Bringing Your Game to the Next Level
by Fred Solazzi AFU #21
Time and again, you will hear umpires talking about what it takes to bring their game to the next level. Truth be told, there is no substitute for experience. It takes about five years to really hone your craft to the point of substantially improving your skill level. Think about it -- during that time you will probably do more than 500 games, and see well over 100,000 pitches. Experience is invaluable, but experience is only part of the equation. Hard work and dedication are also essential. Here are some things that you can work on to improve your game. (None of this is original. These are things I have picked up from Bob, Ed, Dave and many of the guys I have worked with over the years, as well as, Referee magazine, various list serves, and other officiating sources.)
Rules Knowledge
Know your rules. "Knowledge is Power!" Read the Little League Rule Book before the start of the season in April. It is a good idea to re-read it several times during the season, a section here, a section there. The same goes for Official Baseball Rules (OBR) when you start to do games for leagues using those rules. If you are doing games that use different rule sets, it is well worth the investment to purchase Baseball Rule Differences by Carl Childress. The Professional Baseball Umpire Corp. (PBUC) Umpire Manual is another great and fairly inexpensive book that gives detailed interpretations of OBR. If you can afford it, The Rules of Professional Baseball by Chris Jaska and Rick Roder (commonly known as Jaska/Roder) goes for $36.99 + s/h.
You don't need to be a rules maven, but there are certain situations that you need to know cold. These include interference, obstruction and their variations, awarding of bases on throws and catch & carry (or fall) into dead ball areas, fair/foul, and what constitutes a catch. As you begin to umpire at the higher levels, you really need to be on top of balks, identifying them, calling them, and knowing when to stop play and award bases. These are plays that you will see over and over again. You need to get them right, the first time, every time. Sometimes, too much knowledge can be a dangerous thing. Do not call plays just to show that you know some obscure rule. When no one expects that "Third World" call, don't make it.
Hustle
Nothing looks better than an umpire who is busting his butt from the first pitch to the last out. Does it really matter on that "can of corn" to center field that you make that call from home plate? Probably not. You can see it just as well from there. So why bust it out to the mound area? When what appears to be a routine play turns into a difficult one, those extra 40-60 feet could be crucial in a catch/no catch situation. There's no going to your partner for help here. He's busting into the pivot and you're on your own. Hustling on every play is habit forming (and it's a damn good habit to get into!). It sends a message to the coaches and the players that you mean business and that you take the game seriously. Trust me, as the game goes on, you will hear less and less sniping from the sidelines. When that whacker happens, and you're in proper position and you sell that call - you won't hear a peep.
Game Preparation
When do you begin to prepare for your game? While it may seem like overkill, I begin to prepare the morning of the game. I start to think about the level of play, who I'm working with, and the field conditions. If it's a field that I have never worked before, I always plan to arrive early so that I can check it out. You don't need to spend hours on this, but you should give it some thought throughout the day.
Obviously, it is better to get to your game site earlier rather than later. Use the extra time you may have to clean up or fine tune your equipment. I always have reading material or a good cd in my car to kill some time. Recently, I read an article on game preparation that suggested that what you do before a game can better prepare you for that game. The article stated that reading the rules, an article on officiating, or just something from the sports section on baseball gets you thinking about baseball and gets you into a better frame of mind. I've tried this and it seems to work. It works in a very subtle way and you may not even be aware of it. Think about it this way. When you walk onto the field to do a game, you don't want to be thinking about the job, the wife, the kids, or what you're doing after the game. You want to be focused on the tasks at hand. Think about possible plays and how you will react. Get your head in the game.
