Pre-Game Conference: SET THE TONE! (Part 2)

The second part of pre game conferences I want to talk about is the coaches pre game conference.

Keep it short and sweet. Head Coaches want to be at the pre game conference just as much as we do (which is not very much). They want to get it over with and back to their teams. No need for small talk and things like that. If it is a rivalry game or a high intensity game (such as a tournament game) it might not hurt to try to lighten the mood a little bit but keep it professional.

Hit the major stuff:
Introductions
Line Up Cards
Ground Rules
Sportsmanship

Anything else is basically extra. Get the major stuff done first.

When you get the line up cards, look them over, find the DH (if used) and then declare them official. The home team head coach is responsible in most case for giving the ground rules for the day. LISTEN CAREFULLY and enforce them properly. Also make sure that the ground rules don't conflict with any rules in the book. Express to the coaches that not only is sportsmanship encouraged, it is EXPECTED. Tell both of them good luck and send them back to their dugouts.

Again, its important to get the conference finished quickly and efficiently. Don't be there any longer than you have to.