Plate Meeting

[moblue]

Tonight I am starting a Cal Ripken 10 yr. old District Tournament. It will run from tonight to Saturday and I would like for things to go as smoothly as possible (don't we always). One issue I am wondering how to address is only dealing with the head coach if there is a problem. I have yet to come up with anything to say in the plate meeting that won't either cause problems right then or come across in a negative manner. If someone could tell me how to get my point across the right way I would appreciate it.

Also, I have only run one plate meeting before (We usually go without them in the leagues I work, or the more experienced umpire took them for me.). I stumbled through it terribly because I didn't know what to say. Here's my basic list for tonight:

• Introductions
  
• Are all players properly equipped?
  
• No jewelry
  
• Ground Rules- specifics include the field's out of play lines and possible problems with the temporary fence placed in the outfield.
  
• Only the head coach should be approaching me if there is an issue.
  
• Keep all players and equipment in the dugout when not on the field.
  
• Good luck!
  

Edited July 9, 2009 by moblue

[mstaylor]

Sounds good. The only other thing I added last night is any safety rules will be called.

[Nate]

The other age groups you work the more the "manager" role is established. A lot of times if I'm unsure who the head coach is I'll ask and they'll either say they are or point who it is.. Then I'll remind both coaches that if there's any problems the head coach can come talk to me or my partner.

I usually try to keep it short so that people don't think there will be a problem. Here's how I run my ground rules..

Me: "Good evening everyone, how's it been?"

Coaches: "Well it could get better from all this rain." (That's been the usual response. lol)

Me: "Okay gentlemen here are the ground rules, Pole to both on each side straight down on a proverbial line. We have some holes in the back stop here, just have your catcher raise his hand so I know it's out of play. Everything straight out is pretty much all your can get." (These change field by field. That's just the grounds rules I used last night. )

Coaches: "Okay."

Me: "Remember that we're running a catch and carry rule here. All players have to catch the ball in play, can run out of play if his momentum carries him, but has to step back into play before his throws the ball. If he catches the ball out of play it's no catch. Any questions?"

Coaches: (They usually ask for me to repeat it, for some reason it takes a couple times for them to understand it, even though they play the rule all year).

Me: "New rule this year, the MIAA requires all base coaches to have a helmet on. If you have players in the first or third base coaches box make sure they're wearing a normal batting helmet with two flaps."

Coaches: (They usually gripe about it. Oh well)

Me: "Okay that's it, any questions gentlemen?"

Coaches: (Usually they say no, if they have a rule question it's a perfect time for me or my partner to answer it)

Me: Okay good luck, lets get your boys on the field.

I've worked with some guys that like to constantly tell coaches these little things that annoy me, so it must annoy them. I call it unwanted use of authority.

So it's really all up to you how you do it, because you may need to address certain situations at different times.

Nate

Edited July 9, 2009 by Nate

[mstaylor]

I would leave the catch and carry portion out. They should know that and if not, they will find it out when it happens. I do also add no jewelry.

Last night I did a LLSr game. I did my jewelry rule part, of course the pitcher was standing in the meeting with a necklace. He asked if it classified as jewelry. I told them yes, other than sweatbands, if it diidn't grow on them it is jewelry. I had to get a catcher get his dangler, 86ed donuts from both teams, had to explain to one team you couldn't be beside the plate during warmups or be on the wrong side during same. I balked one pitcher, had a triple play, and had to explain that 7.14 was in play during regular season and allstars.

The weirdest part was the ADA turned their plate down so we had to wait for them to replace it.

[moblue]

Jewelry... forgot that one, and I'm certain someone will be wearing something, as usual. I had intended to put that in there.

[Nate]

I would leave the catch and carry portion out. They should know that and if not, they will find it out when it happens. I do also add no jewelry.

Last night I did a LLSr game. I did my jewelry rule part, of course the pitcher was standing in the meeting with a necklace. He asked if it classified as jewelry. I told them yes, other than sweatbands, if it diidn't grow on them it is jewelry. I had to get a catcher get his dangler, 86ed donuts from both teams, had to explain to one team you couldn't be beside the plate during warmups or be on the wrong side during same. I balked one pitcher, had a triple play, and had to explain that 7.14 was in play during regular season and allstars.

The weirdest part was the ADA turned their plate down so we had to wait for them to replace it.