When we umpire games at different skills levels, staying consistent with the strike zone can be difficult at times. The strike zone for a Little League Majors game is quite different than an FABL 16 open game. The strike zone for College Wood Bat is different still. When you find yourself jumping from level to level, you may experience some problems with your consistency. Good game preparation can help. Think about your strike zone before you step onto the field. Be prepared. Once you get on the field, if you are doing the higher levels, put on your mask, get behind the catcher and watch each pitcher in the first inning. (Do this for every new pitcher when they enter the game.) Use this time to gauge the pitcher's velocity, his movement on the ball, and make sure that you see at least one breaking pitch. You can ask the catcher, "What's he throw?" He'll tell you. It's okay for the batter to be locked and lost the first time he sees a breaking pitch. It's not okay for you. At the higher levels, forget that Little League strike zone with the one ball off, two balls off the plate. Make them earn their strikes at these levels.
Believe me, you will know when you are not seeing the outside corner well. This is probably a result of the way you are setting up. Fight for your spot. A key to sound plate work is locking in. A good experienced catcher will help you. When he asks for a pitch on the corner and frames it for you, ring that up. If you don't, you are going to be in for a long day. When you feel you are missing pitches, one of the most important things in improving your skills is recognizing this situation and making the proper adjustment as early as possible in the game. Another pitch that may drive you crazy is the late breaking curve ball. If you're calling this a strike, you're probably getting heat from the offensive side. What's happening is that you are not tracking that pitch all the way into the glove. You are calling that pitch at 58' or 59' when it looks like a strike, not at 60'6'' when the catcher is picking it out of the dirt. Slow down. Get your timing right. See the pitch, track the pitch, call the pitch. Most importantly, relax. If you're not relaxed, you will tense up, play with your indicator, and shift from one foot to the other. This can give the impression that you are not comfortable and would rather be somewhere else.
Look the Part, Act the Part
If you want to be taken seriously, your appearance counts for a lot. First impressions are lasting impressions. Remember that you are a professional umpire working at the amateur level. Clean shirt, pants, and shined shoes are a must. Here are a few tips that you may want to incorporate into your game to kick it up a notch. One way to come off looking unprofessional is to shout out obvious calls. When a foul ball hits the backstop, there is no reason to scream, "Foul!" Everybody knows it's foul. Save the big call for the diving catch in the outfield, not the routine ones. During a mid-inning pitching change, you are not required to tell the pitcher the count, the number of outs, or where the runners are. That's the coach's' job. If the pitching change came in the middle of an at-bat, just give the count as you normally do. Do not to have conversations with your partner between innings, especially if a controversial call occurred in the inning that just ended. Most importantly, when you make a call, and it is disputed by a coach who then asks you to go to your partner for help, don't. One play, one call. If you had a doubt, you should have gone for help before you made the call. While conferring with your partner after the call may show that you "just want to get it right," it also shows that you are not really sure about your call. If you find yourself in this position, regardless of what your partner tells you, don't change your call. If you do, you will get an earful from the other coach, and then both coaches will expect similar discussions on every other close call. Once a call is made, the umpire who made it must stand by it. (There are a few exceptions to this: a tipped ball dropped by the catcher; the ball is dropped and on the ground on a tag play; batter is hit in the box by a batted ball that goes fair. In these instances, call time, tell your partner what you saw, and have him make the proper call. Otherwise keep it to yourself.)
Take the time to have a good pre-game conference with your partner. Communicate with pre-arranged signals and eye contact on coverage throughout the game. You may encounter a partner who is lax in returning your signs. Talk to him - make sure you are on the same page. The only thing worse than two umpires showing up for a play at third, is no umpire being there for that play. Make it clear in pre-game that if PU is stuck on a fair-foul call, that U1 will take that play at 3B if he doesn't hear anything from PU. Learn to read off your partner. If U1 takes a play at first in foul territory (usually on a bunt in front of the plate), come out into the infield and be prepared to take the batter runner into second on an overthrow if your partner gets trapped.
