POLL ON UMPIRING

Don't the umpires go through an agent? Building a relationship with the agent is a good way to correct or dismiss an unqualified umpire.

A vision test?- Hahahaha. I love jokes that aren't meant to be funny

critiquing umps?- ain't going to happen. Again, the best way is voicing concerns (be specific and not whiny) to the agent.

physical size? That is a real concern

To be quite honest, I believe the areas that have a concern of the quality and the quanity of good umpires is an area that has a shortage of umpires

But remember two things, as bad as umpiring can be, it is bad for both teams and when you run across an umpire that hustles and shows a concern for the players...let them know that. Good umpires bring other good umpires into the business.

I can tell you this, there ain't no way I would be an umpire. You couldn't pay me enough

 

Just curious

Who do you get in touch with to ump around Catawba valley/ western NC area if someone wanted to start? Do you go to local rec leagues, then move up or just start at middle and high school level? How does it play into NSA, ASA,etc? Are the same folks involved? PM me if you do not want to respond on here.

 

UMPIRIRNG

I have been a Collegiate official for over 30 years now, I spend time in the off-season training hundreds of officials. Linking an eye-sight problem, with an umpire flintching as the pitch comes in is wrong. One has nothing to do with the other. Proper training eliminates this problem. As I said in some other responses to other comments, YOU the parents and coaches really have the power to force change. With these summer tournaments, which are little more than money-makers for the people putting them on; you stop attending and let them know that until they train their officials, you'll go somewhere else, then and only then will they start top expect umpires to be more than a uniform wearing, patch toting person calling themselves umpires.
I say in most cases, umpires are physically capable of being out there, but their simple desire to hustle and do what it takes to remain fair and impartial is what is missing. Umpires usualLy get to officiate games for one of the following reasons:
(1) A SHORTAGE OF OFFICIALS
(2) BEING CLOSE FRIENDS OF THE PEOPLE PUTTING THE GAMES ON OR THE PERSON ASSIGNING THE OFFICIALS, DEVOID OF ACTUAL ABILITY.
(3) QUALIFIED TO BE OUT THERE
I have tried in the past with USSSA and ASA and High School, to help them improve the quality of their officials, but as usual thier hidden agenda wins out.
Good luck with trying to promote change.

 

Umpires

Have a few questions and comments. As far as an Ump interefering with a defensive player, was it because he couldn't move, was in wrong position, used improper mechanics, or didn't anticpate the play? I remember when I started Umping, back during the last ICE AGE. we had a week long course that covered the rule book from front to back and taught and demonstrated mechanics on the field. At the end of the week, we were tested on Rule Knowledge AND mechanics before we were assigned to call. We were also assigned with an experienced Ump for our first season and they not only critiqued us after the game, they had to send a report to the booking agent.
Here is a concern I have also, If an Ump didn't play fast pitch or hasn't been taught what to look for, how do they know what a replant (crow hop) or leap looks like? I know at the Clinic this year we were told it was a POE. Yet, I have yet to see it called. Not going to mention teams or umps but, played a game where pitchers foot was LANDING on the circle. Pitcher was 5'6" or so. No drag line within 3' of rubber. Tried to explain to Ump, he said it wasn't leaping. Asked him to explain his interpetation. He said 'when both feet are off the ground at the same time'. Pretty good interpetation but didn't know it when he saw it. Have also noticed base umps fixated on the plate area before the pitch. Is that because they aren't told of their repsonsibilities during the pitch, or is it so they can say 'I didn't see it'. I feel that sometimes, with hard throwers, some umps believe that if the pitcher was doing something illegal another ump would've called it by now and she wouldn't be doing it. As I said, I was an Ump so I have been on the other side of the fence too. I don't know as much as I wish I did and I don't expect perfection but, I do expect consistancy.

 

Umpires

Sadly most of the umpires I see are there for one reason, THE MONEY! And decent money it is too. $27 to $30 per game, approx. 4 - 5 games a day for 3 days, I'd say thats pretty good.
Everything you mentioned is mostly related to a lack of proper training and can be fixed, if the person is open to the idea of doing it correctly. For this to happen, he/she must be out there because they love the sport and want to make a difference. They must become a student of the game, not just an arbiter of the game. To be a great arbiter, means that you have to know the sport inside and out and have a passion and respect for the game and it's history. Once again, good luck striving for change.

 

HUH ???

Fastpitch been around for 30 years ?? Dang you must be old !! _LOL

--- GURU

 

YES I AM OLD!

I spent 16 years as a collegiate Baseball Umpire, now in my 15 season as a Collegiate Softball Umpire. I called my first college baseball game when I was 17 years old. Never looked back. I love to officiate and train new officials.

 

There should be some sort of "customer" review system.

Each ump should have a of self addressed post card surveys that they hand out at the beginning of each game to each coach. At the end of the game the coach can take 30 seconds to fill out the card and drop it into a survey box(at a tournament) or mail it in(after a hs game).

Sure there will be complaint-type responses, but the umpire "agency" could definitely see a pattern of complaints for a particular umpire.

Maybe this would encourage that umpire to do a better job, get more training, whatever. Fellow umpires are just not going to complain about another's umpiring, so there is no way to get information back to the booking agent.


PS: If the pay is so good, why is there a shortage of umpires?