Bouncing back from bad outing

[Umpire in Chief]

I posted about a bad outing. While it was bad in my mind, it was not really as bad as I made it out to be. Since then I have "recovered" partly by thinking more rationally than emotionally also by concentrating on what I've done as not to repeat it.

How do you cope with a bad game and then bounce back?

[BrianC14]

I posted about a bad outing. While it was bad in my mind, it was not really as bad as I made it out to be. Since then I have "recovered" partly by thinking more rationally than emotionally also by concentrating on what I've done as not to repeat it.

How do you cope with a bad game and then bounce back?

It sounds trite and tired, too, but there really is no sense in dwelling on a failure, or failures.

"Never make the same mistake twice. There are plenty of new ones available."

:)

[Bigdog]

Hey all,

I had a game behind the plate this year that I thought, mechanically speaking, was terrible. I felt decent, but not really good, about my zone that day as well. When I came off of the field, a less experienced umpire and I were talking and I told him how I felt. He said back to me that if I thought that I was that bad, then the rest of the umpires must suck really bad.

I am not saying that I am that great, just that you generally don't do as bad of a job as you initially fear. Or at least, nobody but you notice.

Bigdog:cool:

[Kyle_Stevens]

I hate to say it but I tend to dwell. I will have a call, either safe/out or strike/ball, that I feel I miss and that is what will keep me up during the night. I know that there will be another game and the players will play another game but there are a couple calls that have stuck with me. There is a lot I have learned from a couple of instances that stick with me every game. The main thing I have taken away is learning from short comings. We can never stop learning in our business.

[blue32]

I posted about a bad outing. While it was bad in my mind, it was not really as bad as I made it out to be. Since then I have "recovered" partly by thinking more rationally than emotionally also by concentrating on what I've done as not to repeat it.

How do you cope with a bad game and then bounce back?

I just don't beat myself up over it. Remember, what we think are our worst games are still pretty darn good in the eyes of the coaches and players.

But if you need a sure fire remedy, I have just the thing for right after a game like that: Beer! :)

[BrianC14]

I just don't beat myself up over it. Remember, what we think are our worst games are still pretty darn good in the eyes of the coaches and players.

But if you need a sure fire remedy, I have just the thing for right after a game like that: Beer!

"... the cause of - and solution to - all of life's problems."

-- Homer

[Umpire in Chief]

[BrianC14]

:) ROFL - I'd never seen that one before!

[mstaylor]

I was with my assigner yrs ago. I had the plate and I sucked. I couldn't get a zone for squat. I made it through the game and as we were walking to the car I told my partner that my game sucked. He told me I wasn't the model of consistancy. He went on to tell me the important thing was I knew I had a bad game. He said put it in the book and learn from it. Figure out why I struggled and don't repeat it. The problem comes when you don't realize you had a bad game.

[Umpire in Chief]

He said put it in the book and learn from it. Figure out why I struggled and don't repeat it. The problem comes when you don't realize you had a bad game.

I think this is one of the things which distinguish umpires, or anybody else for that matter, who have future potential no matter how good or bad you are. If you can give an honest assessment of a weaker performance and then learn from it, you will continue to improve.

Nothing bothers me more than when a partner appears to struggle in their game and they act like either it was someone else's fault, or they just seem content with their performance. It seems to bother me more than them.

[POLOGREEN]

I keep a journal of my games what I thought I did right and what I did not like, then I try to work on BOTH the positive and negatives. I also log any "things" that happened in the game.

[MCLEOD36]

I try to stay in front of the headlights, sometimes biting my lip and going be technical on the rules more then players outside dugouts and coaches getting out of coaches box. Sometimes, it is ancillary items. Last night on the bases in a wet soggy game, felt off in the first inning, ie too much plate work. The quick cure to that was a hot smash that missed my chin in the 2nd, I made damn sure I kept good angles and relied on partner to get to third and game came out fine.

[Umpire in Chief]

I keep a journal of my games what I thought I did right and what I did not like, then I try to work on BOTH the positive and negatives. I also log any "things" that happened in the game.

I firmly believe game journals really do help, but only if you're willing to take an honest look at your self and make note of not only what you did well but more importantly what you need to work on.

[catoblue]

Just like an athlete will review game film, officials should be doing the same. No film, review your game in your head afterward.

Experience will only improve those who learn from it.

Now I sound like a fortune cookie!!!! LOL

[Old Nr 24]

Bad games, just like bad calls, must be put aside quickly because there'a another one to handle just around the corner. Learn from our mistakes, try not to make them again, and move on. Besides, as my father once told me, a man is never as bad OR AS GOOD as he thinks he is!

[BT_Blue]

I agree. We cant dwell on stuff whether its the same inning, game, day or week. We just have to move on.