Everyone makes modifications on the mechanics that we were taught in rookie class. Make sure that your ball and strike, safe and out calls are strong and consistent. Don't fall into the behavior of making lackadaisical calls. Slow down your timing on safe/out calls. It's nothing till you say its something. Don't rush your calls at first base. We are not in a race to see who can call it the fastest. As a rule of thumb, you should not make a call until the batter runner has crossed the base by 2-4 strides . This will give you plenty of time to really see the play and be in a great position if the ball is dropped, the tag is missed, or the foot comes off the base. Nothing is more embarrassing than making a call too quickly and having to change it. Don't fall into the trap of anticipating the play. If you expect the runner to beat the throw, you are not seeing that play with an impartial eye, and your chances of blowing it have greatly increased. On the double play, wait until the ball has been thrown to first base by the mid-fielder before you turn and make that out call at second. There is a natural tendency to call this play quickly. Fight it and stay with that play at second until the ball is thrown to first base. If you release too quickly to get some distance, you may miss interference (at higher levels interference at second is PU's responsibility).You won't get much distance here, but try to get a step or two - it demonstrates hustle. Game Management
What type of official are you? Are you "The Boss" or are you a solid professional who keeps the game moving. Chances are, you're a little of both.
Dictator type umpires tend to want things to unfold at their pace, as opposed to the natural flow of the game which comes from the players. They refuse to treat coaches and players with respect. Their sense of authority crosses the line into authoritarianism. They are often poor communicators - they rarely listen to any input from their partners or the coaches. They tend to believe all their calls are right. When they make a mistake, they refuse to admit it. They enjoy the boos - that is when they are receiving as much attention as the athletes.
On the other hand, you have the Relationship Umpire. You can sum up his/her qualities in two words: management and communication. A good umpire knows how to keep coaches and players in check and also how to keep the lines of communication open. They are active listeners. Not only do they hear what is being said, they absorb and understand the information that is given. They ask questions. They don't intervene unless they have to. They treat everyone involved in the game with respect. They value constructive criticism because it helps them to evaluate what is being offered and then incorporate it to sharpen their skill sets.. They prefer remaining in the background.
Conflicts are inevitable in baseball. Coaches and fans very often see what they want to see. As a professional official at the amateur level, you are trained to see things with an unbiased, impartial eye. As you gain experience, you will see thousands of whackers, steals and pick-offs. You will be in the best position possible to make those calls and you will get the call right. Unfortunately, one of the managers may not see it that way. Out he comes all piss and vinegar, spewing hellfire. What do you do?
Plan for conflict. Be prepared. Accept that conflicts will occur. Be armed with the tools necessary to defuse and resolve them. People perceive things differently. That is the key point to understand.
Recognize conflict. Keep an eye out for potential conflicts before they blow up. This is just good game management skills tactics. Conflicts that are allowed to escalate without prior resolution do three things: they degrade your professional integrity; they result in further clashes (everyone can see that you are not interested in managing the conflict, only in winning it); they interfere with successful game management.
Here are five questions that can help to arrive at resolutions to conflicts.
What's the problem? That's the first thing you need to know. Let the coach have his say. Don't interrupt him. Let him talk himself out. The more he talks, the less angry he becomes. When you think you have the crux of the beef, repeat it back to him in your own words. You need to define the conflict in concrete terms.
Whose problem is it? You are absolutely certain about a call you made, but out comes an angry coach. You might be tempted to say, he's the one with the problem, not me. In reality, part of the answer to the question, "Who's problem is it?" should be, "mine." It's your problem one way or another, and you need to address it.
Are emotions overruling reason? Once you understand the problem and recognize that you have to deal with it, you must realize that the coach is experiencing intense feelings and may not be expressing them. People who speak emotionally are not necessarily speaking rationally. It is also important to listen to what you are saying and how you are saying it. You have the power to inflame or diffuse this situation.
What could possibly help the situation? Examine solutions that are specific, realistic and balanced. Telling a coach to "sit down and shut up" is certainly specific and realistic, but it is by no means balanced. Hard as it is sometimes, you must leave your personal feelings out of this. Don't expect a win-lose situation. That just shows everybody how much of your ego is involved. The bigger the ego, the bigger the conflict.
