Alternative Pants

[ukce1861]

He told me something to the effect of, "Your becomming a pretty good umpire, but if you want to advance and be taken seriously you need to invest in yourself. There is nothing wrong with the way you look and your equipment, but you can look better and upgrade your CP and look like you take umpiring as serious I know you do."

Absolutely. I own plate pants, base pants, plate shoes, base shoes, etc. I fully understand the importance of looking the part. I recommended the Walmart pants because they look a closer to the part than the OP's options of "tan dockers or khaki shorts or jeans". Get the right stuff as soon as you can, but if you can't get it right off, get as close as possible.

[Stan W.]

I was given some sage advice from Ump81 several years ago when he was evaluating me. At the time I was using a old ribbed +POS CP (I scored for free), combo pants, combo shoes. He told me something to the effect of, "Your becomming a pretty good umpire, but if you want to advance and be taken seriously you need to invest in yourself. There is nothing wrong with the way you look and your equipment, but you can look better and upgrade your CP and look like you take umpiring as serious I know you do."

First of all let me agree with what Ump81 told you. I have had this exact quote told to me as well when I was moving into my higher level association..........the term they used was that the candidate umpire needed to show them that he was "invested" in umpiring.........and it meant that he took his gear, uniform and training choices seriously.......

There is a clear and distinct break point in everyones chapter...and it is between those that move on and those that dont.....now, you may very well find sharp well dressed and well equipped umpires doing lower level ball...Ive seen and worked with them...........but you will have a hard time finding any hobos doing high level ball......

[mesa4234]

I have plate, base, and combos. The majority of the games I do are at a complex where I am working 2-5 games a day with 15 minutes (or less) in between each game. This short time gap makes it almost impossible to run to the car to change, so combos are the only way to go.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Today, I went to a leading university and did a college prospect wood bat tournament (Palomino/Connie Mack). Every umpire there wore a Honig's uniform (shirt and polywools), and had the best gear and most organized possible set-up.

I fit right in.

And my being asked to be there today and tomorrow and for the next two weekends was a direct result of the seriousness of my approach to umpiring, as witnessed by the assignor, when he worked a game with me this last spring. Suddenly, I'm on his crew, and my summer schedule is crammed with stellar assignments.

It matters.

[cardinalfan]

Today, I went to a leading university and did a college prospect wood bat tournament (Palomino/Connie Mack). Every umpire there wore a Honig's uniform (shirt and polywools), and had the best gear and most organized possible set-up.

I fit right in.

And my being asked to be there today and tomorrow and for the next two weekends was a direct result of the seriousness of my approach to umpiring, as witnessed by the assignor, when he worked a game with me this last spring. Suddenly, I'm on his crew, and my summer schedule is crammed with stellar assignments.

It matters.

An "Amen" from the congregation!

[yerout13]

:rollinglaugh: nothing pisses me off more than some new partner (or old one for that matter) walking on the field with a uniform that looks like he slept in it... this should be standard for all umpires.. iron your damn uniform LOL, it escapes me why a lot of them don't even consider the idea that their uniform looks like crap :Spit_20Laugh:

Edited July 4, 2010 by yerout13

[yerout13]

:rollinglaugh: oh, and if your shirt is faded, worn out, torn, ripped, the sleeves are ragged... your navy blue hat is now purple, etc... spend $25... it's less than a game's pay.:Spit_20Laugh:

[NWA_UMP]

Worked District Babe Ruth tourney this weekend...most guys are HS 7A officials except for the 3 "local" league invites. We all project quality appearance: shined shoes, blocked hats, charcoal pants, Honigs or Davis(Cliff Keen) shirts, CCA manuals, pre-game routines, etc....EXCEPT the local guys! They were in faded shirts, faded hats, Wal-Mart/heather pants and were constantly out of rotation. They did not know any better and had never been exposed to higher level officiating. The minute we walked onto the field the coaches knew who was who....I never had a word said to me about a call all weekend...I watched a "local" guy get torn apart by a coach...yes he deserved it! In "C" with runners at 1st & 3rd. Called an f2-f3 pick off out at 1st from "c"...not just "c" but almost "d".

Was I better? Don't know, would like to think I was....local guy was out of position and made the correct call...he still paid the price for being 1. poorly dressed 2. out of position. Half the battle is being where you are supposed to be and looking like you belong there. The rest is now up to your ability and drive....

[yerout13]

my dad always said 2 things when he trained me... 1. if you miss the call you'd better damned well be there... and 2. "loud and proud"... will save you a lot of chirping from the bench/stands

[cardinalfan]

Worked District Babe Ruth tourney this weekend...most guys are HS 7A officials except for the 3 "local" league invites. We all project quality appearance: shined shoes, blocked hats, charcoal pants, Honigs or Davis(Cliff Keen) shirts, CCA manuals, pre-game routines, etc....EXCEPT the local guys! They were in faded shirts, faded hats, Wal-Mart/heather pants and were constantly out of rotation. They did not know any better and had never been exposed to higher level officiating. The minute we walked onto the field the coaches knew who was who....I never had a word said to me about a call all weekend...I watched a "local" guy get torn apart by a coach...yes he deserved it! In "C" with runners at 1st & 3rd. Called an f2-f3 pick off out at 1st from "c"...not just "c" but almost "d".

Was I better? Don't know, would like to think I was....local guy was out of position and made the correct call...he still paid the price for being 1. poorly dressed 2. out of position. Half the battle is being where you are supposed to be and looking like you belong there. The rest is now up to your ability and drive....

I was up in your part of the world a few years ago - coaching in a Sr. Babe state tourney in Pea Ridge. The guy behind the plate for one of the games wore a beanie and an old dazzle shirt. He didn't use ball bags, but instead kept one in each back pocket.

When the guy walked through the gate, I remembered why I try to look my best each time out.

[Astrosdawg07]

...I never had a word said to me about a call all weekend...I watched a "local" guy get torn apart by a coach...yes he deserved it! In "C" with runners at 1st & 3rd. Called an f2-f3 pick off out at 1st from "c"...not just "c" but almost "d".

I can't blame the guy for being in C with 1st & 3rd, unfortunately FED states that you be in C with 1st & 3rd. And what really stinks is in some chapters if you work the CCA mechanic of being in B, you get dinged on evaluations. :hi5:

[Kevin Finnerty]

I can't blame the guy for being in C with 1st & 3rd, unfortunately FED states that you be in C with 1st & 3rd. And what really stinks is in some chapters if you work the CCA mechanic of being in B, you get dinged on evaluations.

And this is a good time to say that doing some things the way they should be done to best umpire a ballgame is often the wrong thing in FED.

I am honestly getting a little FED up.