What does "Game management" include as an umpire?

[GoodCallBlue!]

What does the term "Game Management" mean & include to you as an umpire?

[Kevin_K]

Demeanor, hustle, and, most importantly, good judgment.

Every aspect of the game is affected by judgment. From balls and strikes to ejections to weather related concerns, good judgment impacts the entire experience for almost everyone involved. The decisions made with judgment affect how well a game can be managed.

For example, if an umpire judges that a team deserves only one warm up pitch for some reason, the reaction of said team's coaching staff may have a negative impact on the way in which they deal with that umpire for the rest of the game. The manner in which the umpire chooses to make that decision and communicate it to the team is a series of judgments directly correlates to his or her experience. 

Another example of judgment that may not seem as though it is judgment is approach-ability. Should an umpire decide to be approachable, game participants will likely have a different perception than if the umpire is unapproachable, especially when there is a situation that may be contentious. Don't take this to mean that umpires need to eat sh&t by being a doormat, just that the decisions made throughout the game that connect to interpersonal interactions are directly related to the ways in which others deal with them.

My.02. YMMV. 

 

[noumpere]

Stop the little SH*# before it turns into big SH*#.  And do it in such a way that no one knows you had to step in.

[Umpirechick1]

Keep the game moving, and everyone hustling. I expect coaches to move quickly just like the players. Stay focused on the game, from start to finish. That includes in between innings and not chatting with fans, coaches, or your partner. If you're down to one baseball, go ahead and ask for another one so you don't have to wait after the next foul ball or homerun. Call strikes. No one is there to see a walk-fest. Be efficient and hustle. 

[Guest Eastside Coach]

As a coach and more often a site supervisor these days I really appreciate umps who: 

1) Hustles them on and off the field. 90 seconds between innings is plenty for 14 year olds on up

2) Keeps batters in the box overall. We have far too many kids who are walking halfway to third base after every pitch with none out and none on. There's no reason for it.

3) Our tourney games are 2 hour games. I do not like to see a team with a 3-2 lead in the last inning and 12 minutes on the clock suddenly have three outfielders need to come in for sunglasses on consecutive pitches; every infielder suddenly having a shoe come untied; or the coach coming out to talk to their pitcher one pitch into an inning when there's no indication of a problem, or suddenly having a problem because a base just "doesn't seem to be laying quite right." 

4) Be willing to pull the trigger. If a coach or fan is being an issue in the third inning you can just about be sure he'll be twice as much an issue in the 6th and now we have additional fans would up or other coaches riled up. Give one warning, not five, six, or seven. I will back up an ump 100%  of the time on ejections. If I disagree with it we'll talk after the game. People ejected are walked to their cars by me when ejected (often they get a ride on a golf cart). Umps get a ride if I think a fan or coach is looking to create a scene. 

5) Don't be afraid to eject a coach at game's end if it's deserved. Doing so means they sit out the next game at our tourneys. 

6) Be pros, be on time, respect that these young players are playing hard and deserve your best effort

7) End the small stuff before it becomes big stuff. Make me aware of small stuff. I'm on your side and will help. 

[FleasOf1000Camels]

Keep the game moving along without unnecessary drama.

[MRG9999]

12 hours ago, Guest Eastside Coach said:

As a coach and more often a site supervisor these days I really appreciate umps who: 

1) Hustles them on and off the field. 90 seconds between innings is plenty for 14 year olds on up

2) Keeps batters in the box overall. We have far too many kids who are walking halfway to third base after every pitch with none out and none on. There's no reason for it.

3) Our tourney games are 2 hour games. I do not like to see a team with a 3-2 lead in the last inning and 12 minutes on the clock suddenly have three outfielders need to come in for sunglasses on consecutive pitches; every infielder suddenly having a shoe come untied; or the coach coming out to talk to their pitcher one pitch into an inning when there's no indication of a problem, or suddenly having a problem because a base just "doesn't seem to be laying quite right." 

4) Be willing to pull the trigger. If a coach or fan is being an issue in the third inning you can just about be sure he'll be twice as much an issue in the 6th and now we have additional fans would up or other coaches riled up. Give one warning, not five, six, or seven. I will back up an ump 100%  of the time on ejections. If I disagree with it we'll talk after the game. People ejected are walked to their cars by me when ejected (often they get a ride on a golf cart). Umps get a ride if I think a fan or coach is looking to create a scene. 

5) Don't be afraid to eject a coach at game's end if it's deserved. Doing so means they sit out the next game at our tourneys. 

6) Be pros, be on time, respect that these young players are playing hard and deserve your best effort

7) End the small stuff before it becomes big stuff. Make me aware of small stuff. I'm on your side and will help. 

Only if you have the backing of a person who has a "spine" and is not out to achieve his own agenda regardless if it makes the league or organization look bad.

[Aging_Arbiter]

On ‎8‎/‎11‎/‎2016 at 8:21 AM, FleasOf1000Camels said:

Keep the game moving along without unnecessary drama.

I too prefer a 1:40 game instead of a 2+ hour game.........

[BigUmpire]

More bumper stickers"

·        “Game management in youth ball can be like herding cats”-Bigumpire

 

·                             “Command OR demand respect during your game.”- Big Umpire

[BigUmpire]

This one of the slides for our NEW umpire training class for rec level ball:

 

1.Low skill sets on both coaches and players

2.Expect the unexpected

3.Don’t take your eyes off of the ball with a few exceptions

4.Safety is paramount for everyone

5.Wear EVERYTHING YOU OWN!

6.Do NOT get behind plate without a mask on!

7.No bat boys/girls

8.Scoreboard wizards ( children operating the scoreboard poorly)

9.Ask the home team scorekeeper to go to the scoreboard box behind home plate.

10.Ask scorekeeper to notify you when run limit per inning is approaching OR reached

11.Emotional fans and coaches-Stay away from the fence and them!

12.No gentlemen's agreements

13.YOU keep the game time

14.Keep coaches in dugouts

15.BIG strike zone-Please!

16.Modified positioning

17.Teams need prodding between innings

18. 8U hybrid is BRUTAL!

19.When game is over dump remaining balls at the plate and be the first ones off of the field !

[FleasOf1000Camels]

19 hours ago, BigUmpire said:

 

 

 

14.Keep coaches in dugouts

 

Amen, brother.