Like I said, everyone does stuff differently.. I do the catch and carry deal because it's been an issue with a lot of coaches in this area.

[dawg-man]

Your list and the jewelry sounds good. Remember to hold the plate meeting with confidence and professionalism. Don't preach to them or talk down to them. If they have questions by all means answer them. I have worked with guys that take 10 minutes at a plate and just ramble. A good plate meeting is short and to the point. Let us know how you did. Good luck.

[Mr Umpire]

Short and to the point.

Are your players properly equipped? Get a "yes" from both.

No Jewelry.

Time limit and run rules [if applicable].

Rules being played under.

Special ground rules for the field.

Any questions.

Get the home team on the field.

Me: "My name is _____."

Them: "Hi, I'm ______."

Me: "Are your players properly equipped?"

Them: "Yes."

Me: "Make sure all jewelry is off."

Them: "Get all of your jewelry off. Does this count?"

Me: "Yes. No new inning after 2 hrs. Run rule is 15 after 3, 10 after 5."

Them: "Ok."

Me: "Playing HS rules."

Them: "Yes."

Me: "Closed park rules. If the ball goes on top of the concrete base or goes into the dugout, it is OOP."

Them: May ask a question about if he has 1 foot on and 1 off. Then, answer it otherwise it is understood and will be taken care of as soon as it happens.

Me: "Any questions?"

Them: Maybe.

Me: "OK. Put the HT on the field and we're ready to go."

Them: "OK."

That's it and it may last 2 minutes max but hopefully much shorter. Unless I get a BU who wants to tell a joke or make some stupid wise crack or feels he needs to put something in that I didn't spend 5 minutes explaining.

And, unless you feel like you need some reassurance or feel like you may have not covered everything, don't ask your BU if he has anything to add. Look like you know what you are doing and have complete confidence in what you are doing. But, since this is your second one, feel free to do it until you feel confident in handling your meeting. Then, leave him out of it.

That is all. :)

[UmpJM]

Short and to the point.

Are your players properly equipped? Get a "yes" from both.

No Jewelry.

Time limit and run rules [if applicable].

Rules being played under.

Special ground rules for the field.

Any questions.

Get the home team on the field.

Me: "My name is _____."

Them: "Hi, I'm ______."

Me: "Are your players properly equipped?"

Them: "Yes."

Me: "Make sure all jewelry is off."

Them: "Get all of your jewelry off. Does this count?"

Me: "Yes. No new inning after 2 hrs. Run rule is 15 after 3, 10 after 5."

Them: "Ok."

Me: "Playing HS rules."

Them: "Yes."

Me: "Closed park rules. If the ball goes on top of the concrete base or goes into the dugout, it is OOP."

Them: May ask a question about if he has 1 foot on and 1 off. Then, answer it otherwise it is understood and will be taken care of as soon as it happens.

Me: "Any questions?"

Them: Maybe.

Me: "OK. Put the HT on the field and we're ready to go."

Them: "OK."

That's it and it may last 2 minutes max but hopefully much shorter. Unless I get a BU who wants to tell a joke or make some stupid wise crack or feels he needs to put something in that I didn't spend 5 minutes explaining.

And, unless you feel like you need some reassurance or feel like you may have not covered everything, don't ask your BU if he has anything to add. Look like you know what you are doing and have complete confidence in what you are doing. But, since this is your second one, feel free to do it until you feel confident in handling your meeting. Then, leave him out of it.

That is all.

I stand at the point of Home Plate, facing the pitcher's mound, with my mask tucked under my left arm, and my lineup card holder in my left hand.

My plate meeting also starts with introductions - I always introduce myself by first and last name to each of the coaches, shake their hand, and say "Hi, Jim" (or whatever) back to them when they tell me their name.

In a HS game, I then ask the home HC for his lineup, review it, count that there are nine fielders listed, clarify the DH ("...and you've got Moreno batting for Hill in the 5 spot") and the starting pitcher (and McAllister's your pitcher batting in the 6 hole, correct?")

I then do the same with the visiting HC and his lineup.

I then ask the home HC, "Bill, You want to take us around, please?" (I might interject if he "skips" something, along the lines of... "And that bench in the bullpen area is in play, correct?").

