Umpire Qualifications

Ok. Question. We have good ones and bad ones. But, what do you have to do to be one? Do you have to to stay one? The good stuff.

 

Get a mask and start working

Judging by the results thread each week it sounds like all you have to do is buy or steal the equipment and sign up!!!

 

seems to be high on the list

 

Sounds like the

two we had tonight. The other problem was their umpiring buddy was the opposing coach or coaching umpire nailbite2 if I do say. But I'm trying to understand what do you have to really do. These two seemed to lack some calling and team work ability. I will say that is what leads to fans go, going and gone wild. One of the fans is an umpire and said that neither and been to any of the clinics. What that meant who knows. I know this is part-time extra money for these guys but come on.

 

Not defending either one of the officials that you had, but the fan umpire you had is not worth anything if he will talk about officials in a negative matter to other fans. If you are a true official of the game, you just do not do that. You make mental notes and report to the person in charge, he is only trying to make himself look better!

 

Exactly.....except in the case of Stretchy where it is a given that other umpires will talk about him

 

Not just talk about him, but not want to call with him either. He is contemplating the idea of calling only Wake County Middle School games. He has found out that they allow one man crews, and the pay is better.

 

Maybe a reword is needed. You know me. He made the comment to me alone. After I asked what kind of training do they get. And that was later after one of the calls. Now, mind you these are bring the coach on the field calls that bad. I do agree with you as to being behind the back as one could say. But that would be another thread.

 

Hey I understand they use 1 man crews in slowpitch softball in Winston-Salem, probably a great spot for him

 

I call (but not HS this year with a son playing HS ball) and I know there is a big shortage of umpires. It's apparent when there are rookies on the field, we all can spot them. There are a limited number of "clinics" usually run by the booking agent. How good they are just depends. If you have a bunch of rookies then you're probably working on the basic mechanics and not much more. IMHO, lack of rule knowledge is the biggest problem. Major differences in rules from OBR to FED. And the only way to learn the rules is to study, continually thru the season. To call HS, you take the test, pay your dues, align with a booking agent and you're off. I think any agent would be happy to add a competent umpire to his roster. And if you're only doing it for the money, you need to get off the field, again IMHO.