NCAAump2

Tournament ended today. Had two losers bracket games on Thursday...3-man games, I worked 1B on the first game of the day. It's way different working 3-man from our regular 2-man, but I think I got the hang of it pretty quickly. Fairly uneventful game, higher seed won 11-2. Took the plate on the 2nd game, the guy who was supposed to work it didn't want it, so I volunteered. Our other partner is a pretty respected umpire in our association, and he also does D-1 and Frontier League, so I was eager to let him see me work and have him give me feedback. Game went smooth, felt in the "zone" (pun intended), and the higher seed won again 3-1. Fast forward to today...I was also assigned the if-needed game, and it was needed, as the team in the losers bracket beat the undefeated team yesterday, forcing a deciding game today. 4-man game this time, and I was at 2nd. I actually liked it a lot. It was pretty easy to catch on, and everything flowed very nicely. I didn't have any close plays, or arguments, so I thought it went well. #3 seed beat the #1 seed 9-6 and never trailed. #1 came back from 6-1 to make it 6-5, but that's as close as they could get. Loaded the bases in the bottom of the 9th with their clean-up hitter up, but he flew out to end it. Was kind of neat to see the team rushing onto the field to celebrate...probably the highlight of my career so far as far as championship games and such go. Overall, a pretty good weekend. Thanks again to everyone for the advice and suggestions I've received on here so far. It's very much appreciated!

Thanks everyone...to be honest, I was actually surprised to get the phone call today. I hadn't expected to get any post-season games, especially this being my first year in this organization. I felt like I had done a good job for the most part on the games I was assigned, but it feels good for my work to be complimented and recognized. I know I don't post a whole lot on here, but I've learned way more than I ever expected, and really don't think I'd be the umpire I am had I not found this forum. Thanks for all your input, advice, and well-wishes!

You can absolutely charge a conference if the coach starts giving instruction. They're called "defensive conferences," not "mound visits." The coach is there to tend to his injured player, not show him how he should have fielded the ball.

Alright, back to the original topic..I don't like to stick around for handshakes and all that stuff...I've always had the mindset that nothing good can come from umpires staying on the field after the game. Get with your partner and leave the field TOGETHER! It's a HUGE pet peeve of mind when my partner tries to stick around and shake hands with the coaches and get fist-bumped by every player (youth ages, of course). Even at the HS level, no need to stick around for the hand shake...your job is over, get to the car/dressing room. I try to avoid working leagues and tournys where umpires are expected to have coaches sign the game cards to approve the score. A quick wave of the hand, and I'm gone.

The main reason why I don't care to know what the score is, because the score has NO IMPACT on how I do my job, and frankly, I don't care what the score is. For all intents and purposes, I'm going to call the same game if it's 7-6 in the last inning as I would if it's 7-0. Your argument about "why keep track of the number of outs?" That's actually relevant for timing plays, IFF's, batter interference penalties, etc. Are you still going to call the IFF's no matter what the score is? If you answered yes, why do you care what the score is?

For the JUCO's around the St. Louis area, most of them rub up baseballs for us. High schools always give us brand new ones, very rarely are they rubbed.

Just got a phone call from my assigner asking for my availability for next week, since our association will be covering the JUCO Regional playoffs! Won't know my actual assignments until at least tomorrow, but I'm glad all my hard work and dedication has paid off!

I do it because I can't play anymore, and when I could play, I wasn't very good. It gives me a chance to stay involved in a game that I love deeply, and there's just something about being on a baseball field that seems to make all of my worries go away...at least for a few hours. Yeah, the money is nice, but umpiring is something that I truly enjoy doing. My fiancee thinks I work too many games, and sometimes she's right, I do work a lot. I do it because it's fun, and when it's not fun anymore, I'll quit. Until then...play ball!

Especially at the lower levels, the kids will try to hold the tags on for what seems like forever, to the point where I have to tell him to throw the ball back to the pitcher. I guess maybe they're taught to do that, or they expect the kid to come off the bag at some point...

Unless there is an injury or something like that, I don't grant time after a runner slides into a bag. He should know how to get up and stay on the base at the same time. If he doesn't know how to walk up the bag, granting him time prevents them from getting an easy out. Why punish the defense?

Same here...MOST of HS games are scheduled a singles, occasionally you'll get a DH or TH on a Saturday. Most of the HS games I work are within 30 minutes of my house, so single games aren't a big deal to me.

I use the Starter brand from Walmart as well, and use them for every game. They'v held up well for the two years I've had them, and they wick away the moisture in the heat and keep in some of the warmth in the cold.

I also point up the 1BL, and keep my head and eyes forward.

I had almost the EXACT same scenario happen in a HSV game on Saturday. I had just done a youth tourny 3 game set the night before (using OBR), and sure enough... First game, I'm on the bases and F1 does the 3rd to 1st move...I come up, point, and say "That's a...nevermind!" and let the play finish...luckily neither coach said anything, but my partner and I both had a good laugh about it after the game.

Lost a HS DH scheduled for tomorrow and a NAIA DH on Thursday due to the 8-10" of snow we got here yesterday...hopefully we'll be good to go by Friday. So far, I've had 8 games rained/snowed out, and only worked 8, so I've lost half my games so far.

Smitty poly wools? I'm tempted to get a pair of each because of the expanding waist...

Agree with the posts above...track the ball WITH YOUR EYES (don't move your head) all the way from the pitcher's hand to the catcher's mitt. Doing that EVERY PITCH will make a huge difference.

One of my associations charges $25 per season (so $25 for spring, $25 for summer) with no assigning fees taken out of game fees. Another has a $50 dues at the beginning of the season, and that's it. The local league pays like a normal job, so taxes are taken out before I even see the check. For youth and summer tournaments, we don't pay anything...I believe the assigner gets paid from the TD.

Someone also mentioned the Smitty poly-wools available on PurchaseOfficials.com. Has anyone tried these/liked them? Their a decent amount cheaper than the Honigs pants, and I like that they have the expanding waistband.

Bam, If I understand what you're saying, you're saying that if you see a runner miss touching HP and the DC appeals to you, you're going to call him "safe," as if he had touched it, but really didn't?

I agree with Andrew and Jocko. I hate being called "blue" or "ump." At the HS and college levels, I call coaches by name, make it a point to know their names before I walk on the field, and I expect them to use my names. Youth games or tournaments, it's not that big of a deal, but I still try to use coaches names there too.

Had my first two games today, JUCO conference DH. Felt great to shake off the rust and get back out there. HT won both games...8-0 and 9-1, didn't hear a peep from either team in either game. Partner just got back from Harry's, and I was impressed with his mechanics and field presence. Back at it tomorrow!

Has anyone bought the UA Poly Wools? What do you think? I'm going to buy a couple pairs of poly wools, and have heard good things about the ones from Honigs, but like the idea of having flexible waistbands that the UA ones offer.

I just got cancelled again for Wednesday, so it's: Rain 4, Me 0 so far...hopefully we'll get to go on Thursday!

I've been to clinics or scrimmages where they had both. At OUTS in Florida, we worked the game (4 of us rotated), and the 2 instructors took all kinds of notes and we had like an hour or so long post-game, which I thought was great...very in-depth and informative. I have also worked a scrimmage where we rotated every inning or so and got immediate feedback, so we were able to make instant corrections and therefore see instant improvement. If I had to pick one, I'd say give instruction and feedback between innings, so your new guys can put your suggestions into action.