WEEK 11
HOT TOPICS:
Assistant Coaches: Remember the head coach is the one you deal with when something happens on the
field.
Umpires and Coaches review page 13 and 14 in rule book.
1. Runners leaving early (get them all). There are 2 umpires on most D3 and JUCO games. Umpires,
when you have multiple runners on base especially on 1st and 3rd (base umpire on left side of infield)
put yourself in a defensive position and watch the runner on first base when the pitch is being
released. Coaches teach the runner to leave a little early. They know the base umpires cannot watch
them both at the same time.
On tag up situation, pre-pitch where are you supposed to be. Pre-game with partner for who is
watching what on tag up situations.
2.
Coaches are not your best friend on the field. Cut the meaningless talk. Do your job. Do not start a
conversation with a coach just to talk. The opposing coach sees the conversation, etc. It gives a
negative appearance. There are cameras everywhere. Every spectator has a cell phone that can take
pictures. Sometime umpires are their own worst enemy.
3. Bat Checks. At the end of the season, composite bats break down. Look for dents, rattles, cracks.
4. This is the BIG ONE: Do not let coaches control the flow of the game, especially pitching coaches. If
you have batters requesting time every inning, either you are counting slow or you don't count to 10.
Do not put the batter in jeopardy if you’re not going to call the 10-10-5 rule. Grant the batter time.
Just make sure there is no cat and mouse game going on. (Use common sense)
5. STRIKE ZONE: Had a coach tell me he could not take the home plate umpire fishing. I asked him why.
He said the umps strike calls were killing all the worms. FOCUS- FOCUS-FOCUS-FOCUS. IT IS CRUNCH
TIME.
I have listen to a lot coaches this past week, they have concerns:
They want their team to succeed. Some of these athletes will be playing their last game. Give them the
best called game they ever had. Remember, no one is perfect but be excellent. Remember, this is not a
basketball game were you miss a foul the coaches forget about it 2 trips down court, if you miss a call at
1st base in the 1st inning. Coaches remember it for 7 innings.
It that time of the season, emotions are riding high, get the call right.
Coaches and Umpires keep checking the arbiter for times-dates-sites. This is not the time for a mistake.
Good luck to all the teams, coaches and the umpires.
PLAY BALL
Chris Tehonica