Is it working? Once a possible resolution is reached, it can be as simple as saying, "Coach, I didn't see a balk on that play, but I'll keep my eye on it." Other times, the coach just may not be listening to you. After he tells you what he saw, or how he thinks a rule should be interpreted, and you explain to him that you were on it, and that you got the call right, he may choose to extend the conflict. What he will probably do is repeat himself, or ask you to go to your partner for help. At this point, just tell him, "Coach we've already discussed this. There's no reason to go to my partner. I'm responsible for the call, that's what I saw, and that's my call. Let's play ball." Turn, walk away and get the game going again.
These points may help you to take some of the stress out of conflicts. Talk plainly and get to the point. For example, if a coach questions you about the location of pitches, it may seem like no big deal to tell him, "That was outside." However, it will cause you a lot of grief in the long run. You may also find yourself giving location of pitches by indicating with your hands: high, low, outside, inside. While this may seem an effective way to quiet the peanut gallery, don't do it! It is a poor mechanic and not at all professional. When a coach asks me the location of a pitch, I normally will let it go once. The next time it happens I will tell him "Coach, we are not going to discuss balls and strikes." That effectively ends it. When you tell that coach that he cannot argue balls and strikes, don't raise your voice. Avoid any "pained" or angry facial expressions.
It isn't easy to maintain your poise when the heat gets turned up in a conflict. Understand where the coach is coming from. Coaches often want to win so badly that it blinds them to reason or even reality. Do not personalize their attack. They are not attacking you; they are attacking your call. (Sometimes coaches do cross this line. As a rule of thumb, if they say, "That's a terrible call" ignore it. If they direct it at you and say, "You're terrible" - then they're done.) Stay focused on the message you are trying to get across. If they are emotion driven, don't engage them. Just repeat your message again. It should help to diffuse the situation.
Things are going to be said from the dugouts and the stands during a game. While it's easier said than done, pull in the "rabbit ears." Comments from the stands should be disregarded completely, unless the spectator becomes abusive. If that situation arises, involve an on-site official (league/board member, tournament official, etc.) If there are no officials available, involve the managers. Tell them it is their responsibility to control the sportsmanship of their fans. This, and peer pressure from other spectators, will usually do the trick.
Since we do games at many different skills levels during the season, we also encounter experienced and inexperienced coaches. Many have obtained their rules knowledge and strategies by watching baseball on television. Many of these coaches are amiable. Some are not. Recognize their ability and try not to be condescending. You will also encounter coaches who put in the work. They will take the time to read the rulebook, try to understand it and may use the opportunity to ask you questions to clarify situations that confuse them. They will stress fundamentals and work to instill their love of the game in their players. At the higher levels, you will begin to encounter coaches with years of professional experience. They are very good at what they do, and they expect you to be very good at what you do.
In order to understand how to deal with coaches during times of disagreement, it is helpful to understand where they are coming from and what they are trying to accomplish. Some coaches believe that officials can be influenced and intimidated. They believe that yelling, cajoling or begging will subtly sway an umpire to think twice the next time around. It is gospel in many coaching circles that the reason you yell at an umpire is to work on the next call. They can usually spot umpires who are moving up in level or umpires who are just starting out. There may be times when they feel that they can manipulate you to their advantage. Stand your ground. Use some of the techniques discussed in this article. Exude confidence. Above all you have a responsibility to the game itself and the players and coaches once you step on to the field. Stay in control.
As I said at the beginning, you have probably heard much of this before. Then again, maybe you learned something new. If there are points that I raised that you don't agree with - that's okay. If you are comfortable with the way you are working your games, and the mechanics that you are using are getting the results you expect, stay with them. If you want to change a mechanic or work on things that will tweak your game up a notch, Fall ball season is coming up. This is a perfect time to start working on things that you may want to change. The games are usually instructive in nature and not as competitive as tournament season,- so you don't have to worry about looking a little confused and out of sync if you want to try something new. It takes about a month to build muscle memory, so don't get discouraged if some things take longer to master than others. Keep at it, and remember what Bob always says, "We're all works in progress."
