Running a Clinic 101

[mjr_2013]

I'm in charge of running the LL umpire program, and thus, the clinic this year. I am starting from absolutely nothing.

 

- I need umpires

- I need instructors

- I need a location

- I need players

- I need a plan

 

I think you get the idea. HELP!!

 

Here is where I'm at so far...

 

Umpires

I have roughly 20 right now. I'd like to have 25-30 for my season. I'd love to have 40 from the get-go so I don't have to depend on those who are just in it for the money. I'm ok with having umpires at the mechanics meeting who aren't going to umpire the league. I wouldn't want more than 50 for the clinic though. I don't have the resources (see below).

 

I emailed the principal of the school I just graduated from regarding getting the "job posting" on their announcement board. I have no idea how many responses to expect.

 

Depending on my numbers come mid-February, I may email a "competing" league and ask if they'd like to send their umpires to my ciimic as well. I don't know if they'd accept, or even respond to my email for that matter, but it'd allow me to teach more about umpiring.

 

Instructors

I have me, and then nothing. I know of very few good umpires in my area… A neighboring Little League has offered up their UIC to help me, and I will accept. I'd like at least two more though. I'm going to ask my MHSAA mentor to help as well. Beyond that, I'm lost.

 

Location

Our planned location was axed by the board recently when they asked for $500 to do it. I agreed with them at that price. I've contacted the school district, and they offered a middle school for four hours for $120… They required it to be a weeknight though, and that 75% of my umpires be residents of the school district.

 

Free would be nice. I emailed the board regarding finding a location, and I haven't received any responses yet. Churches, independent gyms, anything would be nice. 

 

I have a location for all monthly meetings as well as the rules presentations. Unfortunately, this doesn't have a gym area.

 

Players

I emailed the coach of the varsity team of the school mentioned above… I'm hoping he is ok with sending some of his players to play in the mock simulation I run… They'd hopefully do it for food and for me signing off on their volunteer hours.

 

Plan

This will be the second meeting of umpires. The first is planned for three hours, and will cover the league in general, umpiring in general, rules, and mechanics (verbally)… This is my current plan for the mechanics meeting:

 

Take the umpires and divide them into three groups… Three stations: 1) 60' Mechanics, 2) 90' Mechanics, 3) Plate and Strike Zone Mechanics… Put the 60' and 90' groups in the gym, half the gym for each… Put the Plate guys just outside in the hallway… Get three instructors in addition to me… Each is stationed wherever they feel most comfortable… I'm floating, helping wherever I'm needed.

 

First 20 minutes: Intro to Instructors, Plan, Divide into groups

45 minutes: Station #1

45 minutes: Station #2

45 minutes: Station #3

25 minutes: Lunch

45 minutes: Simulated Game (possibly two), switching between plate and bases

15 minutes: Conclude

 

 

 

Thoughts on any of this? Ideas for any of this? Any help is appreciated!!

[BT_Blue]

I wish I could be more help then this but here hou go on the only thing I could really help with... and it is this, I feel that 45 minutes a station might be a bit to long. I would consider shortening it to 30 minutes each.

I would also recommend talking to people here on this board. I know there are plenty of umpires on here from Michigan (I have no clue where Waterford is, nor where anything is in Michigan). But I am sure that there are guys on here that would help if you offer to take them out for a beer (or prefered non alcoholic drink of choice) after the clinic.

[conbo61]

Check with the LL District staff.  They may know of some folks who would be willing to help out as instructors.  

 

When I joined my local association the District UIC was also a member.  At the time I was still active in coaching and on the LL Board, so I asked if he would be willing to conduct a rules clinic for our coaches and volunteer umpires.

 

He was more than willing and it has continued as an annual event. (And he did not charge.)

[BigUmpire]

PM me. I may have something for you on a clinic.

[yawetag]

RE: Instructors. Whoever you end up helping you, try to have a meeting before your clinic. Go over what you're going to talk about and make sure you all agree on the mechanics being taught. Nothing is more frustrating than attending a clinic and hearing two different mechanics or, even worse, having the instructors discuss their differences to each other while teaching us.

 

RE: Location. Try calling City Hall of your town. I know mine has meeting rooms that are available to residents of the city. I have to pay a small deposit, but it's refunded if we clean up after ourselves and leave on time.

 

RE: Players. Make sure their "volunteering" is allowed through the state rules. Some states have specific rules on what activities players can attend during the season (off-season is much different).

[mjr_2013]

An update: Still looking for instructors, but I have asked a few people I'm hoping to hear back from… There is a city hall type location that was recommended by a board member, so I'll be making that phone call pretty soon.

