| Own The Zone Sports PICK PROOF SIGNS recognized nationally |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Article
Volume 51. No. 2 - Friday, Jan. 25, 2008
TOP BASEBALL INNOVATIONS
Unique Products Should Be Closely Looked At By Baseball Coaches
Pick-Proof Signs
Two years ago, Arkansas-Little Rock University Head Coach Jim Lawler brought to
our attention a new system to call pitches by coaches in the dugout which involved
the use of quarterback wrist bands for catchers (with a special coded grid placed
under the plastic) and a master sheet for a coach in the dugout.
He explained that the genesis of the system took place in the Fall of 2004 when Head
Coach Boomer Walker and Pitching Coach David Carter of Southern Idaho devised an
ingenious plan that would scuttle any hope an opponent had for picking off signs.
With signs becoming overly complex for catchers to follow, they thought that utilizing
a code system similar to football would work more efficiently.
The coach would have a master sheet with multiple 3-digit numbers corresponding to
certain pitches (fastball, curve, change up, etc. or defensive calls.)
The coach in the dugout calling the pitches or defensive plays would yell out (or flash
with their hand) a certain 3 digit set of numbers as the catcher received the code.
Then the catcher would look at his quarterback wrist band and glance at the first tow
digits across the top of the grid and go down to than intersecting point with the third
digit.
A code would be there to signify which pitch or defensive play to signal in to the
pitcher or infielders.
At the time, the master chart and quarterback wrist band inserts were done by hand
with no way of regenerating the sings so different 3-digit numbers came up.
As time has rolled on, different coaches across the nation have utilized their computer
skills in Microsoft Excel spread sheets to make up master sheets which synchronize
with the wrist band inserts so that with the pressing of a key on the computer, a brand
new set of numbers come up.
Now a company called Own The Zone Sports has turned this system into something
special that all coaches on all levels should seriously look at.
The software, which only works on PC's that utilize Microsoft Excel, 256 MB Ram, and
512 MB available hard drive space, allows coaches to utilize 3 digit signs for pitching,
defense and offensive plays.
The beauty of this system is that it allows coaches to custom design their pitches,
defensive and offensive plays.
If you want to make a set of custom signs for every pitcher on your staff, you can
easily do it.
Even more impressive is that you can tell the program how you want home plate to be
split up as the pitcher throws to 1-6 zones.
You are also asked to tell the program the percentage of certain pitches or plays
before it generates the master sheet and wrist band grids for all offensive and
defensive players.
If coaches use both offensive and defensive signs with this system, you don't need
two wristbands. You simply laminate the offensive and defensive player cards
back-to-back for the players to flip their cards over each half inning.
The brains behind this operation are former Western Oregon University baseball
players Liam Woodard and Bryce Gardinier.
"Bryce is a computer software guy for his day job. One day back in 2006, I wondered
out loud if he could write a computer program that could do everything we wanted.
He gave it a whirl and came up with the general concept. We worked with Dan Hubbs
and David Esquer at University of California and the coaches at Oregon State
University, among others. We slowly refined it to where it is today."
Woodard said that the current product is the fourth version and is extremely refined.
You can even change the colors on the charts and grids to match your school colors
(or help separate the signs for your players).
"The flexibility it provides is what coaches like. Everybody can customize it to fit
their program. Not everybody calls a delayed steal the same (thing) or and early
break to take second. As far as pitch calling, it gives you great flexibility as well.
You can even customize it to a specific pitcher or pitchers. The cool thing about it is
that you can take some ownership in it and make your own system with the software."
It is impossible to steal the signs and easy for offensive or defensive players to get
the play right. Missed sings are now a thing of the past.
Volume 51. No. 2 - Friday, Jan. 25, 2008
TOP BASEBALL INNOVATIONS
Unique Products Should Be Closely Looked At By Baseball Coaches
Pick-Proof Signs
Two years ago, Arkansas-Little Rock University Head Coach Jim Lawler brought to
our attention a new system to call pitches by coaches in the dugout which involved
the use of quarterback wrist bands for catchers (with a special coded grid placed
under the plastic) and a master sheet for a coach in the dugout.
He explained that the genesis of the system took place in the Fall of 2004 when Head
Coach Boomer Walker and Pitching Coach David Carter of Southern Idaho devised an
ingenious plan that would scuttle any hope an opponent had for picking off signs.
