Recommendations for a coach speaking at an umpire meeting.

What do umpires want to hear from coaches? Uh, nothing. All game, every game.

How about things coaches should expect from umpires. They are, IMO:

1. Hustle. Show an interest in calling a good game, no matter what the level. Act like you care.

2. Be in position to make the call (this goes hand in hand with #1). There are limitations to the 2-man system, but at least make an effort to get an angle (first) and gain some distance on the play. Act like you care about getting the call right.

3. Look the part. Show up early looking like you are being evaluated for the major leagues. Jog to your position. Hands on knees set for every pitch. Act like it is the state final.

4. If the HEAD coach wants an explanation of a call, give it to him. A question is not an argument.

5. Call strikes. Coaches hate walk-a-thons too. If the pitch is borderline, ring it up every time unless the catcher makes it look like a ball (see below).

Promise to tell your catchers: DO NOT pull pitches into the zone. That is not framing. Umpires are trained to track 87mph sliders all the way into the glove. We can easily see a catcher pull the glove a half inch. They're not fooling anyone. If it's close, stick it. We'll give it to you. If it's not close, throw it back. If you pull a close pitch, you just told everyone you thought it was a ball, so that's what it is going to be. Pulling pitches costs your pitcher strikes.

I would say avoid these words / phrases

blind
terrible
killing me
are you serious
that run is your fault

That's great advice! you ought to poste that for the benefit of any umpire wanting to improve at any level. Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by dash_riprock:
What do umpires want to hear from coaches? Uh, nothing. All game, every game.

How about things coaches should expect from umpires. They are, IMO:

1. Hustle. Show an interest in calling a good game, no matter what the level. Act like you care.

2. Be in position to make the call (this goes hand in hand with #1). There are limitations to the 2-man system, but at least make an effort to get an angle (first) and gain some distance on the play. Act like you care about getting the call right.

3. Look the part. Show up early looking like you are being evaluated for the major leagues. Jog to your position. Hands on knees set for every pitch. Act like it is the state final.

4. If the HEAD coach wants an explanation of a call, give it to him. A question is not an argument.

5. Call strikes. Coaches hate walk-a-thons too. If the pitch is borderline, ring it up every time unless the catcher makes it look like a ball (see below).

Promise to tell your catchers: DO NOT pull pitches into the zone. That is not framing. Umpires are trained to track 87mph sliders all the way into the glove. We can easily see a catcher pull the glove a half inch. They're not fooling anyone. If it's close, stick it. We'll give it to you. If it's not close, throw it back. If you pull a close pitch, you just told everyone you thought it was a ball, so that's what it is going to be. Pulling pitches costs your pitcher strikes.

While I agree with what dash says is true about what is expected from umpires. I am Not so sure a coach walking into an umpire session making such demands would be the most palatable approach?



Do bring:
Your local league rules (if applicable).
Oddball ground rules you may have at your facility/s.
Any rules questions, points of emphasis’, etc. that you would like answered.

Can't say I've seen the angle of, a coach at an umpire meeting, I've seen the opposite, umpires attending coach's/league meetings.

And I guarantee the umpire at the coaches meeting was not demanding, your pitchers throw strikes, you play every kid equally, you speak when I say you can, never make the 3rd out at the plate, etc. etc.

Good luck.

All I ask from an umpire is that we do not even know he is there----that means he is doing a great job

One thing that upsets me is comraderie between the umps and the home team coaches---when I hear an umpire chatting with the home team coach and I hear " Say hello to Mary for me. when are going going to have dinner?" I know I am in trouble as the opposing team

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
All I ask from an umpire is that we do not even know he is there----that means he is doing a great job

please understand that there isnt an umpire worth his salt that agrees with the above statement...sure there are games that go by where the balls are balls and the strikes are strikes..the hits are hits and the outs are outs...and afterwards no one noticed the umpires...I've had those games...

However,...


It is the umpires job to officiate the game in a fair and unbiased way......and have the fortitude to make the hard call when the game situation calls for it....and at that time you dont want an umpire whose goal it is to be unnoticed.....at that point you cant care what anyone thinks....the game must be served...

Im not taking abut those blowhard showboats we all (including umpires)have disdain for....but I've worked with guys who didnt want to be noticed...cant call the balk, cant call strike 3, cant make the hard out call when the game is on the line...and cant keep the game on track when things go wrong....some coaches, fans and players like this type of official up to the point that a game gets out of hand and then that umpire gets the blame for not controlling the game....

When games go bad or get in a tough spot, its not the time for the "I want to be unoticed" umpire..

Just my .02....

As to TR's comment about coaches and umpires being chummy......I agree totally......the ballfield is no place for "old home" week..when you have been at this for as many years as I have you get to know the coaching fraternity pretty well...and they know me.......but on that field its hello coach, hello blue......we all talk about being professional this is where you can show it...

again my .02...

I agree with PIAA completely. The world of coaches and umpires is adversarial by nature. This doesn't mean we are always arguing with each other but it does happen. When addressing an umpire group it would be best to note the differences in perspective between the two groups. Also, it would be advisable to tell a funny story about a confrontation or something you learned in a game.