Additional Speed up reules you might use

Have a coach with a player ready to go when foul balls are hit down the lines.

Have a "Back up catcher" ready to go in between innings for warm up pitches

Have players get on and off the filed quickly not just in between innings but in between outs.

What level are you talking about?  If its HS, around these parts its expected that the on deck player is shagging passed balls.  The bench is running down foul balls and the team has a backup player ready to warm up the catcher if the catcher is not ready.

In addition most umps expect the batter to keep 1 foot in the batters box at all times.

If its pre-HS, good luck.

Not a huge time saver, but a pet peeve I guess....

If you know that you are going to have a courtesy / pinch runner for the batter, have them ready to go with a helmet on so they can come in as soon as the batter reaches base.

Bugs me to see the catcher get on base, then the coach call time, then go through his mental lineup of who is available, then yell out for that kid to run, then the kid has to find his helmet, then jog out to the base...

Ask the home team manager to have a bench player bring you baseballs between innings.  It's great when a representative hops out of the dugout between innings and hands you baseballs without having to ask for them.   I have never done this in the past but your question made me think about it.  It's great when it happens and I just might start requesting it this year. 

Rob T posted:

Not a huge time saver, but a pet peeve I guess....

If you know that you are going to have a courtesy / pinch runner for the batter, have them ready to go with a helmet on so they can come in as soon as the batter reaches base.

Bugs me to see the catcher get on base, then the coach call time, then go through his mental lineup of who is available, then yell out for that kid to run, then the kid has to find his helmet, then jog out to the base...

Ha Ha, Totally agree with you.  In the fall we run for the catcher all the time, as well as in tournaments.  I have always thought on a HBP or a walk it is the lamest thing in the world that he goes to the base.

One that could be great time saver - have more than 4 game balls available.  Every HS game I've gone to they start the game with 3-4 balls and only add more if the originals are fouled off and not found or they are HR's.

When my son played college ball, they started with 4 balls but had at least a dozen more ready and a bench player would run more out to the ump between innings or as needed.

Great suggestions...I am talking HS ball.... I also have a baseball in my hand between innings in case a warm-up pitch goes to the backstop. Between innings I also tell the on deck batter to be ready when the pitcher has two warm-up pitches left.

Just remember NOT passed balls only foul balls that go to the backstop.

POLOGREEN posted:

Just remember NOT passed balls only foul balls that go to the backstop.

yea messed that one up...

I've kicked a few myself

The most effective measure is to enforce the rules consistently, courteously, and firmly.  Show that you care and are engaged and on duty at all times, including between innings.

I enforce the time limit on warmup pitches. If a pitcher dilly-dallies about his warm-up pitches, I'll tell the catcher "two more!" a pitch or two before he expects it. Then, as he receives those pitches, I ask him to advise the pitcher that if he wants his full allotment of warmup pitches, he needs to get to the mound promptly and throw them. Catchers are smart: enforce the rule once, and they remember it the whole game.

Also, when I shoo players back into the box, I give them a condensed summary of the rule--"keep one foot in unless you swing, the ball hits the ground, or the action gives you a reason."

In youth ball, I'll discuss shagging fouls, staying in the box, replacement baseballs and other speed of games issues at the plate conference. However, I do not mention such things at the plate conference with high school coaches because they are entitled to the respect of an umpire who grants the presumption that they and their players already know the rhythms of the game.