Rules Knowledge
Know your rules. "Knowledge is Power!" Read the Little League Rule Book before the start of the season in April. It is a good idea to re-read it several times during the season, a section here, a section there. The same goes for Official Baseball Rules (OBR) when you start to do games for leagues using those rules. If you are doing games that use different rule sets, it is well worth the investment to purchase Baseball Rule Differences by Carl Childress. The Professional Baseball Umpire Corp. (PBUC) Umpire Manual is another great and fairly inexpensive book that gives detailed interpretations of OBR. If you can afford it, The Rules of Professional Baseball by Chris Jaska and Rick Roder (commonly known as Jaska/Roder) goes for $36.99 + s/h.
You don't need to be a rules maven, but there are certain situations that you need to know cold. These include interference, obstruction and their variations, awarding of bases on throws and catch & carry (or fall) into dead ball areas, fair/foul, and what constitutes a catch. As you begin to umpire at the higher levels, you really need to be on top of balks, identifying them, calling them, and knowing when to stop play and award bases. These are plays that you will see over and over again. You need to get them right, the first time, every time. Sometimes, too much knowledge can be a dangerous thing. Do not call plays just to show that you know some obscure rule. When no one expects that "Third World" call, don't make it.
Hustle
Nothing looks better than an umpire who is busting his butt from the first pitch to the last out. Does it really matter on that "can of corn" to center field that you make that call from home plate? Probably not. You can see it just as well from there. So why bust it out to the mound area? When what appears to be a routine play turns into a difficult one, those extra 40-60 feet could be crucial in a catch/no catch situation. There's no going to your partner for help here. He's busting into the pivot and you're on your own. Hustling on every play is habit forming (and it's a damn good habit to get into!). It sends a message to the coaches and the players that you mean business and that you take the game seriously. Trust me, as the game goes on, you will hear less and less sniping from the sidelines. When that whacker happens, and you're in proper position and you sell that call - you won't hear a peep.
Game Preparation
When do you begin to prepare for your game? While it may seem like overkill, I begin to prepare the morning of the game. I start to think about the level of play, who I'm working with, and the field conditions. If it's a field that I have never worked before, I always plan to arrive early so that I can check it out. You don't need to spend hours on this, but you should give it some thought throughout the day.
Obviously, it is better to get to your game site earlier rather than later. Use the extra time you may have to clean up or fine tune your equipment. I always have reading material or a good cd in my car to kill some time. Recently, I read an article on game preparation that suggested that what you do before a game can better prepare you for that game. The article stated that reading the rules, an article on officiating, or just something from the sports section on baseball gets you thinking about baseball and gets you into a better frame of mind. I've tried this and it seems to work. It works in a very subtle way and you may not even be aware of it. Think about it this way. When you walk onto the field to do a game, you don't want to be thinking about the job, the wife, the kids, or what you're doing after the game. You want to be focused on the tasks at hand. Think about possible plays and how you will react. Get your head in the game.
When we umpire games at different skills levels, staying consistent with the strike zone can be difficult at times. The strike zone for a Little League Majors game is quite different than an FABL 16 open game. The strike zone for College Wood Bat is different still. When you find yourself jumping from level to level, you may experience some problems with your consistency. Good game preparation can help. Think about your strike zone before you step onto the field. Be prepared. Once you get on the field, if you are doing the higher levels, put on your mask, get behind the catcher and watch each pitcher in the first inning. (Do this for every new pitcher when they enter the game.) Use this time to gauge the pitcher's velocity, his movement on the ball, and make sure that you see at least one breaking pitch. You can ask the catcher, "What's he throw?" He'll tell you. It's okay for the batter to be locked and lost the first time he sees a breaking pitch. It's not okay for you. At the higher levels, forget that Little League strike zone with the one ball off, two balls off the plate. Make them earn their strikes at these levels.
