Coaching Safe Signs

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Dec 18, 2016
163
28
ok...I'm pretty new to coaching and I must admit I get pretty excited when coaching 1st base. Not in a bad way, but I have been known to throw the safe signs on close plays. I've only had one umpire ask me not to do it and I did as requested. I don't think I do it consciously it's just more a reaction. I've seen many posters on this board call reference coaches who do this in a negative light; and I guess I'm asking why is it looked down on?

The other question I have is what in the world does DD mean, when people reference their daughter? (lol)

Thanks
Dave
 
Dec 2, 2013
3,409
113
Texas
DD means dear daughter or darling daughter. After some games it could mean D%$! Daughter!. AD(Awesome Daughter) attended a college camp and they were teaching the players to signal safe on close plays as they were running to first on close plays. I guess hoping to subliminally suggest I am safe and you should call me safe. I don't have a problem with a base coach doing the same thing unless we are talking about 8u coach pitch. Maybe 16U/18U level it is an "okay" thing to do at high level national tourneys.
 
Feb 12, 2014
648
43
As an umpire, I was never a fan of it.. I might let it go once or twice but if it was on every close call, I'd let the coach know that I was the umpire and he should concentrate on coaching the base and not making calls. It can be interpreted as "showing up" an umpire.

If you smell her bat bag after it's been left in my van all night, DD can mean disgusting daughter!
 

TMD

Feb 18, 2016
433
43
I am usually the first base coach for our 18U team. I have been known to throw a safe sign or two in the heat of the moment (usually in a tight game where that runner is critical). I do try to not do that, but don't always succeed. Now, if the umps would just get it right every time then we 1B coaches wouldn't need to help! :)

Regarding "DD", I personally don't like it and don't use it, but that's just me.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
If I am coaching 1st I never use a safe sign, seems tacky to me.

Ump does not my help, new set of glasses maybe, but not my help.
 
Jul 3, 2013
438
43
Watch any HS, college or pro softball/ baseball game. Coaches almost always do it on close plays. I would tend to think that any umpire who takes offense to it is being an OOJ.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
I see it all the time and I guess it is the norm. Personally I find it annoying, but to each their own. I can see how some umpires may take exception to it. On a close play they would have no problem with a difference of opinion, but if they happen to agree it may appear that they are being influenced by the antics.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
In 8U we have older girls umpire the games.

We had a formal protest filed against use because HC yelled safe, hand gesture and all. Apparently he was trying to intimidate umpire. :) hard not to do sometimes.
 
Sep 14, 2011
768
18
Glendale, AZ
The reasons why it can be looked down on have been posted....

As an umpire, I understand that you are there for your team and it is probably just a reaction to a close play. For the most part, I ignore it and let it go.
If I perceive that it is an attempt to show me up because of what may have happened previously in the game or whatever, then I will deal with it.

Every situation is different, but more than likely it will start with "Coach, please don't do that" as a "friendly" reminder and go from there....
 

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