Plate Conferences

[BigUmp56]

Time for a good discussion on the "do's and don'ts" at a plate conference. Every year I get saddled with a few partners that don't have a clue how to handle themselves during a plate conference. From where to stand, to what to say, they just don't get it. The worst are the guys that hold a full on clinic on decorum, telling managers what they can and cannot do, and then ramble on trying to explain their strike zone. Then there are the guys working the bases who jump right in and step all over the plate conference that should belong to the PU (I know there are exceptions to this).

So, what are some of your "do's and don't" at the plate conference...........

Tim.

[Astrosdawg07]

Mine is quite simple.

Introductions, exchange line up cards, ground rules, ask any further questions? Have a good one guys!

[sdix00]

Here is my plate meeting.  A little extra included since I hand these cards out to umpires in my local LL.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?hl=en_US&key=0AogJmxcjL5audDhpVmlWSWVzcEZHZlFNUVkteWw0Snc&hl=en_US&gid=0

There are links at the top to other cheat cards.

[BigUmp56]

Here is my plate meeting. A little extra included since I hand these cards out to umpires in my local LL.

https://docs.google....&hl=en_US&gid=0

There are links at the top to other cheat cards.

I think there's way too much information on your card.

Tim.

[Dragon29]

Here is my plate meeting. A little extra included since I hand these cards out to umpires in my local LL.

https://docs.google....&hl=en_US&gid=0

There are links at the top to other cheat cards.

I think there's way too much information on your card.

Tim.

I agree.

Specifically, #s 3 & 7 can be taken care of with a quick, "All changes come through me."

#s 6 & 8 s/b taken care of long before the plate meeting, except for the requirement to actually ask the 'are your players legally and properly equipped . . . ' Question.

I'd leave #9 out entirely, but I see it's a requirement (at times) for you

Hopefully, you don't actually discuss the Pitching Limits at the Plate Meeting; that info is just there as a convenience for the PU - right?

Pre-Plate Meeting

Field Inspection

Equipment Inspection

Plate Meeting

Introductions

Exchange Lineup Cards

Pitching Eligibility (LL)

The Question (See above)

Ground Rules

Play!

[sdix00]

Correct. I should have qualified that the pitch counts are for reference. Be aware that pitch count violations are the biggest cause for protests around here and I nip it in the bud at the plate by verifying the eligibility or checking with the scorekeeper.

Each item is a requirement at some level. However all are not required at all levels.

For example, my local LL often plays other leagues. These leagues have "Courtesy Runners" (Not SPR 7.14) in their local ground rules, which are expressly forbidden in 3.03 of the LL Rules. So I have to mention it in interleague games and explain that there will be no "Courtesy Runners" today.

[Texarkana]

Correct. I should have qualified that the pitch counts are for reference. Be aware that pitch count violations are the biggest cause for protests around here and I nip it in the bud at the plate by verifying the eligibility or checking with the scorekeeper.

Each item is a requirement at some level. However all are not required at all levels.

For example, my local LL often plays other leagues. These leagues have "Courtesy Runners" (Not SPR 7.14) in their local ground rules, which are expressly forbidden in 3.03 of the LL Rules. So I have to mention it in interleague games and explain that there will be no "Courtesy Runners" today.

After field and equipment checks (we cover jewlery when we are doing this) we go to the plate. Usually PU says it all.

Exchange lineup (I usually ask if they know who is CR so I can mark it down for later), get ground rules, good sportsmanship (welcome to talk to us but not about judgement calls) tell em to hustle the kids on and off the field, ask if there are any questions, tell em to get em ready and lets go. Hope I did not forget anything. I try to keep it short and to the point. They are there to play ball not listen and watch me. I ask BU if they have anything (hopefully they nod no) and get em going.

I do not call LL. Is it up to the umpire to keep track of pitchers?

