Fungo drills

Last fall one of my articles highlighted a technique called "situational football" that Bill Belichick, coach of the New England Patriots, uses to teach football players to think. I never thought about applying that thought process to the diamond. At camp we did just that, and I learned a valuable lesson.

When I played, "situations" were a part of the practice almost everyday and something I looked forward to. After my playing days ended, I didn't think about it, nor did I apply that line of thinking to the baseball field. Knowing the situation and the things you should do as an official are just as relevant for an umpire as they are for a ballplayer. I have come away with a new approach to the game and will include that type of training in every clinic we conduct for our umpires here in my association.

Continued...