 

As far as the players volunteering goes, I don't believe there is anything against it, mostly because the largest camp in the state also uses HS players from a team… This involves many of the top high school state officials, board and umpire alike. I'm sure they wouldn't allow it to happen if it were against rules or bylaws… The coach replied to me as well and thought that it was a great idea!

[grayhawk]

Not sure why you would want umpires who aren't going to work games in your league.  Is it to just get bodies there?  I would stay focused on teaching the guys that will work games in your league.

 

Location:  When is the clinic going to be held?  I wouldn't do it too far in advance of the season, because much of what you teach will be forgotten,  If it's closer to opening day, can't you just use the fields the LL normally plays their games on?  I ran a clinic a few years ago that was planned for the fields, but rain forced us inside and I did the whole thing in an elementary school MPR.  It was close quarters, but it worked.

 

Instructors:  Agree with conbo61 - ask the District UIC if they can help out.  Agree with yawetag to make sure everyone is on the same page.

 

Players:  Nice to have, but hardly needed.  Probably more trouble than it's worth.

[Jglopez7]

Use the KISS method.....Keep It Short Stupid...I did our training for our chapter here and we went thru rules 1-8 in 2 days...I have a field training for 4 hours...for umpires who have not worked at all or nothing JV and up....research online...look for local places who offer free space rentals...a local yogurt shop allows me to use their event room free during the week...good luck buddy.

[BigUmpire]

Use the KISS method.....Keep It Short Stupid...I did our training for our chapter here and we went thru rules 1-8 in 2 days...I have a field training for 4 hours...for umpires who have not worked at all or nothing JV and up....research online...look for local places who offer free space rentals...a local yogurt shop allows me to use their event room free during the week...good luck buddy.

Dont try to teach the whole book.

[Jglopez7]

 

Use the KISS method.....Keep It Short Stupid...I did our training for our chapter here and we went thru rules 1-8 in 2 days...I have a field training for 4 hours...for umpires who have not worked at all or nothing JV and up....research online...look for local places who offer free space rentals...a local yogurt shop allows me to use their event room free during the week...good luck buddy.

Dont try to teach the whole book.

 

"Went thru' as in provided a few cases/scenarios and moved on...with older umpires they can talk for HOURS about their stories...let's save that talk for the bar I tell them hahaha....Umpires will only get better on what they do OFF the field..all the training in the world is no good without studying and reviewing...

[JaxRolo]

 

Use the KISS method.....Keep It Short Stupid...I did our training for our chapter here and we went thru rules 1-8 in 2 days...I have a field training for 4 hours...for umpires who have not worked at all or nothing JV and up....research online...look for local places who offer free space rentals...a local yogurt shop allows me to use their event room free during the week...good luck buddy.

Dont try to teach the whole book.

 

What book?

[Mike Prince]

I agree that 45 minutes at a station is too long, better to add a station and reduce the time spent at each one if possible.  If you have 10 guys at a station,in some cases each guy will spend up to 90% of his time there watching the other guys receiving training (plate work in particular).  For base work, you can rotate idle guys in to be baserunners and fielders to keep them engaged, no need for player volunteers - some umpires will probably feel more comfortable screwing up in front of other umpires (vs. in front of a player).

 

If you add a station, make it one on game management where an experienced umpire can talk about how to handle situations and the importance of being prepared.  Mechanics are fine but if you get chewed up in your first game because you get blindsided by a common situation, that can deter some from returning for the 2nd game.

 

With a big group, a big challenge will be keeping their attention so I would shy away from over-inviting people (they may all show up) - better to have low attendance where you can focus on teaching rather than having too many show up and not feeling like they got something out of it.  Better to have positive word of mouth to build on.

 

If it is high-school age kids attending make sure you take away distractions by not allowing cell phones to be out.

[conbo61]

 

 

Use the KISS method.....Keep It Short Stupid...I did our training for our chapter here and we went thru rules 1-8 in 2 days...I have a field training for 4 hours...for umpires who have not worked at all or nothing JV and up....research online...look for local places who offer free space rentals...a local yogurt shop allows me to use their event room free during the week...good luck buddy.

Dont try to teach the whole book.

 

What book?

 

 

Why, "The Great Big Book of Umpiring", of course!

[MidAmUmp]

I'm not giving away my trade secrets on how to run a successful clinic, but I wish you good luck.

 

However, schools are wanting to charge you to use their facilities???  Aren't these schools tax-payer funded?  We have never experienced a problem in Missouri with finding a school willing to host anything we've wanted to do free of charge.  In fact, I've had 2 schools tell me anything, anytime, they'd do it because that was part of their tax increase agreement on the ballot - they would make the school available for community or educational functions.