With signs becoming overly complex for catchers to follow, they thought that utilizing
a code system similar to football would work more efficiently.
The coach would have a master sheet with multiple 3-digit numbers corresponding to
certain pitches (fastball, curve, change up, etc. or defensive calls.)
The coach in the dugout calling the pitches or defensive plays would yell out (or flash
with their hand) a certain 3 digit set of numbers as the catcher received the code.
Then the catcher would look at his quarterback wrist band and glance at the first tow
digits across the top of the grid and go down to than intersecting point with the third
digit.
A code would be there to signify which pitch or defensive play to signal in to the
pitcher or infielders.
At the time, the master chart and quarterback wrist band inserts were done by hand
with no way of regenerating the sings so different 3-digit numbers came up.
As time has rolled on, different coaches across the nation have utilized their computer
skills in Microsoft Excel spread sheets to make up master sheets which synchronize
with the wrist band inserts so that with the pressing of a key on the computer, a brand
new set of numbers come up.
Now a company called Own The Zone Sports has turned this system into something
special that all coaches on all levels should seriously look at.
The software, which only works on PC's that utilize Microsoft Excel, 256 MB Ram, and
512 MB available hard drive space, allows coaches to utilize 3 digit signs for pitching,
defense and offensive plays.
The beauty of this system is that it allows coaches to custom design their pitches,
defensive and offensive plays.
If you want to make a set of custom signs for every pitcher on your staff, you can
easily do it.
Even more impressive is that you can tell the program how you want home plate to be
split up as the pitcher throws to 1-6 zones.
You are also asked to tell the program the percentage of certain pitches or plays
before it generates the master sheet and wrist band grids for all offensive and
defensive players.
If coaches use both offensive and defensive signs with this system, you don't need
two wristbands. You simply laminate the offensive and defensive player cards
back-to-back for the players to flip their cards over each half inning.
The brains behind this operation are former Western Oregon University baseball
players Liam Woodard and Bryce Gardinier.
"Bryce is a computer software guy for his day job. One day back in 2006, I wondered
out loud if he could write a computer program that could do everything we wanted.
He gave it a whirl and came up with the general concept. We worked with Dan Hubbs
and David Esquer at University of California and the coaches at Oregon State
University, among others. We slowly refined it to where it is today."
Woodard said that the current product is the fourth version and is extremely refined.
You can even change the colors on the charts and grids to match your school colors
(or help separate the signs for your players).
"The flexibility it provides is what coaches like. Everybody can customize it to fit
their program. Not everybody calls a delayed steal the same (thing) or and early
break to take second. As far as pitch calling, it gives you great flexibility as well.
You can even customize it to a specific pitcher or pitchers. The cool thing about it is
that you can take some ownership in it and make your own system with the software."
It is impossible to steal the signs and easy for offensive or defensive players to get
the play right. Missed sings are now a thing of the past.
Star-Tribune (Casper Wyoming) Article
By PATRICK SCHMIEDT : Star-Tribune staff writer
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Baseball's new signs of the times
Matt Skundrick doesn't act like the typical third-base coach.
Instead of alternating between touching his cap, chest, arms and legs, Skundrick
spends most of his time coaching Salem, Ore., Post 9 either standing with his arms on
his hips or shouting encouragement and instruction to his players.
If he is caught rubbing his arm, it's because he has an itch -- not because he's telling
Salem's players what to do.
Instead, he does that with an occasional raise of his right hand, flashing a series of
three numbers, always between zero and five.
Skundrick is just the middleman, though, in Liam Woodard's game.
Woodard, Salem's head coach, helped develop a system where instructions are
passed by numbers rather than by signs. Before each play, Woodard passes a code
on to Skundrick, who then passes the signal on to Salem's batters and runners.
The runners then check game-specific wristbands to pick up the sign.
"To me, it's a no-brainer to use it, because it's pick-proof and kids don't miss signs,"
Woodard said. "I don't know why everyone doesn't use it."
However, Woodard is monetarily motivated in making that statement -- he sells a
version of the play-coding program on his Web site, ownthezonesports.com. The play
coding started as a basic spreadsheet file, but evolved into a full interactive program
that can be tailored to specific teams and players.
"I can completely customize it, so (for example) if I have a guy who throws a
split-finger (pitch), I can put in a split-finger sign," Woodard said.
