Ground Rules/Pre-Game Coaches' Conference

[EsqUmp]

Pretend you are teaching a new umpire what topics should be covered in the ground rules/pre-game coaches' conference (the term varies based on location). What exact will you instruct him/her to address? How long should it last? Who should do the talking?

[RKBUmp]

Plate umpire leads the pregame conference.
Call the coaches in and introduce both yourself and your partner to both coaches.
In AZ we are required to cover the Victory with Honor program, basically good sportsmanship.
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.
Ask home coach about any particular ground rules they have for the field or any problems with field everyone should be aware of.
Go over any other information, run rules, time limits etc that may apply to the game.
Ask coaches if they have any questions.
Ask partner if they have anything to add.
Play ball.

[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!!!!

[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."

[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.

[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.

[Dutch Alex]

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.

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

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

I don't think that tournaments are always the exception: The best tournaments I've attended to do have a tight schedule. However, the ESF (the organizing body) has the pre-game conference in their time-schedule. Umpire's arrive 10 minutes before game time en will start the conference 5 minutes prior to game time. ESF even have 60 min before game time, start visiting team field practice, 20 minutes late for home team. The last 15 minutes, before plate conference, are for the ground crew field maintenance.

Other tournaments I've attended to, are the exceptions Skahtboi meant. The biggest and oldest annual men FP tournament at Zeist (the Netherland's) don't even have time for field practice in-between games. At the Indoor-cup (Schiedam) everything is an exception. It's indoor!

[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?

[Steve M]

Originally Posted by Dutch Alex

I don't think that tournaments are always the exception: The best tournaments I've attended to do have a tight schedule. However, the ESF (the organizing body) has the pre-game conference in their time-schedule. Umpire's arrive 10 minutes before game time en will start the conference 5 minutes prior to game time. ESF even have 60 min before game time, start visiting team field practice, 20 minutes late for home team. The last 15 minutes, before plate conference, are for the ground crew field maintenance.

Other tournaments I've attended to, are the exceptions Skahtboi meant. The biggest and oldest annual men FP tournament at Zeist (the Netherland's) don't even have time for field practice in-between games. At the Indoor-cup (Schiedam) everything is an exception. It's indoor!

Missed you this year at the cup, Sander