Plate Conference Procedures
 

From the 2010-2011 NFHS Softball Umpires Manual, which I referred to earlier this week to address a question regarding who can attend the plate conference:

Pregame Conference with Head Coaches
1. The Plate Umpire (P) should be positioned behind home plate facing the outfield with each team’s head coaches on each side of home plate. The base umpire(s) (B) will be opposite the plate umpire facing the backstop. Team captains and assistant coaches may also attend the pregame conference.
2. The plate umpire should introduce himself/herself and his/her partner(s) to all in attendance. Have all others introduce themselves to each other.
3. Ask the head coaches to verify that players are legally equipped and that players and equipment are in compliance with all NFHS rules.
4. Review the ground rules. Begin by outlining dead-ball areas then proceed to the home plate, third base dugout / bench area, outfield fence and foul poles, first base dugout / bench area. Cover all openings and obstacles.
NOTE 1: No ground rule can supercede any book rule.
NOTE 2: If coaches cannot agree on a ground rule, then the umpires have the final say.
5. Review the overthrow rule and penalty enforcements. :eek:
6. Review the lineup cards. Explain, if necessary, the importance of notifying the plate umpire of substitutes.
NOTE 1: (F.P.) Make sure if there is a DP/FLEX you have 10 players and if no DP/FLEX there are only 9 players. (S.P.) Make sure there are 10 players listed or 11 if using an EP.
NOTE 2: Make sure first and last names are listed for all players, starters and subs.
NOTE 3: Hand the lineup cards back to each coach and ask them to "check it one last time" prior to it becoming the official lineup.
7. Ask if there are any questions on the rules, especially the re-entry, DP/FLEX and EP rule. :eek:
8. Ask if everyone is familiar with the ball rotation rule. :eek:
9. If a doubleheader, ask how much time will there be between games.
10. Remind the teams that the official book is from the home team and the scorekeepers should verify with each other several times throughout the game. :eek: If umpires know that there is an obvious error, they can correct the books.
11. Remind teams that if there are any questions, please only one person, the coach, approach the umpire responsible for the call in a sporting manner.
12. Remind the coaches that you are going to let the coaches coach, the players play and for them to please let the umpires umpire. :eek:
13. Review with all in attendance the expectations regarding sporting behavior and wish them all the Best of Luck!
NOTE: The whole time have great presence and a firm voice.

Seriously?

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NOTE 1: No ground rule can supercede any book rule.

Don't necessarily buy this since the ground rule pertain to the ground and the rules have no idea what that may be

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5. Review the overthrow rule and penalty enforcements. :eek:

Nope, ain't doing that

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7. Ask if there are any questions on the rules, especially the re-entry, DP/FLEX and EP rule. :eek:

Nope

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8. Ask if everyone is familiar with the ball rotation rule. :eek:

And no

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11. Remind teams that if there are any questions, please only one person, the coach, approach the umpire responsible for the call in a sporting manner.

And no

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12. Remind the coaches that you are going to let the coaches coach, the players play and for them to please let the umpires umpire. :eek:

And, hell no :)

Agree. I'm very surprised this is in any organization's umpire manual.

I've read that. And I don't think I've ever worked with anyone that does 80% of that. One school district I work requires a sportsmanship statement at the conference. And one umpire I work with there simply says, "Required sportsmanship statement" and moves on.

I think that is about not having 3 base awards for unusual dead ball areas, not saying "runner must make it" on ball out play, where coaches can be, and just plain rule violations like no 3rd strike foul in SP.

Ever since bringing my 3 question pre-game conference from basketball to the sports with the smaller balls, it has quickened things up considerably.

1) Are players properly and legally equipped?

2) Can we expect good sportsmanship today?

3) Any facility issues we need to be aware of?

4) Batting order changes come through me

Good luck!

We are required here to make a Victory With Honor statement in the pregame meeting. Basically, good sportsmanship is expected from all participants at all times.

If your team is going to lose (and thus not have victory that day), are they allowed to be unsportsmanlike?

:)

The 2014-2015 Manual states who can attend a pre-game conference (head coach, captains and assistants) and has far less info to discuss.

That's good to know. I posted the 2010-2011 version because I have it in electrons, so it made it easy to just cut and paste. :)

But that's really not that long ago, and I'm surprised to find that language existed then.

I didnt come up with the moto, I just have to repeat it at every game. From what I have been told, before my time the umpires actually had to hand out victory with honor cards to the coaches and read the entire verbage.

Doesn't make any difference, it isn't and shouldn't be the umpire making such statements. If the coaches don't know this and are not capable of teaching their players to understand it, they shouldn't be associated with the team or game.

While I am not advocating "required sportsmanship statements", if they are required, saying what this guy says seems ill-advised. It runs the real risk (IMO) of being taken as belittling sportsmanship rather than protesting/belittling the requirement (which is probably his intent).

It doesn't take too long perusing the sports media to find that lack of sportsmanship in youth sports IS a problem.

I must say, though, we rarely have an issue with sportsmanship in HS girls fast pitch here in MN. But when we do, it usually starts with the coach and is reflected in the team.

The same could be said about, "Are your players legally and properly equipped yada yada..."

You are correct and many umpires actually believe this absolves them of any responsibility for faulty or illegal equipment. Yeah, tell that to your lawyer just before giving your depo. ;)