Tips for Having a Great Plate Meeting

We discuss tips to help umpire's have a great plate meeting.
Do you have a quick tip post them below in the comments or join the discussion at Umpire-Empire.com

[@sjp35productions6]

My last bit of instruction is to let coaches know that I'm happy to discuss a call with them. Here it is: "If you have a question on a call, feel free to call time out. I'll meet you half-way and I'll be happy to tell you why I'm right." I gets a chuckle from both coaches. It has the following effects: it cuts the tension and it tells the coaches I'm approachable. It really does help keep everything calm even during a high tension game. I finish with a hand shake and "Good luck and have fun" as a reminder as to why we're out there.

[@ibXCVs-Mom]

I love how you used pictures of THAT UMPIRE (who shall not be named) as an example of what not to do, lol.

[@prsguitars42]

He's in MLB......i'm not defending him, BUT, can '2windswords' HONESTLY say he/she can do a better job??.......be honest, now!!!!

[@timburr4453]

who is it?

[@sjp35productions6]

His video on how to be an umpire is a classic and was required viewing in my association's rookie class. It fell under "don't be this guy."

[@matteocarlini27]

One thing I always tell the coaches at the Plate meeting is “If you want to question a call, go to the umpire that made the call, but please do it respectfully.”

[@JohnIniguez-xt2pv]

Attitude of gratitude for all you share.

[@matteocarlini27]

The other thing I do before I start the Plate meeting is I have my Partner who is on the bases brush off the plate.

[@ericithier7352]

Great Great stuff always

[@retreauxnintendeaux1663]

I find myself drawn towards these baseball umpire training videos...yet the thing that I would always dread and what ultimately keeps me from getting into it is the altercations with coaches and players arguing calls and the drama that goes with it. I just can't stand confrontations and that is the #1 thing keeping me from getting into the craft. Nonetheless, I admire what y'all do and appreciate the courage and passion y'all put into umpiring.

[@chrisdenton5982]

Don't allow the fear of an altercation keep you from trying it. Yes more than likely there will be some issues on judgement calls but it's your call and judgement on what you saw and not what they wanted you to see!! I say go for it!! I'm in my 3rd year and I love it!!

[@robbienoon7227]

@@chrisdenton5982 I just left my 1st umpire preseason meeting ....anxiety is high and i have alot of studying of the rules to do but it does seem like it will be fun once i get it down.

[@chrisdenton5982]

Robbie Noon It will seem really fast to start with. The more you do it the the less anxiety you have and everything slows down. The best advice I would give you is beware of your timing. Timing is something that everyone needs to be aware of. Good luck!!

[@prsguitars42]

Do yourself a favor...read Doug Harveys' "They Called Me God"...that book will change your mind..... and never forget, the average h.c. and fan is absolutely IGNORANT of the rules of baseball......

[@danflores2816]

Yes, timing is everything. And Robbie Noon, remember: pause, read, react. It's nothing until you call it. It's better to be slow on a correct call than to be fast on an incorrect call. Also, when in the field, remember your angles. It's better to sacrifice distance for a better angle and don't (as I did when I first started) try to get TOO close to the play. You need to see the base, runner and ball all at once and if you're too close you'll miss one of the three. Having high anxiety is a good thing, it means you care, and read up on those rules. I've done this 10 years now and before every season I still read the rule book as a refresher.

[@casualobserver2634]

How about some tips calling pitches on the outside corner. Please. Thank you.

[@alexchavez3383]

First questions would be, do you know what it means to work the slot? Do you know how to utilize the batting box lines to help you with your strike zone at different levels? And have you been taught about catchers framing pitches inside his body?

[@mikecustenborder3991]

Good tips.

[@critter2]

got to love my parnters i been with, walking towards the field i ususally make sure i got everything... they got "Chris you need to mask i was like duh..... i talking to my parnter before game he did same thing but i also get to the field 30 minutes before the game. that way if i am in traffic i still got plenty of time. and i can check field if i need to

[@michaellyons9820]

Wish these videos were available when I was umpiring, both for myself to keep getting saturated in the rules and mechanics of umpiring, and for my partners to hear these pointers from an outside source. Just one clarification on the home team handing over the lineup card first. That has been written protocol in the Official Baseball Rules for a very long time, and other baseball codes have adopted it. It stems from the original definition of the home team being the team on whose grounds the game is played. Until the plate meeting, home management is in charge of the field and determines delays and cancellations due to weather or other issues. As per OBR, the home manager's delivery of the lineup card to the home plate umpire represents the transfer of authority from home management to the umpiring crew. That would still be the case in not only professional baseball but also with the vast majority of college and high school games, meaning there is a true and literal home team. I know a lot of the umpires watching these videos will work a great many games (youth leagues, travel ball tournaments, etc.) in which "visiting team" only means who bats first and "home team" only means who bats last. But by always receiving the home team's lineup first, the umpires preserve that tradition that actually has legal effect in a great baseball environments.

[@gregorynelsonsr1892]

Good presentation

[@elijah3707]

that was cool

[@alexchavez3383]

I will reemphasize the importance of getting six to eight baseballs from the coaches before the game starts. If necessary, I will let the coach know that it's about making life easier for him, I will tell him I don't want to come interrupt you during an inning, this helps keep the game going smoothly, etc It looks awful if the game has to stop because an umpire runs out of baseballs. As soon as I'm down to three, I start letting the home dugout know exactly how many more balls I need on the next foul ball. A bonus if you can talk to one of the coaches when you enter the field and ask which player you should communicate with when you need more baseballs. They usually are happy to oblige with that.

[@justinmartin9000]

LEGS - Lineups, Equipment, Ground rules, Sportsmanship

[@nolanfoster6909]

Does anyone have any tips for someone about to do their first game?

[@brady13001]

I get the part about no warnings and I that’s good for the most part. But what if you’re doing the same two teams from the previous night and there was a fight? Do you not want to use some preventative umpiring to keep out of trouble?

[@UmpireEmpire]

I know the temptation is real to do that, but the past is the past. Let them try to prove themselves first. I'm not saying forget about it. Keep it in the back of your mind to react quickly if a situation develops, but let them have the benefit of the doubt first.

[@rayray4192]

@@UmpireEmpire multiple players hit by pitches and verbal taunting in game one of a D.H. Damn right a warning was issued at the plate conference before game 2.

[@BBJamesB]

Plate meetings should be a time to talk about rules that the coaches may not understand in low levels though, correct? For example, our 10U league this season has lead offs at 1st and 2nd, but not 3rd and they cannot steal until the pitched ball is over the plate. This causes a lot of confusion so this season I've clarified that rule every single plate meeting. Also, at this level not every league plays dropped 3rd strike, so I make sure they know if or if not we are playing that rule. Finally, I was informed by my current league's president that there were complaints about USSSA bats being illegally used, so now I will be informing coaches that all illegal bats must be set outside the field of play and any player being caught using a legal bat will be called out and he and his coach will be ejected. We take 10U and 12U recreation ball very seriously in South Florida, lol.

[@UmpireEmpire]

Here's where you get into some gray area. I'm not one for going over rules at the plate. It's their league and they should know these rules. However, I realize this has the potential to save some heartache when the situation arises and I also realize some leagues may require you to say certain things. so my advice would be to see what your leagues or umpiring association would like you to cover at the plate meeting.