[yawetag]

For NFHS games:

1. Shake hands and introduce myself to both coaches.
2. Exchange lineup cards. Verify the DH spot (or "straight nine"), no duplicated jersey number or position, and subs listed. Ask the coach "Is this the lineup you want?"
3. Ask if players are properly equipped. Get verbal affirmation from both coaches.
4. Emphasize sportsmanship at all times.
5. Have home coach go over ground rules.
6. Ask if any other questions.

For non-NFHS, take out 3 and 4. BU doesn't talk after step 1.

[mstaylor]

My plate meeting doesn't really change no matter the level.

1. Intros

2. Check lineups and exchange them

3. Ground rules(either home manager or myself depending on ballpark)

4. Sportmanship and jewelry

5. Properly equiped

6. Good luck, let's play ball

4 and 5 don't apply to adult ball. I don't cover pitching rules or 7.14 in LL, if they don't know it they will learn it during the game. I do include that I enforce all safety rules in youth ball. This means different things in different leagues and levels. I don't go through them, I tell them they will be enforced.

The important thing to remember about plate meetings is they are to be very short and is not a dissertation. Strike zones are never discussed, past games are not discussed, other crews are not discussed.

[kylejt]

Good sportsmanship should be assumed. No need to go there. When I have a partner start in on that, I watch the managers roll their eyes.

Same with changes. Of course they go throught the plate umpire. Why even bring up jewelry?

And stop with the rules clinics. And please don't ask if they have any questions. That will elicit some of the stupidest questions on Earth, and waste lots o' time. ("Uh, what if the runner......)

Treat the managers like the know their job.

Ah, but if they don't, THEN you can drop a hammer on them.

Look fellas, we are expected to be perfect out there, why shouldn't we expect the same from the managers? Then, when they slip up, we can have them for lunch.

"Hey Boss, you know the changes go through me, right?", as he's talking to the scorekeeper.

"Skipper, that's not my call. You should know that."

"Honestly Jim?"

etc.

There's a local group that has endless plate conferences. And one of them always interjects with "The name of the game is hustle. I need all your players moving on and off the field.' This usually comes about five minutes into the yack session. The managers lose interest at about 90 seconds, as they've heard it dozens of times (that, and they have the attention span of a four year old, most of the time).

[mstaylor]

Good sportsmanship should be assumed. No need to go there. When I have a partner start in on that, I watch the managers roll their eyes.

Same with changes. Of course they go throught the plate umpire. Why even bring up jewelry?

And stop with the rules clinics. And please don't ask if they have any questions. That will elicit some of the stupidest questions on Earth, and waste lots o' time. ("Uh, what if the runner......)

Treat the managers like the know their job.

Ah, but if they don't, THEN you can drop a hammer on them.

Look fellas, we are expected to be perfect out there, why shouldn't we expect the same from the managers? Then, when they slip up, we can have them for lunch.

"Hey Boss, you know the changes go through me, right?", as he's talking to the scorekeeper.

"Skipper, that's not my call. You should know that."

"Honestly Jim?"

etc.

There's a local group that has endless plate conferences. And one of them always interjects with "The name of the game is hustle. I need all your players moving on and off the field.' This usually comes about five minutes into the yack session. The managers lose interest at about 90 seconds, as they've heard it dozens of times (that, and they have the attention span of a four year old, most of the time).

Sportmanship and jewelry is required by HS. They can roll their eyes all they like, if managers country wide handled themselves better we wouldn't be discussing this crap at plate meetings. Actually jewelry isn't required to be mentioned directly, falls under properly equiped, but I prefer to mention it because I want no misunderstandings when I enforce it during the game.

[kylejt]

Sportmanship and jewelry is required by HS. They can roll their eyes all they like, if managers country wide handled themselves better we wouldn't be discussing this crap at plate meetings. Actually jewelry isn't required to be mentioned directly, falls under properly equiped, but I prefer to mention it because I want no misunderstandings when I enforce it during the game.

Fair enough, if FED requires it. They shouldn't, but there you go.

