaches.
• Ask home coach for lineup, review it, ask that if any changes need to be made and accept it.
• Ask visiting coach for lineup, review, ask if any changes and accept.
• Cover grounds rules.
• Cover any special rules for that particular tournament/series
• Ask coaches if they have any questions.
• Ask partner if they have anything to add.
• Flip coin, if necessary
• Instruct home coach to direct his team to the field

[BretMan]

What Irish said...except...

If a coin flip is necessary, I insert that right after introductions. Otherwise, how do you know which team is the home team so you can take their line-up first?

The only other thing I'll add, if necessary, is the mandatory "are all of your players properly equipped" question for each coach in an NFHS game. I'll do that right after ground rules/special rules.

And, if I was teaching this to a new umpire, the first step would be to show them the proper places to stand while conducting the conference (plate umpire at point of plate, etc.).

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by BretMan

What Irish said...except...

If a coin flip is necessary, I insert that right after introductions. Otherwise, how do you know which team is the home team so you can take their line-up first?

I wouldn't do that on a bet. Once you flip the coin, you lose their attention. And really, does it make a difference which line-up you accept in what order?

The only other thing I'll add, if necessary, is the mandatory "are all of your players properly equipped" question for each coach in an NFHS game. I'll do that right after ground rules/special rules.

Yep, and NFHS is about the only place it has any value.

And, if I was teaching this to a new umpire, the first step would be to show them the proper places to stand while conducting the conference (plate umpire at point of plate, etc.).

You mean you just don't meander around waving to your friends and talking to the spectators?

[DeputyUICHousto]

You never start the pre-game without your partner...unless he is arriving late and you're starting without him. If he's in the can you wait!!!!

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by DeputyUICHousto

You never start the pre-game without your partner...unless he is arriving late and you're starting without him. If he's in the can you wait!!!!

A pet peeve; my partner should be ready to go, and have taken care of all necessaries, by game time. To me, pregame IS game time.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

A pet peeve; my partner should be ready to go, and have taken care of all necessaries, by game time. To me, pregame IS game time.

I don't disagree, but there are times/tournaments where one umpire may get things moving while the other is changing having just come off the field. It is an adjustment umpires have to make when TDs have a tight schedule and want to keep the games going.

IOW, while true, it cannot always be held as an absolute.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I don't disagree, but there are times/tournaments where one umpire may get things moving while the other is changing having just come off the field. It is an adjustment umpires have to make when TDs have a tight schedule and want to keep the games going.

IOW, while true, it cannot always be held as an absolute.

I don't disagree. I was thinking more of a NCAA/NFHS type of vein. Tournaments are always the exception.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Few more things.

I would switch two items in the order above. I would give any special rules prior to the ground rules.

Know what you are going to say before you start. Go over the ground rules with authority, dont be wish-washy.

Do not stop once you start. It is possible you will answer their question before you finish.

When you ask the coaches if there are any questions, give them time to respond. Look directly at each team coach/rep to acknowledge there are no questions. This could be a pivotal point in the pre-game especially if either of the teams are not familiar with the field. It is better they understand the ground rules up front and had the opportunity to address any clarifications before the game starts instead of when there is a dead ball or awarded bases that they may not understand.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Few more things.

I would switch two items in the order above. I would give any special rules prior to the ground rules.

Know what you are going to say before you start. Go over the ground rules with authority, dont be wish-washy.

Do not stop once you start. It is possible you will answer their question before you finish.

When you ask the coaches if there are any questions, give them time to respond. Look directly at each team coach/rep to acknowledge there are no questions. This could be a pivotal point in the pre-game especially if either of the teams are not familiar with the field. It is better they understand the ground rules up front and had the opportunity to address any clarifications before the game starts instead of when there is a dead ball or awarded bases that they may not understand.

I definitely want to highlight this portion here. It's important to give each coach equal opportunity to ask you questions about the field or special playing rules.

Just tossing out a "any questions? Good" shows that you don't respect the coaches enough to actually address their concerns. You're effectively telling them, "I don't care if you have questions, I'm just getting through this game and moving on."

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

I definitely want to highlight this portion here. It's important to give each coach equal opportunity to ask you questions about the field or special playing rules.

Just tossing out a "any questions? Good" shows that you don't respect the coaches enough to actually address their concerns. You're effectively telling them, "I don't care if you have questions, I'm just getting through this game and moving on."

I can only predict that you are referring to questions about the specific ground rules and not a free for all about rules interpretations right? After all, it called the ground rules / coaches' conference and not a clinic.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

I can only predict that you are referring to questions about the specific ground rules and not a free for all about rules interpretations right? After all, it called the ground rules / coaches' conference and not a clinic.

If I feel it's relevant to the specific game I'm about to call (and not baiting me into confirming that one of my fellow umpires screwed them on a call in their previous game), I'll answer the question. I'll give some leeway to the coaches, but I won't let it be a free-for-all.

One or two quick questions, in my opinion, do not hold up the plate conference enough that I should decline to answer them.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

I can only predict that you are referring to questions about the specific ground rules and not a free for all about rules interpretations right? After all, it called the ground rules / coaches' conference and not a clinic.

True, but I can't tell you how many times the "does anyone have any questions" was answered with, "Last week in our game..." followed by something they didn't understand or some complaint about the previous umpires. Love league ball, don'tcha?

[BretMan]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

And really, does it make a difference which line-up you accept in what order?

Then why make a sequential list that says to take the home team line-up first and the visitor's second, or to even differentiate between "home" or "visitor" at all in relation to taking the line-ups?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by BretMan

Then why make a sequential list that says to take the home team line-up first and the visitor's second, or to even differentiate between "home" or "visitor" at all in relation to taking the line-ups?

Actually, I don't. I am most likely take the first line-up offered. I will look to the home coach, but if s/he isn't ready to hand it to me and the other is, that is where I go. But someone wanted a list.......

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by BretMan

Then why make a sequential list that says to take the home team line-up first and the visitor's second, or to even differentiate between "home" or "visitor" at all in relation to taking the line-ups?

The original reason is that at one point, teams would occasionally want to dictate match-ups; either our #1 vs your #1 and #2 vs #2 because we think we can beat you both games, or our #1 vs your #2 because we DON'T think we match-up well. When that happened, someone had to be required to turn in the lineup first, since they were both waiting for the other team to go first.

So, to avoid the cat-and-mouse-game, the home team was required to turn in first.

With that understanding, when they plan to play based one what they plan to do, rather than wanting to see what the other team does first., the order makes no difference.