what NOT to cover in your plate conference

[th3]

I worked yesterday, JV scrimmage, with an older guy who I had worked with once before. It was cold and really windy and we both, of course, hoped that the teams wouled play a shortened game. As we get to the plate the FIRST thing my partner (plate guy) says is "How many are we playing today? 6?"...

[johnnyg08]

Worth a try! :-)

[th3]

and we played 6 anyway (but what a terrible 1st impression!)

[johnnyg08]

and we played 6 anyway (but what a terrible 1st impression!)

I agree...tacky.

[T-Rav]

What's your ideal plate conference procedure? I recall a member on here stating a 4 step plate conference, how do you all prefer to run yours.

[Guest]

What's your ideal plate conference procedure? I recall a member on here stating a 4 step plate conference, how do you all prefer to run yours.

1) Introductions

2) Receive and check line-ups. Identify pitcher and DH / EP (OBA thing), if applicable, of both squads. Sign, split, keep / distribute.

3) Ground rules as given by the home team manager. If they send someone other than the manager and I am knowledgeable of the park, I do them.

4) If applicable - time limit. This includes identifying the time limit, checking with the home coach if that city has a by-law stating the lights must be out by a certain time, inquiring as to whether or not the lights are on a timer and will shut off on us (in which case we have to place a "drop dead" time of 5 minutes prior to the timing going out), and not-so gently reminding them that one of the two/three of us will have a watch and that is the only watch we will be going by

5) You guys have to mention something about sportsmanship and ensure players are properly equipped. Not applicable to Canadians.

6) "Let's get at er. Have a good one."

Average = 45-60 seconds

Max time = 90 seconds

[JaxRolo]

1. Properly and legally equipped

2. Sportsmanship

3. (optimal) Time limit if any

4. Take us around the field

[yawetag]

1. Introductions

2. Lineup cards

3. "Players properly equipped?"

4. Sportsmanship

5. Walk us around the field

That's for spring FED games. In the summer, I'll adjust as needed, especially with equipment and sportsmanship.

[carolinablue]

I like the L.E.G.S method that was mentioned in another thread recently.

Lineups

Equipment

Ground rules

Sportsmanship

[yawetag]

What about the LESS method:

Lineups

Equipment

Sportsmanship

Special ground rules

"LESS is more." ©yawetag

[24sdad]

Introductions

line-ups - verify (identify DH, ensure no duplicate names/numbers and if all subs are listed) and distribute

players properly and legally equipped?

NEW THIS YEAR - bats and helmets legal and unaltered? (association directive)

sportsmanship

HC take us around

usually around 60 seconds.

No time limit on varsity games (unless tournament, which we will confirm) and we already have a list of what leagues use 10 run mercy (majority do not)

[KLAH316]

I worked with a guy once who went "Balls, Strikes, Fair, Foul, Safe, Out are judgement calls and not up for discussion".

He said this every game I worked with him without fail.

[yawetag]

I worked with a guy once who went "Balls, Strikes, Fair, Foul, Safe, Out are judgement calls and not up for discussion".

He said this every game I worked with him without fail.

At least he's consistent.

[mstaylor]

.

NEW THIS YEAR - bats and helmets legal and unsportsmanshipaltered? (association directive)

I am not a big fan of this phrase. It says, so have you started by cheating?

I try to keep it simple as others have said:

Intros

Lineups

Sportsmanship

Properly equiped?

Ground rules

[JaxRolo]

.

NEW THIS YEAR - bats and helmets legal and unsportsmanshipaltered? (association directive)

I am not a big fan of this phrase. It says, so have you started by cheating?

I agree. Just say: Are your players properly and legally equipped.

That cover batsa and helmets.

[24sdad]

.

NEW THIS YEAR - bats and helmets legal and unsportsmanshipaltered? (association directive)

I am not a big fan of this phrase. It says, so have you started by cheating?

I try to keep it simple as others have said:

Intros

Lineups

Sportsmanship

Properly equiped?

Ground rules

I agree "properly equipped" would cover it, but again, it is an association directive.

[mstaylor]

I understand completely, you have to do what they say.