[Mr Umpire]

My plate meeting is simple

1. Intros

2. Time limits and run rule if applicable

3. Set of rules being played under

4. Any special ground/local rules

5. Are all legally and properly equipped? (waiting for affirmation from both b/c I ask both the question individually)

6. Put the home team on the field and we're ready to go

#3 assumes it not to be organized leagues with no inter-league type play or travel teams. When those go on, each team has been playing under something like USSSA, FED, or some other set and I let them know the set they are playing under that day.

As BU, when asked, I say no unless PU (for whatever reason, such as new umpire or PU failed to know the set of rules played under before game time) puts me in charge of handling the meeting.

[UmpJM]

Michael,

Sportmanship and jewelry is required by HS. ...

While I concur with the "sportsmanship" part, is the jewelry thing a Maryland thing? Because NFHS certainly doesn't dictate it be specifically mentioned at the plate conference.

JM

[Rich Ives]

The managers lose interest at about 90 seconds, as they've heard it dozens of times (that, and they have the attention span of a four year old, most of the time).

Just like you listening to the flight attendant recite the safety instructions? :angel4:

[JaxRolo]

Michael,

Sportmanship and jewelry is required by HS. ...

While I concur with the "sportsmanship" part, is the jewelry thing a Maryland thing? Because NFHS certainly doesn't dictate it be specifically mentioned at the plate conference.

JM

We have to mention it in Florida

[carolinablue]

I will mention it as we are breaking up and usually it will get the coaches to announce to their players to check it. It's almost inevitable that I will see a kid take a necklace off or something. Not required but may save a little time later.

[catsbackr]

I will mention it as we are breaking up and usually it will get the coaches to announce to their players to check it. It's almost inevitable that I will see a kid take a necklace off or something. Not required but may save a little time later.

So, after you mention it and you discover a player wearing jewelry, you warn them? It seems like you warned both teams, via their coaches, when you mentioned it.

Why mention it in the first place?

[carolinablue]

I don't consider it a warning there has been no violation.. Just a little game management IMO but when I'm on the bases and my partner says nothing about it, I keep my mouth shut. It's not time consuming so It's a matter of preference to me.

[yawetag]

Why mention it in the first place?

It's one of the stupid rules that every player thinks they can get away with. At the plate meeting, my question is "Coaches, are your players properly equipped, including no jewelry?" I'm not doing it as a warning, but in the hope he goes back to the dugout and pulls all the bracelets and necklaces off his players.

AFAIK, these things are allowed in other leagues, and I'm sure they wear them during practice. Reminding them to take it off then will prevent dealing with it later.

[grayhawk]

A couple things I would add, depending on where I am umpiring:

Game start time for timed games. For instance, for USSSA, official start time is after lineups are exchanged at the plate meeting.

I will also remind the coaches to have someone retrieve foul balls. Not something I ever have to say at a HS plate meeting, but for travel tournaments, I will.

Also, in many tournaments, teams can bat 9 (with subs), 10 (using the EH) or bat everyone. This is something that needs to be established at the plate meeting. Depending on how they are batting, I will let them know the proper use of the courtesy runner. Should they know this? Of course. Does it speed things up during games? Yes, which is why I cover it.

[JaxRolo]

Personally I never tell coaches to help retrieve foul balls. They will get the point when I am just standing there and tell them that I am out. I see too many Umpires worry about foul balls when they still have 3-4 in their ball bags.

[tiger49]

Mine is pretty simple;

Introductions

Lineups

Ground Rules

Make sure managers are aware of any special promotions/events

[JaxRolo]

Mine is pretty simple;

Introductions

Lineups

Ground Rules

Make sure managers are aware of any special promotions/events

??? :confused:

[BigUmp56]

I will also remind the coaches to have someone retrieve foul balls. Not something I ever have to say at a HS plate meeting, but for travel tournaments, I will.

We also ask them to have their on-deck hitters help out with balls fouled back to the screen. I used to ask them to help out on passed balls/wild pitches with no runners, but it's bitten me in the butt a few times when an on deck hitter handles a live ball because he's forgotten there was a base runner(s).

Tim.