Woodard wanted a system of signaling plays that other teams couldn't steal. Such a
system didn't exist in a form Woodard wanted, so he contacted Bryce Gardinier, a
computer science guru who played baseball with Woodard at Western Oregon in
2001. Together, they developed the interactive system where coaches can change the
numerical signs from game to game, a system Woodard calls "un-pickable."
"(In the) Pac-10, picking signs is big business," Woodard said. "They have guys on
staff, (and) that's all they do."
However, stealing Salem's signs would require more than just a keen eye -- it might
require actual theft.
The codes change each game and players are given new sheets to put in their
wristbands. The coach's sheet lists the possible offensive plays and defensive
set-ups, and the wristbands players wear tell them what each three-digit code means.
"In Oregon, we play the same teams, maybe twice a week, so it gets real easy to pick
off signs," said Josh McCartney, the right fielder in Salem's 19-2 victory over East
Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday.
Added teammate Scott Rowland, "We haven't had a sign picked all year."
Ben Shivers clarified his teammate's statement: "Some teams tried to pick us this
year, and they quit trying after the first game."
Woodard said the system has given Salem a mental edge, one that carried Post 9 to
the Oregon state championship and brought them to Casper for the American Legion
Northwest Regional tournament.
"For the most part, people who know what we're doing aren't going to try and pick our
signs," Woodard said.
Contact sports writer Patrick Schmiedt at (307) 266-0615 or
patrick.schmiedt@casperstartribune.net
By PATRICK SCHMIEDT : Star-Tribune staff writer
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Baseball's new signs of the times
Matt Skundrick doesn't act like the typical third-base coach.
Instead of alternating between touching his cap, chest, arms and legs, Skundrick
spends most of his time coaching Salem, Ore., Post 9 either standing with his arms on
his hips or shouting encouragement and instruction to his players.
If he is caught rubbing his arm, it's because he has an itch -- not because he's telling
Salem's players what to do.
Instead, he does that with an occasional raise of his right hand, flashing a series of
three numbers, always between zero and five.
Skundrick is just the middleman, though, in Liam Woodard's game.
Woodard, Salem's head coach, helped develop a system where instructions are
passed by numbers rather than by signs. Before each play, Woodard passes a code
on to Skundrick, who then passes the signal on to Salem's batters and runners.
The runners then check game-specific wristbands to pick up the sign.
"To me, it's a no-brainer to use it, because it's pick-proof and kids don't miss signs,"
Woodard said. "I don't know why everyone doesn't use it."
However, Woodard is monetarily motivated in making that statement -- he sells a
version of the play-coding program on his Web site, ownthezonesports.com. The play
coding started as a basic spreadsheet file, but evolved into a full interactive program
that can be tailored to specific teams and players.
"I can completely customize it, so (for example) if I have a guy who throws a
split-finger (pitch), I can put in a split-finger sign," Woodard said.
Woodard wanted a system of signaling plays that other teams couldn't steal. Such a
system didn't exist in a form Woodard wanted, so he contacted Bryce Gardinier, a
computer science guru who played baseball with Woodard at Western Oregon in
2001. Together, they developed the interactive system where coaches can change the
numerical signs from game to game, a system Woodard calls "un-pickable."
"(In the) Pac-10, picking signs is big business," Woodard said. "They have guys on
staff, (and) that's all they do."
However, stealing Salem's signs would require more than just a keen eye -- it might
require actual theft.
The codes change each game and players are given new sheets to put in their
wristbands. The coach's sheet lists the possible offensive plays and defensive
set-ups, and the wristbands players wear tell them what each three-digit code means.
"In Oregon, we play the same teams, maybe twice a week, so it gets real easy to pick
off signs," said Josh McCartney, the right fielder in Salem's 19-2 victory over East
Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday.
Added teammate Scott Rowland, "We haven't had a sign picked all year."
Ben Shivers clarified his teammate's statement: "Some teams tried to pick us this
year, and they quit trying after the first game."
Woodard said the system has given Salem a mental edge, one that carried Post 9 to
the Oregon state championship and brought them to Casper for the American Legion
Northwest Regional tournament.
"For the most part, people who know what we're doing aren't going to try and pick our
signs," Woodard said.
Contact sports writer Patrick Schmiedt at (307) 266-0615 or
patrick.schmiedt@casperstartribune.net