Ground Rules/Pre-Game Coaches' Conference

[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?

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

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?

That's why the question should be, "Are there any questions on the ground rules?"

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

That's why the question should be, "Are there any questions on the ground rules?"

Yes ... but to a coach, "ground rules" includes anything the dastardly umpire he had last week might have done wrong (in his mind, of course).

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Yes ... but to a coach, "ground rules" includes anything the dastardly umpire he had last week might have done wrong (in his mind, of course).

Well let's help coaches better understand what "ground rules" means by not entertaining those questions.

It's also outright improper. Vary rarely do coaches call me as the rule interpreter, despite having my number and email. Let them use the proper method to get answers.

Stop entertaining the questions and they might stop asking (at least as often).