[Fittske24]

Check with your Regional UIC he may be able to provide some regional umpires to serve as instructors. For your region....I'm assuming it's the central region, the UIC is Jeffrey Knoebel jknoebel@bellsouth.net

[ricka56]

However, schools are wanting to charge you to use their facilities???  Aren't these schools tax-payer funded?  We have never experienced a problem in Missouri with finding a school willing to host anything we've wanted to do free of charge.  In fact, I've had 2 schools tell me anything, anytime, they'd do it because that was part of their tax increase agreement on the ballot - they would make the school available for community or educational functions.

Around here, it is getting harder and harder to get schools to provide facilities free of charge. The smaller schools are still willing, but the bigger high schools have wised up to the potential income stream. They justify it by saying that this income stream reduces the need for tax increases and non-using tax payers shouldn't have to support private functions with their tax dollars.

 

The times, they are a changing.

[MidAmUmp]

 

However, schools are wanting to charge you to use their facilities???  Aren't these schools tax-payer funded?  We have never experienced a problem in Missouri with finding a school willing to host anything we've wanted to do free of charge.  In fact, I've had 2 schools tell me anything, anytime, they'd do it because that was part of their tax increase agreement on the ballot - they would make the school available for community or educational functions.

Around here, it is getting harder and harder to get schools to provide facilities free of charge. The smaller schools are still willing, but the bigger high schools have wised up to the potential income stream. They justify it by saying that this income stream reduces the need for tax increases and non-using tax payers shouldn't have to support private functions with their tax dollars.

 

The times, they are a changing.

 

It used to be that way in Missouri - we would have to pay for custodial staff and show proof of insurance.  Now, I can just shoot an e-mail to a coach or AD, tell them what I need and they'll do it.  The only stipulations I've had is be out by x:xx time because we can't pay our custodians overtime.  Around here they're building bigger, better, high tech (for here) schools and in order to get the bonds passed, they are agreeing to build storm shelters and use the facilities for community events.  A lot of them don't want to just open their doors to every bake sale, girl scout pow pow, etc. so they extend the offer to those who can benefit the school in some way...i.e.: officiating training, etc.

 

Not to get into a political debate, but I think we know how NJ and MI historically vote and we know they are strong union states.  Missouri isn't.

[umpstu]

 

 

However, schools are wanting to charge you to use their facilities???  Aren't these schools tax-payer funded?  We have never experienced a problem in Missouri with finding a school willing to host anything we've wanted to do free of charge.  In fact, I've had 2 schools tell me anything, anytime, they'd do it because that was part of their tax increase agreement on the ballot - they would make the school available for community or educational functions.

Around here, it is getting harder and harder to get schools to provide facilities free of charge. The smaller schools are still willing, but the bigger high schools have wised up to the potential income stream. They justify it by saying that this income stream reduces the need for tax increases and non-using tax payers shouldn't have to support private functions with their tax dollars.

 

The times, they are a changing.

 

It used to be that way in Missouri - we would have to pay for custodial staff and show proof of insurance.  Now, I can just shoot an e-mail to a coach or AD, tell them what I need and they'll do it.  The only stipulations I've had is be out by x:xx time because we can't pay our custodians overtime.  Around here they're building bigger, better, high tech (for here) schools and in order to get the bonds passed, they are agreeing to build storm shelters and use the facilities for community events.  A lot of them don't want to just open their doors to every bake sale, girl scout pow pow, etc. so they extend the offer to those who can benefit the school in some way...i.e.: officiating training, etc.

 

Not to get into a political debate, but I think we know how NJ and MI historically vote and we know they are strong union states.  Missouri isn't.

 

I just held a mechanics clinic the other day using a high school field and their players. All it cost was a dozen pizzas, some soda and water for the players and a case of beer for the coaches. 

[LMSANS]

Most School districts down the shore (NJ), will let you use the facility with a proof of insurance.  There are a couple (like my town) that look for the revenue.  They are also the districts that take 8 or 9 weeks to pay.

[mstaylor]

Use the KISS method.....Keep It Short Stupid...I did our training for our chapter here and we went thru rules 1-8 in 2 days...I have a field training for 4 hours...for umpires who have not worked at all or nothing JV and up....research online...look for local places who offer free space rentals...a local yogurt shop allows me to use their event room free during the week...good luck buddy.

Dont try to teach the whole book.

"Went thru' as in provided a few cases/scenarios and moved on...with older umpires they can talk for HOURS about their stories...let's save that talk for the bar I tell them hahaha....Umpires will only get better on what they do OFF the field..all the training in the world is no good without studying and reviewing...

Old umpires tell war stories, surely you jest. I would never consider doing that.