Believe me, you will know when you are not seeing the outside corner well. This is probably a result of the way you are setting up. Fight for your spot. A key to sound plate work is locking in. A good experienced catcher will help you. When he asks for a pitch on the corner and frames it for you, ring that up. If you don't, you are going to be in for a long day. When you feel you are missing pitches, one of the most important things in improving your skills is recognizing this situation and making the proper adjustment as early as possible in the game. Another pitch that may drive you crazy is the late breaking curve ball. If you're calling this a strike, you're probably getting heat from the offensive side. What's happening is that you are not tracking that pitch all the way into the glove. You are calling that pitch at 58' or 59' when it looks like a strike, not at 60'6'' when the catcher is picking it out of the dirt. Slow down. Get your timing right. See the pitch, track the pitch, call the pitch. Most importantly, relax. If you're not relaxed, you will tense up, play with your indicator, and shift from one foot to the other. This can give the impression that you are not comfortable and would rather be somewhere else.
Look the Part, Act the Part
If you want to be taken seriously, your appearance counts for a lot. First impressions are lasting impressions. Remember that you are a professional umpire working at the amateur level. Clean shirt, pants, and shined shoes are a must. Here are a few tips that you may want to incorporate into your game to kick it up a notch. One way to come off looking unprofessional is to shout out obvious calls. When a foul ball hits the backstop, there is no reason to scream, "Foul!" Everybody knows it's foul. Save the big call for the diving catch in the outfield, not the routine ones. During a mid-inning pitching change, you are not required to tell the pitcher the count, the number of outs, or where the runners are. That's the coach's' job. If the pitching change came in the middle of an at-bat, just give the count as you normally do. Do not to have conversations with your partner between innings, especially if a controversial call occurred in the inning that just ended. Most importantly, when you make a call, and it is disputed by a coach who then asks you to go to your partner for help, don't. One play, one call. If you had a doubt, you should have gone for help before you made the call. While conferring with your partner after the call may show that you "just want to get it right," it also shows that you are not really sure about your call. If you find yourself in this position, regardless of what your partner tells you, don't change your call. If you do, you will get an earful from the other coach, and then both coaches will expect similar discussions on every other close call. Once a call is made, the umpire who made it must stand by it. (There are a few exceptions to this: a tipped ball dropped by the catcher; the ball is dropped and on the ground on a tag play; batter is hit in the box by a batted ball that goes fair. In these instances, call time, tell your partner what you saw, and have him make the proper call. Otherwise keep it to yourself.)
Take the time to have a good pre-game conference with your partner. Communicate with pre-arranged signals and eye contact on coverage throughout the game. You may encounter a partner who is lax in returning your signs. Talk to him - make sure you are on the same page. The only thing worse than two umpires showing up for a play at third, is no umpire being there for that play. Make it clear in pre-game that if PU is stuck on a fair-foul call, that U1 will take that play at 3B if he doesn't hear anything from PU. Learn to read off your partner. If U1 takes a play at first in foul territory (usually on a bunt in front of the plate), come out into the infield and be prepared to take the batter runner into second on an overthrow if your partner gets trapped.
