PAY SCALE FOR BLUE

My dad and I were at a big time D1 game this past weekend. We got into a discussion about the growing concern over the rapidly declining quality of our blues. The conversation drifted to their pay scale. The "expert" in our box started to talk about umpire compensation saying D1 umpires get $400 per game and D2 get $300. Anybody know if this is true and what do the umpires get who call a high school game in the Charlotte/meck area?
Then we talked about the atrocious variance in the strike zone from blue to blue. Soon the ridiculous statement we hear many folks say was spoken: "welll...as long as they are consistent" What a joke!!
Can't anybody in authority fix this?

thanks...

 

A friend of mine that umpires both HS and College ball said something along those lines when he umpired a series at UVA. There was a 4man crew each getting 400 each, I believe he said. Stretchy would be the guy to answer this with more fact though. HS umpires get $65 for a single game and $110 I think for a double-header. I hope this is an accurate figure...

 

$$$$$$$$$$$$

Spot on Coach......and I ain't doing a doubleheader...LOL

 

With the budget cuts every school system in NC is facing, officials for all sports should have their fees cut as a way to help funding for the student-athletes. IMO, there is no way the poor quality of officiating warrants the amount they're being paid. Some people I have spoken with about this say that most officials would quit, I disagree. Sure, some would stop but the majority would continue officiating. I think most people would be shocked to know how much money any high school pays out to officials in a years time.

 

I would have to respectfully disagree. Nobody works for free and I believe if you cut fees then there will be fewer officials to work games. Travel for them is very expensive too... I think you may see booking agents trying to schedule officials with fewer miles to travel as much as they can to help them save on costs, but that will not negate travel costs...

 

Have you seen the age of the officials, it is not a young man's game, the younger people are not rushing in to start officiating. I bet more retire every year than come in new. Coach you are right on with the rising cost of gas it pecks away at the cost of officaiting.

 

A few of the umpires I have seen this year should be arrested for impersonating an umpire. They were terrible. Not moving into the correct position to make a call and thus blowing the call. Calling strikes on pitches batters cannot reach (I have viewed pitches sitting directly behind the plate and saw the ball leave the pitcher's hand and the catcher reach to the outside and catch a ball that never came close to the plate on more than one occasion).
I was sitting with a college coach who told me that the game we were at was one of the worst he saw umpired in his entire career. That as he described it the umpire was very pitcher friendly.
IMO there is no quality control, each umpire should be observed by a qualified individual several times each year at random and if found lacking in knowledge, skill or physical condition should be giving remedial training and observed the next two games after remediation. If he still has problems it may be time to consider another job.
I know of one umpire (who was a very good umpire) retire from umpiring because he could not physically keep up with the game due to an injury in a MVA. He did not want to quit but said if he could not do the job proficiently and professionally he would step away from the game. When he quit he was still better than some of the umpires I have seen in the past 4 or 5 years. Fortunately he took his knowledge of the game and became a very good coach.
It appears now that if you make the ranks of high school umpiring you are given free reign until you retire. I hope I am wrong but that is the appearance given fans.
I know that there are some very good umpires out there and they are under appreciated. I try to let them know after the game that I appreciate their job, however they leave the field quickly and sometimes I get tied up and don’t do it as often as I should, so for you good umps out there thank you and keep up the good work.

 

In Forsyth, $55 for single JV, $65 for single Varsity - $95 for JV/Varsity double-header. Thus, the double-header is the bargain for school budgets. However, we are going AWAY from those due to late starts in colder weather early; and, sadly, as touched on here with performance, because we find games being "sped up" with zones on wheels and right arms going up on nearly any call possible.

We are missing some of those veteran guys that are moving on, just taking less games, or staying closer to home because of expense.

Telling your guys," this is a low ball guy... this guy's zone is tight... this guy is going to call strikes, so be swinging..." is part of our game. And, it reflects life: different ways different days. People vary in everyday situations....

Now, as for being out of position, well, that should not happen. But, veterans are veterans for a reason. With the increase of schools and leagues and showcases, and - you get the picture - there have to be more umpires. Sometimes you get what you get. Hey, sometimes they get what they get: a pitcher who can't find the zone, a catcher who can't block, and even a coach or two who can't teach either one.

 

From what I know it is 110 for double headers and 65 per game. College umps it depends on the leauge they are officiating. A big time leauge like acc may get 400 a game, but smaller conferences may only get 110 or 120 a game. Also in colleges if it is a weekend series they get a free place to stay, plus compensation for meals. I know a guy who umped a series in Miami, and recieved $1200, plus hotel on the beach, plus airfare down there.