What do you do to get ready for your game?

[JCRO1558]

Been looking through the forum and was wondering, what do you do to get ready for your game/tourney?

More than just shine your shoes and what not. Is there anything you do to get your mind right, get in the zone,see the ball better? All input is welcome.

[catcher]

Obsessive-compulsively check my assignment to make sure I'm going to the right field at the right time

[JaxRolo]

Try to get in the mindset by focusing on baseball. Forget about everything else.

[ricka56]

I have a list of plays that have surprised/bitten me over the years.

Big list, I know....being an Evelyn Wood speed reading graduate helps.  

I read the list from time to time before a game to start thinking baseball.

 

How it helps? I'm less likely to be too slow (tongue tied) calling interference,

because I thought about it pre-game.

[grayhawk]

Drop a deuce right before I leave home.  Have to SEEN the bathrooms at most ball fields?

[JaxRolo]

Drop a deuce right before I leave home. Have to SEEN the bathrooms at most ball fields?

TMI

But true

[Rulekeep]

Go to the snack shack and buy some Arizona teas and gum if I'm working plate. If not, it's a Mountain Dew and compulsive rule review.

[BigUmpire]

Pee.

[maninblack69]

Make sure the restroom is done before putting on gear, suit up, get on the field and visualize the start of the game - If I have a partner then it's restroom, suit up and pre-game with the partner.

[Pete Peterson Sr]

I have certain music that I like to listen to on my way to my game(s). While I'm listening, I try to focus on what I know about the teams I will have, and then think about my partner(s).If I'm the senior official, which is most of the time, i make the position assignments for the game. So revisiting my partner's relative strengths and weaknesses, and level of experience is helpful. Once I am at the site, I try to remain quiet, and have a comprehensive pre-game with my partner, unless I am working with Pete Jr, Pat, or a select handful of others. Guys whose MO's, tendencies, and instincts I know as well as they do, and vice-versa. Check my shoes, run a quick check on my gear and apparel. Then it's time to put on a clinic.This is for HS level, or higher. For travel ball, I am more likely to be found yucking it up with my fellow umpires. I take that level seriously, but I tend not to spend a lot of time thinking about my game.

[BigUmpire]

Hope, hope, hope the first pitch is just on a corner, the batter takes it and I yell  'strike"

[gnhbua93]

I have certain music that I like to listen to on my way to my game(s). While I'm listening, I try to focus on what I know about the teams I will have, and then think about my partner(s).If I'm the senior official, which is most of the time, i make the position assignments for the game. So revisiting my partner's relative strengths and weaknesses, and level of experience is helpful. Once I am at the site, I try to remain quiet, and have a comprehensive pre-game with my partner, unless I am working with Pete Jr, Pat, or a select handful of others. Guys whose MO's, tendencies, and instincts I know as well as they do, and vice-versa. Check my shoes, run a quick check on my gear and apparel. Then it's time to put on a clinic.This is for HS level, or higher. For travel ball, I am more likely to be found yucking it up with my fellow umpires. I take that level seriously, but I tend not to spend a lot of time thinking about my game.

I'm assuming that you have a comprehensive pre-game with Jocko

[mstaylor]

I try to get there early and find out what field I'm on and if I am moving field to field during the day. I know a lot of guys chew gum while officiating, I can't do that and really hate to see it. To me, no participant, coach,umpire or player should chew gum on the field. By the same token, I feel the same about seeds. I don't like to see an umpire out there chewing cud and spitting shells. If you want to keep your mouth moist, take plenty of water.

[JaxRolo]

I try to get there early and find out what field I'm on and if I am moving field to field during the day. I know a lot of guys chew gum while officiating, I can't do that and really hate to see it. To me, no participant, coach,umpire or player should chew gum on the field. By the same token, I feel the same about seeds. I don't like to see an umpire out there chewing cud and spitting shells. If you want to keep your mouth moist, take plenty of water.

Don't be so Grumpy! :wave:

[BigUmpire]

Here we go again!

[Mike Prince]

Make sure my partner knows to arrive early enough (and in the right place) for a pregame discussion - a lot can throw you off but to me there's no worse feeling than wondering if your partner is going to show up

Make sure I have drinks and food (in case there are not concessions)

Make sure my umpire belt(s) and cup are in the car (both are somehow easy to forget, i think because it is easy for these items to follow me into the house after a game)

 

Other than that I try to relax and clear my mind in the hours leading up to the game.