Everyone makes modifications on the mechanics that we were taught in rookie class. Make sure that your ball and strike, safe and out calls are strong and consistent. Don't fall into the behavior of making lackadaisical calls. Slow down your timing on safe/out calls. It's nothing till you say its something. Don't rush your calls at first base. We are not in a race to see who can call it the fastest. As a rule of thumb, you should not make a call until the batter runner has crossed the base by 2-4 strides . This will give you plenty of time to really see the play and be in a great position if the ball is dropped, the tag is missed, or the foot comes off the base. Nothing is more embarrassing than making a call too quickly and having to change it. Don't fall into the trap of anticipating the play. If you expect the runner to beat the throw, you are not seeing that play with an impartial eye, and your chances of blowing it have greatly increased. On the double play, wait until the ball has been thrown to first base by the mid-fielder before you turn and make that out call at second. There is a natural tendency to call this play quickly. Fight it and stay with that play at second until the ball is thrown to first base. If you release too quickly to get some distance, you may miss interference (at higher levels interference at second is PU's responsibility).You won't get much distance here, but try to get a step or two - it demonstrates hustle. Game Management
What type of official are you? Are you "The Boss" or are you a solid professional who keeps the game moving. Chances are, you're a little of both.
Dictator type umpires tend to want things to unfold at their pace, as opposed to the natural flow of the game which comes from the players. They refuse to treat coaches and players with respect. Their sense of authority crosses the line into authoritarianism. They are often poor communicators - they rarely listen to any input from their partners or the coaches. They tend to believe all their calls are right. When they make a mistake, they refuse to admit it. They enjoy the boos - that is when they are receiving as much attention as the athletes.
On the other hand, you have the Relationship Umpire. You can sum up his/her qualities in two words: management and communication. A good umpire knows how to keep coaches and players in check and also how to keep the lines of communication open. They are active listeners. Not only do they hear what is being said, they absorb and understand the information that is given. They ask questions. They don't intervene unless they have to. They treat everyone involved in the game with respect. They value constructive criticism because it helps them to evaluate what is being offered and then incorporate it to sharpen their skill sets.. They prefer remaining in the background.
Conflicts are inevitable in baseball. Coaches and fans very often see what they want to see. As a professional official at the amateur level, you are trained to see things with an unbiased, impartial eye. As you gain experience, you will see thousands of whackers, steals and pick-offs. You will be in the best position possible to make those calls and you will get the call right. Unfortunately, one of the managers may not see it that way. Out he comes all piss and vinegar, spewing hellfire. What do you do?
Plan for conflict. Be prepared. Accept that conflicts will occur. Be armed with the tools necessary to defuse and resolve them. People perceive things differently. That is the key point to understand.
Recognize conflict. Keep an eye out for potential conflicts before they blow up. This is just good game management skills tactics. Conflicts that are allowed to escalate without prior resolution do three things: they degrade your professional integrity; they result in further clashes (everyone can see that you are not interested in managing the conflict, only in winning it); they interfere with successful game management.
Here are five questions that can help to arrive at resolutions to conflicts.
What's the problem? That's the first thing you need to know. Let the coach have his say. Don't interrupt him. Let him talk himself out. The more he talks, the less angry he becomes. When you think you have the crux of the beef, repeat it back to him in your own words. You need to define the conflict in concrete terms.
Whose problem is it? You are absolutely certain about a call you made, but out comes an angry coach. You might be tempted to say, he's the one with the problem, not me. In reality, part of the answer to the question, "Who's problem is it?" should be, "mine." It's your problem one way or another, and you need to address it.
Are emotions overruling reason? Once you understand the problem and recognize that you have to deal with it, you must realize that the coach is experiencing intense feelings and may not be expressing them. People who speak emotionally are not necessarily speaking rationally. It is also important to listen to what you are saying and how you are saying it. You have the power to inflame or diffuse this situation.
What could possibly help the situation? Examine solutions that are specific, realistic and balanced. Telling a coach to "sit down and shut up" is certainly specific and realistic, but it is by no means balanced. Hard as it is sometimes, you must leave your personal feelings out of this. Don't expect a win-lose situation. That just shows everybody how much of your ego is involved. The bigger the ego, the bigger the conflict.