I then ask the visiting HC, "Any questions?" I then ask my partner if has any questions, and he says, "No."

I then ask both coaches if their players are properly and legally equipped and wait until they both say "Yes". I then say "And let's all remember to exhibit good sportsmanship at all times", and, "have a good game.", as I shake each coach's hand.

That's pretty much it for a HS game. I have never mentioned jewelry and I never mention anything about discussing calls.

For summer leagues and tournaments it's a little different. I look to see if the coaches have lineups with them as they walk to the plate. If they do not, I say "Do you gentlemen have lineups for me today, or will you be taking care of that stuff yourselves?" I dispense with the "properly and legally equipped" and "sportsmanship" comments (they are "mandated" here for HS games).

In these games I will verify what rules the league/tournament uses, any time limit, mercy rule (if any), and I will "take the coaches around" for ground rules.

That's about it.

JM

Edited July 10, 2009 by UmpJM

[moblue]

Well, my plate meeting tonight consisted of... a coin flip for home team. They started to leave after that. I learned my lesson there though. Tomorrow night, we have the coin flip after I'm done with my plate meeting, not before. Draw them to the plate for a reason, and talk while you have them there. After that coin toss, they immediately think it's time to get the game started (which it pretty much is).

I did get the chance to find a new OOP area on the field to add in tomorrow. The fencing directly behind home plate is starting to roll up in about a 1 1/2 - 2 foot section. There's a chance the ball could roll under it or get stuck there.

[therefump]

Your list and the jewelry sounds good. Remember to hold the plate meeting with confidence and professionalism. Don't preach to them or talk down to them. If they have questions by all means answer them. I have worked with guys that take 10 minutes at a plate and just ramble. A good plate meeting is short and to the point. Let us know how you did. Good luck.

Just a few comments. First, don't be a jacka** and act like you're god's gift to the game. Make yourself human. Second, keep it short and sweet. Third, when you're UIC don't let your partner talk. I've found that when I'm BU and sit back and listen I find out much more. I will reply but I stopped talking a long time ago. The UIC and myself can talk during the game if there are issues. Everything we need to discuss is done in the parking lot prior to gametime.

[theedeuce]

Your list and the jewelry sounds good. Remember to hold the plate meeting with confidence and professionalism. Don't preach to them or talk down to them. If they have questions by all means answer them. I have worked with guys that take 10 minutes at a plate and just ramble. A good plate meeting is short and to the point. Let us know how you did. Good luck.

Dawg-man hit it on the head. Appearance, professionalism and confidence is all you need. Dirty shoes, wrinkled shirts or pants ect., and ragged equipment is inexcusable. Getting your act together ahead of time makes for a good start out of the gates.

Another point to bare in mind is your partner(s). Enter the field together (not separately) and have your partner(s) standing opposite of the plate during the meeting.

We do Little League and just finished our district all-stars. We have State in a couple weeks in Toccoa Ga. Let us know how your games went and good luck with your tournament...

[Umpire in Chief]

I wrote an article on holding plate meetings you can read it here.

[PeteBooth]

Tonight I am starting a Cal Ripken 10 yr. old District Tournament. It will run from tonight to Saturday and I would like for things to go as smoothly as possible (don't we always). One issue I am wondering how to address is only dealing with the head coach if there is a problem. I have yet to come up with anything to say in the plate meeting that won't either cause problems right then or come across in a negative manner. If someone could tell me how to get my point across the right way I would appreciate it.

Also, I have only run one plate meeting before (We usually go without them in the leagues I work, or the more experienced umpire took them for me.). I stumbled through it terribly because I didn't know what to say. Here's my basic list for tonight:

• Introductions
  
• Are all players properly equipped?
  
• No jewelry
  
• Ground Rules- specifics include the field's out of play lines and possible problems with the temporary fence placed in the outfield.
  
• Only the head coach should be approaching me if there is an issue.
  
• Keep all players and equipment in the dugout when not on the field.
  
• Good luck!
  

Be careful about the jewelry part. I realize you are talking Cal Ripken but other leagues such as Legion CBL (Collegiate wood bat) and other adult leagues have no such requirement.

Here's how it goes at least for summer ball.

Find out who the head coaches are ahead of time so you do not waste time

1. Payment - No pay no play (I realize this varies around the country but in my area we are paid at the plate UNLESS it's a tournament in which case our assignor pays us.)

