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Umpires Corner

Garden Grove Pony Umpire Program

Make the Call, Be an Umpire

Make the Call, Be an Umpire

Why Umpire?   

Umpiring provides you so much more than just the ability to officiate the rules of the game. It can make feel; 

Connected-umpiring is a great way to make friends for life and be an integral part of the baseball community 

Respected-Umpiring provide the opportunity for everyone to pay the game in a safe, fair and enjoyable environment. Umpiring also develops skills that can be used for life;  communication, resilience and leadership just to name a few!

Energized-Umpiring lets you experience the thrill of the game, contributes towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle and offers a pathway to participate in the sport at the highest level. 

There are many opportunities to become involved as an baseball umpire at Garden Grove Pony Baseball, with clear pathways and support structures available for those aspiring to officiate at the highest level. 

If you want to learn more, please contact GGPonybaseball.gmail.com

 

 

 

 

New Umpire Clinic

If your interested in becoming a PONY  baseball official for

Garden Grove Pony Baseball

Garden Grove Pony Field

For more information, contact ggponybaseball@gmail.com


Baseball Rule Myths

The batter who batted out of order is the person declared out?

The PROPER batter is the one called out. Any hit or advance made by the batter or runner due to the hit, walk, error or other reason is nullified. The next batter is the one who follows the proper batter who was called out (Rule: 6.07 (b, 1)

How to Handle an Umpire's Questionable Call as a Manager or Coach

 Intentionally or not, managers and coaches who argue with umpires – or otherwise share their disagreement with calls – send messages to players and fans that can degrade the experience for everyone involved. Even without “arguing balls and strikes” a coach’s groan or over-exuberant “did-he-go?” can divert fan focus from the players, distract the players themselves, and incite a crowd into its own misbehavior toward the umpires.

As managers and coaches, remind yourself before each game that all the adults are there to provide the players a fun, positive experience. It may even help to say that out loud at the pre-game ground-rules meeting: “Thanks for coming out to umpire today. I try to keep this all about the players, and I don’t want to argue calls, but if I have a question, how can I approach you?” Then, be sure to respect whatever guidelines the umpires share.

It also is important to teach your players to show respect. And if there are questionable calls, turn them into teachable moments. If a player is called out on strikes, returns to the dugout complaining the pitch was outside, tend to the player not the umpire. Ask the player what he/she learned, because the teachable moment is both technical and emotional.

For example: From the technical side, the coach can explain to the player that with two strikes, you have to protect the plate and work to get a good pitch to hit. On the emotional side, he/she can encourage the player to shake it off, learn from the experience, and remember during their next at-bat that the umpire is calling the outside pitch. If you still want to discuss the call with the umpire, wait until between innings, request permission to approach the umpire, and calmly, quietly and privately explain your point of view.

This sets a much better example for your players and fans and keeps everyone focused on what matters most -- the players.