Is it working? Once a possible resolution is reached, it can be as simple as saying, "Coach, I didn't see a balk on that play, but I'll keep my eye on it." Other times, the coach just may not be listening to you. After he tells you what he saw, or how he thinks a rule should be interpreted, and you explain to him that you were on it, and that you got the call right, he may choose to extend the conflict. What he will probably do is repeat himself, or ask you to go to your partner for help. At this point, just tell him, "Coach we've already discussed this. There's no reason to go to my partner. I'm responsible for the call, that's what I saw, and that's my call. Let's play ball." Turn, walk away and get the game going again.
These points may help you to take some of the stress out of conflicts. Talk plainly and get to the point. For example, if a coach questions you about the location of pitches, it may seem like no big deal to tell him, "That was outside." However, it will cause you a lot of grief in the long run. You may also find yourself giving location of pitches by indicating with your hands: high, low, outside, inside. While this may seem an effective way to quiet the peanut gallery, don't do it! It is a poor mechanic and not at all professional. When a coach asks me the location of a pitch, I normally will let it go once. The next time it happens I will tell him "Coach, we are not going to discuss balls and strikes." That effectively ends it. When you tell that coach that he cannot argue balls and strikes, don't raise your voice. Avoid any "pained" or angry facial expressions.
It isn't easy to maintain your poise when the heat gets turned up in a conflict. Understand where the coach is coming from. Coaches often want to win so badly that it blinds them to reason or even reality. Do not personalize their attack. They are not attacking you; they are attacking your call. (Sometimes coaches do cross this line. As a rule of thumb, if they say, "That's a terrible call" ignore it. If they direct it at you and say, "You're terrible" - then they're done.) Stay focused on the message you are trying to get across. If they are emotion driven, don't engage them. Just repeat your message again. It should help to diffuse the situation.
Things are going to be said from the dugouts and the stands during a game. While it's easier said than done, pull in the "rabbit ears." Comments from the stands should be disregarded completely, unless the spectator becomes abusive. If that situation arises, involve an on-site official (league/board member, tournament official, etc.) If there are no officials available, involve the managers. Tell them it is their responsibility to control the sportsmanship of their fans. This, and peer pressure from other spectators, will usually do the trick.
Since we do games at many different skills levels during the season, we also encounter experienced and inexperienced coaches. Many have obtained their rules knowledge and strategies by watching baseball on television. Many of these coaches are amiable. Some are not. Recognize their ability and try not to be condescending. You will also encounter coaches who put in the work. They will take the time to read the rulebook, try to understand it and may use the opportunity to ask you questions to clarify situations that confuse them. They will stress fundamentals and work to instill their love of the game in their players. At the higher levels, you will begin to encounter coaches with years of professional experience. They are very good at what they do, and they expect you to be very good at what you do.
In order to understand how to deal with coaches during times of disagreement, it is helpful to understand where they are coming from and what they are trying to accomplish. Some coaches believe that officials can be influenced and intimidated. They believe that yelling, cajoling or begging will subtly sway an umpire to think twice the next time around. It is gospel in many coaching circles that the reason you yell at an umpire is to work on the next call. They can usually spot umpires who are moving up in level or umpires who are just starting out. There may be times when they feel that they can manipulate you to their advantage. Stand your ground. Use some of the techniques discussed in this article. Exude confidence. Above all you have a responsibility to the game itself and the players and coaches once you step on to the field. Stay in control.
As I said at the beginning, you have probably heard much of this before. Then again, maybe you learned something new. If there are points that I raised that you don't agree with - that's okay. If you are comfortable with the way you are working your games, and the mechanics that you are using are getting the results you expect, stay with them. If you want to change a mechanic or work on things that will tweak your game up a notch, Fall ball season is coming up. This is a perfect time to start working on things that you may want to change. The games are usually instructive in nature and not as competitive as tournament season,- so you don't have to worry about looking a little confused and out of sync if you want to try something new. It takes about a month to build muscle memory, so don't get discouraged if some things take longer to master than others. Keep at it, and remember what Bob always says, "We're all works in progress."