2. Intros

3. Skip take us around

4. Discuss any Special Ground rules

5. Any Special "House Rules" that we need to be aware of

NOTE: From my experience it's virtually impossible to keep

up with all the various special rules each different

league has. Therefore, if there are CR's CBO (also

what happens using CBO if a player gets injured)

etc.

6. Teams properly equipped

It's time to play. The Plate conference should not be a thesis , rules clinic etc. It should only take about 3-5 minutes tops.

Pete Booth

[moblue]

Well I actually held a "plate meeting" of sorts before I did the plate tonight. The same teams played tonight as last night and so the introductions and ground rules were skipped. I basically highlighted my two main points I wanted taken care of; jewelry and keeping the players in the dugout. There weren't any big problems last night, so I skipped the head coach part both forgeting it and not wanting to appear as if I had it in for someone.

The game went well and was the closest and probably lowest scoring game I've seen all year. It was 4-3 and we played 5 and a half innings in 1:30 or 1:35.

[bassfam11]

Short and sweet as has been repeatedly mentioned. The only thing I do differently is I do MY stuff first.

1.)Introductions

2.)Get paid

3.)Sportsmanship at all times

4.)In legion and adult ball I do remind the coaches that the FPSR is in effect, as many coaches believe that since these are OBR games, that anything goes, NOT TRUE. All slides must be direct and to the bag or away from the fielder.

5.)Time/Run limit if applicable

6.)Go over rules on courtesy runners

7.)Ok coach take us around (ground rules)

Takes 2/3 minutes, don’t need or want help from my partner at the plate conference

[nolanadair]

Before the plate meeting, I saw MANAGERS to the plate please. At the beginning of the plate meeting I ask if both the adults at the plate meeting are the managers of their team. Then I tell them that I will only be dealing with them throughout the game. I don't want to hear any arguments from your coaches or players. They usually say OK and we move on.

[Umpire in Chief]

Before the plate meeting, I saw MANAGERS to the plate please. At the beginning of the plate meeting I ask if both the adults at the plate meeting are the managers of their team. Then I tell them that I will only be dealing with them throughout the game. I don't want to hear any arguments from your coaches or players. They usually say OK and we move on.

I really don't recommend this. It sets the wrong tone for the game. Address it if it becomes a problem but not before. Just give them the basics nothing more nothing less.

[mstaylor]

I agree with UIC, many umpires want to avoid problems so issue warnings at the plate meeting. This sets a bad tone and can piss a coach off for no reason. Exchange line-ups, cover the ground rules and get out.

Too many guys take the ignore the asst too seriously. If a base coach has a question, I will answer it. If the manager has a question I will answer it. What I won't do is allow one to question something then the other to question the same thing. Or I won't allow both to come out at the same time.

I have found that many times the asst knows more about the rules than the manager so I have no problem talking to him.

[BT_Blue]

I really don't recommend this. It sets the wrong tone for the game. Address it if it becomes a problem but not before. Just give them the basics nothing more nothing less.

The only exception to this is NCAA and FED were you are, by rule, supposed to meet at HP with the manager's only (unless there is extenuating circumstances).

[nolanadair]

In our league, we are onyl supposed to be dealing with the managers at the palte meeting. Of course I will answer a question if a coach has one, but I am not going to constantly hear a coach making comments about my calls (sniper fire from the dugout).

[Finnblue]

Once I was asked what kind of strike zone I have. I adviced coach tell his kids come to the plate swinging their bats.

MS

[MCLEOD36]

For little guys, stress safety. Jewelry make sure you are playing HS rules or you will hear complaints and lastly, make a quick comment on balks, ie, coach you get a free one or first warning, etc...

[zm1283]

In our league, we are onyl supposed to be dealing with the managers at the palte meeting. Of course I will answer a question if a coach has one, but I am not going to constantly hear a coach making comments about my calls (sniper fire from the dugout).

Then shut it down if and when it happens during the game. You don't need to warn them for it at the plate meeting when nothing has happened yet. It just gets everyone on edge and creates unnecessary tension between you and the coaches.

[mstaylor]

In Fed the Manager is required to be at the plate meeting but the coaches and team captains can be too. In LL allstars I bring both staffs out so they ALL know I will be watching all safety violations.