[blue23ll]

I am super paranoid about forgetting a piece of gear or my shoes, so I will clean all of my shoes the night before and make sure they are in the truck. I will then check all of my gear and put that in the truck the night before. I have paper copies of directions to all the fields in our area, in a binder, so I double check that I have current directions to the field. (This is a back up to my GPS). At least 24 hours prior to the game I will call my partner and discuss logistics.  What I do, day of game, depends on whether I have plate or base. For bases, I really don't do any preparation. For the plate I double check my tights/cup. Depending on how far the field is away, I may or may not put my pants and undershirt on. Oh, and I also take all my gear to every game, including shoes and gear. All of my pants and shirts are also in the truck as well.

[Umpire in Chief]

For a big game--

 

• I do all of my studying ahead of time - special rules, mechanics if it is something I'm not as familiar with. The day of I don't study any more unless something comes up in the pregame.
• My uniform is ready to go the night before in a garment bag that I've checked 1000 times as well as my equipment
• Pre-hydrate. I've written before about drinking a ton the night before does really little for you than maybe getting your hydration to a normal level before the game. Do your pre-hydrating an hour or two before the game.
• Arrive plenty early. If possible find a place to sit relax and clear my mind before even having a pregame w/ my partners.
• Have a thorough pregame

I'll have some butterflies the first inning or so, but after that I am in the groove. 

[mstaylor]

I try to get there early and find out what field I'm on and if I am moving field to field during the day. I know a lot of guys chew gum while officiating, I can't do that and really hate to see it. To me, no participant, coach,umpire or player should chew gum on the field. By the same token, I feel the same about seeds. I don't like to see an umpire out there chewing cud and spitting shells. If you want to keep your mouth moist, take plenty of water.

Don't be so Grumpy!

Grumpy? Me, grumpy? Never jerk! :lol:

[Umpire in Chief]

Go to the snack shack and buy some Arizona teas and gum if I'm working plate. If not, it's a Mountain Dew and compulsive rule review.

 

Rulekeep, I'd really suggest against this... Take a look at this article I wrote some time back it may help. 

 

Avoiding Dehydration & Beating the Heat

[yawetag]

The one thing I do that no one has mentioned is research the teams the night before. Get the names of the head coach AND assistant coaches for both teams and write them down. Find out how each team is doing for the year (if it's early in the year, check last year's standings). If it's later in the year, look for games between the two teams earlier in the year.

 

All this can usually be found online, at the school's website.

[Pete Peterson Sr]

The one thing I do that no one has mentioned is research the teams the night before. Get the names of the head coach AND assistant coaches for both teams and write them down. Find out how each team is doing for the year (if it's early in the year, check last year's standings). If it's later in the year, look for games between the two teams earlier in the year.

 

All this can usually be found online, at the school's website.

 

 Without trying to sound rude, May I ask why you want to know the assistant coach's name(s) ?

[mjr_2013]

Six pack and at least a gram.

 

 

 

I don't do anything OCD-ish, but I make sure I know every detail of the game. Teams, their records, my partner, how trustable my partner is, possibly whether to expect trouble with the team, etc… If I've never been to a field before, I will Google Maps the school or park to see where to park and make sure I know what field I'm at.

[BigUmpire]

Why "Teams, their records"?

 

Go to the snack shack and buy some Arizona teas and gum if I'm working plate. If not, it's a Mountain Dew and compulsive rule review.

 

Rulekeep, I'd really suggest against this... Take a look at this article I wrote some time back it may help. 

 

Avoiding Dehydration & Beating the Heat

 

Young umpires!

[Rulekeep]

Go to the snack shack and buy some Arizona teas and gum if I'm working plate. If not, it's a Mountain Dew and compulsive rule review.

Rulekeep, I'd really suggest against this... Take a look at this article I wrote some time back it may help.

Avoiding Dehydration & Beating the Heat Hey, whoever said I drank them? I save them until after the game. It's just my way of getting myself on task. I'm weird. I'll usually drink them after the game, but I will chew the gum during the game.