::iil]I]]]]]l BAS E BAL L ln baseball, where disagreements over calls are bound to occur, how those disagreements are handled can determine whether the situation cools down or blows up. Vic Maldonado of El Paso, Texas. NOT.SO.GRAZY TALK Fir,r* fidaxirx$ t* fsrmvmr:t e*mrnl;r3i*mt!*r:'ffi**w*Ljps' lly Pi:i*r l;rskulsl<i We lose too many motivated we may disagree?" Umpires are umpires who become discouraged not always treated with respect by f Jmpiring a baseball game poses by the amount of conflict that occurs players and coaches. We can't focus \J many challenges. ln a single during a game. They aren't prepared on that disrespectful behavior and game, hundreds of decisions are made to handle the conflict effectively, Iet it affect how we treat others. involving balls and strikes, fair, foul which can lead to negative outcomes Umpires have to remain professional and out and safe calls. The stress level for them. So they quit. We need to in their response to being treated can be high. train umpires in effective conflict disrespectfully. Add in the probability that you will management skills so we can retain There are five "Maxims of be recorded on someone's camera. You these motivated umpires. Communication" that form the don't want to do or say "bad" things Every human being values foundation of conflict management on video. You want to look good. being treated with dignity. Baseball for umpires. These maxims' It's highty unlikeiy that everyone coaches, players and umpires are no demonstrate your respect for the is going to agree with all of your calls. different. How do we accomplish coaches and players. Therefore conflict rears its ugly head. that? We accomplish it by showing 1. Listen to the players/coaches It's inevitable that conflict will each other respect. Consider this with all of your senses. occur. You can't avoid it but you can statement: "Can we agree to treat 2. When appropriate, ask; { effectively manage it so the game can each other with dignity by showing don't tell players/coaches to do continue and you can look good. each other respect, even though something. 12 I REFEBEE July 201 7 3. When appropriate, exPlain confrontational and demonstrates and set the context for your ca1ls/ respect for the coach. decisions. An umpire should always be pro NCM rules do not 4. Give players/coaches oPtions prepared to answer this question: While and NFHS "tNlny?" We don't have to explain allow courtesy runners, rather than threats. rules allow their use by state 5. When appropriate give every call but there are times when adoption. The suggested NFHS players/coaches a second chance. umpires have to explain why we rules allow the team at bat to use Listening to players and coaches made a particular call or why we are a coudesy runner for the pitcher the same with all of your senses means that asking someone to do something. and/or catcher, but runner may not be The explanation may be why you individual you hear and interpret accuratelY used as a courtesy runner for what is being said to you and others awarded bases on an obstruction or both positions during the game. during the game (not just during why you called a runner out on an Players who have participated in the conflict). The opposite of talking interference play. An explanation the game in any other capacity should be listening, but for some helps to promote decisiveness and may not serve as a courtesy runner. umpires the opposite of talking authority in a respectful manner. It is waiting to interrupt the PlaYer demonstrates your knowledge and and/or coach to give them our competency as an umpire. explanation. Not all explanations satisfy a Listening conveys empathy, coach or player. They may continue "You have three responsibilities. which is an effective tool in to dispute your call or decision. Your first is to the game of baseball, but that doesn't a relationship You've already explained why you generating positive necessarily mean the time to during conflict. Listening is not just har.e made the call. Now it's commissioner's off ice. Your hearing. Observe the interactions continue to play the game. What do second is to your profession, but between teams. Pay attention you do next? Is it time to eject? TheY that doesn't necessarily mean the to everything around you. BY haven't said or done anything that union, it means the profession. And the third responsibility is to get a sense of how warrants an ejection, so what should observing you do in your heart what you know the game is progressing. Are coaches you do? is honest, moral and correct. {rustrated with their players, the You should offer the coach And if you keep 'em in that other team or maybe the umPires? opiions, not threats (maxim no. 4). order, nothing that you do will be Listening allows you to gather Here's an example. "Coach, I've wrong." * MLB umpire Joe West intelligence which allows you to explained the call. This is a good SOUBCE NEWYORXIIMES prepare to handle any conflict that game. Let's get back to the dugout may occur. You don't want to be so we can continue." You can then surprised and have it "blow up in follow up with a negative option your face." Yor-r want to have a well- such as, "If you don't go back to planned response to the conflict. the dugout I will have to eject you." Chalk Check The next four "maxims" are He now has a decision to make. It Lightning, rain, bus breakdown, traffic those are common The condition is that becomes his choice. - conditional. why a high school is to "give reasons the players and/or coaches are The final maxim baseball game gets delayed. behaving in a manner that allows players and coaches a second But the April 11 game between you to talk with them in a rationai chance" (when you can). Baseball Excelsior (Victorville) and manner. If their behavior requires is a sport ful1 of emotion. Not Academy for Academic Excellence (Apple Valley) in California was a bench restriction or ejection, then everyone will agree with your delayed because of chalk. leads you have to take action. calls, which to spontaneous Specifically, the lack of it. School Step into the role of a baseball outbursts. As long as the officials managed to get the or softball coach. There's a close call behavior doesn't reach a level batter's boxes and third-base line on the bases and your bench moans that is unsportsmanlike, give drawn before running out. More chalk was found quickly and about the ca1l. The them a second chance. Address and groans the delay only pushed the start and umpire says this to you: "Keep your the behavior respectfully time back by approximately 20 bench quiet." Is that a request or an professionally. minutes. order? It's an order. Giving orders A great umpire is one who can can create conflict and escalate the talk a player or coach out of being situation. ejected while stiil maintaining the game. I We should be asking people control of i : t,:.1 : :.i i.; 1,.,, r, t :: ;.,' i : 1,,'.;... r. E rather than telling them to do things l:.. i,.. i :, (when it is appropriate). You can 1.1 t..., e simply ask this of the coach: "Coach, it r,rii,r,tii t.|))t-:i.i ii i!I t.,;t';/i:!'t:tii. k can you help me out here and keeP '::I I :);i,:.ii':!t.,' rrr; .r;;1,1r-: l-fli.lifr;: your bench quiet?" This is non- FEFEFEE Julv 2017 13 :,,.,l,,,,,,84$EBALL Eyes Have It ln each of the following you are given a situation and at least two 1'ri,r:r;rt::;t Lr:r possible answers. You are to decide iii' 3l:pLl':: which answer or answers are correct for NFHS, NCAA or pro rules, which give yourself the best chance p. fo might vary. Solutions: 81. I of geiting a call correct, the most 1. R3 is on third. F5 holds the ball important factors are: 1) Get the to attempt the hidden-ball trick. best angie possible,2) Be set for the The catcher, not realizing what is critical action, and 3) Practice proPer going on, is granted time by the timing. Proper timing is one of the plate umpire. After the conference most difficult things for umpires to at the mound ends, the pitcher stands immediately behind the master, and even the best among us rubber as if in a pitching position is bound to make a call too quickly but F5 still has the ball. from time to time. So how do we a. A balk is called. practice proper timing so that when b. A balk is called if and when we get a whacker that may decide F1 touches the rubber. c. F5 should be told to give the the outcome of the game, we are ball back io F1. ca1m, cool and collected? d. A balk is called when the You may not realize it, btlt plate umpire puts the ball in play. you have literally thousands of e. The base umpire can tell the opportunities every season to plate umpire not to make the ball live because F1 does not have the practice "proper use of eyes," which bali.