Umpire 101: The Plate Meeting (NFHS Version)

This video serves as an introduction to holding a plate meeting for high school umpires. Be sure to send it to your new umpires!
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[@TraceSteffen]

I love this channel. As a coach at a larger program in Iowa (yes, oxymoron) here is how our interaction goes: if they are new, we usually have to chase them down to thank them. We hand them a hotdog and drink from concessions, and we thank them for choosing to umpire. For guys who know me, they know I’ll often tell them good call on close plays for or against us. If I don’t agree, I don’t say a word. A couple guys have gone out if there way to defend calls, to which I say, “hey right or wrong, it’s all good. I’m pretty sure I’ve gotten more of my guys out with my mistake than you’ve with yours.” Maybe not as buy the book, but hell, it’s a game for kids. As long as they take it serious and work hard, we are good. Anyway…. Thanks to the men and women in blue.

[@justinmartin9000]

LEGS - Lineups, Equipment, Ground Rules, Sportsmanship.

[@a_doggo]

good mnemonic - although I usually do the ground rules last - something feels right about ending things when i ask if there are any questions (about the ground rules - or anything) - also a good idea to be aware of any pre-game ceremonies that you may be involved in (national anthem being the most common up here)

[@garygemmell3488]

One of the things my association taught us to do after reviewing the lineup card was to hand it back to the coach and ask him to review it to make sure it was what he wanted. When he confirmed that it was, we took it back from him and told him the lineup was now official. We did this for baseball and softball. It came in handy one evening at a tournament when at the very end of the conference the sprinklers came on and no one from the parks department was available to turn them off. The tournament director declared it a suspended game to be restarted at 7:30 the next morning. The lineups were official at that point so any changes in the morning counted as official substitutions.

[@henryscanzano3392]

Thanks Patrick for taking the time to do this.

[@pzindy]

Your channel has been very helpful to me as a new umpire. I would like to see a video detailing the player/DH (substitution) rules.

[@lscales6131]

I usually don’t suspend a coach to the bench if he’s not at the meeting unless it’s obvious he’s trying to not show up. Usually it’s bc he’s running late or something in that case I don’t restrict him to the bench. In all my years of umpiring I’ve never had to do this.

[@jacintomabini5709]

Wow! very informative...

[@a_doggo]

I think it'd be good to have a post-game instructional video. In our association, for NFHS reg games, we give back the game balls, give a brief explanation if the game was called due to weather/darkness/mercy rules, ensure both head coaches understand that we've ended the game, and then immediately walk toward the exit *together*, first walking toward eachother and the exit, until we are walking together, upon which we proceed directly to our parking spaces. We specifically avoid any unnecessary chats with players/coaches/fans, except to respond politely with waves/thanks/etc., so long as you're able to continue proceeding to the parking area. Once outside the venue, each umpire should be aware of any angry fans or potential hazards, particularly after heated games with close calls, especially playoff games. If offered, accept any escort by security personnel (they will typically only offer if they think it will make you safer, and it most likely will), and do not hesitate to alert them if you feel unsafe. Otherwise, use common sense, and stay safe, and have your final debriefing in the parking area. Make sure to ask your partner if they have any advice, suggestions, or critiques, and go over any critical plays, protests, ejections, injuries, etc. If for some reason you feel that you are in danger, and there are no security personnel, then you should use common sense - contact the local police as needed, and/or seek a safer/lit area if there is one; ideally a neutral area off-field. This may be inside a school, or a designated safe zone which may require communication with the AD/grounds crew/coaching team. Sometimes, somebody just wants to tell you that you're wrong and a bad ump - get used to it; these people are not posing a threat to your safety. Ignore them; and remember all the good work you've done for the kids and community. Good luck out there, everyone!

[@justmeeagainn]

Seems that most of the players will have graduated from high school by the time this plate meeting is over.

[@jaydenmorrison8666]

mechanics. and ways to work in hot summer days and buggy nights.

[@fusionstyle67]

Excellent content, well presented! Is it ok to include this in my new umpire training presentation?

[@UmpireClassroom]

Go for it!

[@jimhessler2708]

Where can I find in the rule book, the penalty if the head coach does not attend the plate meeting?

[@fifiwoof1969]

Ceremonial first pitch, is that before official plate conference which you said was 5 mins before play? Ceremonial first pitch 10 minutes before play?

[@timbailey3846]

In Georgia I would recommend 15 minutes before the game since you guys go over the rule book

[@prsguitars42]

Agreed. We should never do that but they do that because coaches don't know the rules..........

[@robertbrown7470]

Are the teams required to be in their dugouts during the plate meeting?

[@UmpireClassroom]

Dugout or bullpen. This is ABSOLUTELY a requirement by NFHS rules

[@anthonysiani126]

Take the part about, if you want to come out to discuss a call, make sure you have time, go to the umpire who made the call...etc, etc. What coach doesn't know that? This isn't Little League. I took this out of my pre game because coaches don't want to be treated like morons.

[@mjb2424]

Actually... for me it's a primer for how I will handle any in game complaints/comments/queries... I make it clear that ONLY the head coach may come out and address either umpire and that immediately after the head coach has done so he is to return to the bench or coaching box and WE may or may not elect to conference on the issue... by doing this the coach cannot say he didn't understand what we expected of him!

[@mariosaccoccio1688]

Very informative presentation. Pet peeve...during the national Anthem, HAND on your heart, not your hat!

[@UmpireClassroom]

🙌🙌🙌

[@RadioMan1230AM]

So if I wear prescription sunglasses, I have to take them off... beware of blanket statements.

[@justmeeagainn]

There's always that one guy...