Making to many calls?

[JaxRolo]

Have any of you guys ever been told that you make calls that other Umpires don't make?

I have been told this a few times by coaches and parents after a game. Never in a negative way. Just in friendly conversation.

Is it because I spend a lot of time with rule books and watching videos or taking advice from you all on this site? I don't think there is many guys in organization that study rules like I do.

Or am I just overdoing it by calling everything I see?

[spiritumpa]

Have any of you guys ever been told that you make calls that other Umpires don't make?

I have been told this a few times by coaches and parents after a game. Never in a negative way. Just in friendly conversation.

Is it because I spend a lot of time with rule books and watching videos or taking advice from you all on this site? I don't think there is many guys in organization that study rules like I do.

Or am I just overdoing it by calling everything I see?

it could be many reason--but one question to ask yourself-- are you calling everything you see--or are you looking to make calls!! don't look for the calls they wil come your way.

[maxs]

I've gotten the same reaction before. I think it has a lot to do with being on sites like this.

The type of umpire who's on these boards, and reads and re-reads rulebooks and manuals is always going to make calls that others don't, because you've gotta (at least think you) know your stuff to make and sell the tough and "obscure" ones.

The obscure ones being the ones the coaches haven't heard of of course...

[Mr Umpire]

It depends.

If it is calls which other umpires don't know or are overlooking b/c they don't want to have to make that tough call, then forget about it. Keep doing your job.

If it is calls which are being too nitpicky based on level such as 11 yr old F1 flinches his front knee and you call a balk, then you may want to relax a little and be a "little" more lenient in the application.

Like I said, in the first one, keep going. Maybe the others will learn and catch up. If it is the latter, you will just need to learn to acknowledge the level of play and try to adjust. That is harder to do than say. Some can't do it and I understand. This is a major part of what it means by "You just have to umpire."

[mstaylor]

I agree that being more aware of the rules and mechanics will lead to you making calls others may not. The reason in many cases is others aren't even aware of the correct rule so they don't know they are missing stuff, or they are aware and pass to not create a ****storm. A third possibility is they think it may be something and they aren't sure if they know the rule well enough so they pass.

If you are confident in what you are seeing, make the call. Talking to other respected guys in your group about whether you are being too picky for the level is a good thing to do.

[JaxRolo]

it could be many reason--but one question to ask yourself-- are you calling everything you see--or are you looking to make calls!! don't look for the calls they wil come your way.

Thanks guys for all the advice.

I definitely do not go looking for calls. That can lead to trouble. I just react to what I see. Not saying that I am always correct. Lord know I make my share of bad calls. I guess the key is to be confident in your call, be assertive but not arrogant.

MSTaylor: I have 2 games tomorrow and my partner is one of the better Umpires in our group so I will ask him to watch me and let me know what he thinks.

[spiritumpa]

Thanks guys for all the advice.

I definitely do not go looking for calls. That can lead to trouble. I just react to what I see. Not saying that I am always correct. Lord know I make my share of bad calls. I guess the key is to be confident in your call, be assertive but not arrogant.

MSTaylor: I have 2 games tomorrow and my partner is one of the better Umpires in our group so I will ask him to watch me and let me know what he thinks.

you answered the question--you are happy with the answer--move on and be the best ump on the field--good luck with the double

[mstaylor]

Because you have taken the trouble to learn the rules and mechanics it gives you the confidence that others may not possess. Good luck tomorrow and have a good chat with your partner.

[JaxRolo]

So:hopmad: much for my partner. He was a no-show.

Had to work 2 solo 14U games.

At least there were no issues what so ever. 2 smooth games.

What ticks off is that our assignor will get to keep the money for himself.

[semper_fi_72]

So:hopmad: much for my partner. He was a no-show.

Had to work 2 solo 14U games.

At least there were no issues what so ever. 2 smooth games.

What ticks off is that our assignor will get to keep the money for himself.

So one of the better umpires in your group was a no show?

Did you make contact with him once you received the assignment?

If you made contact and he in fact he knew he was to be there, I would no longer call him one of the better umpires.

He just went to the bottom of the list.

If I was assigning him, he would be waiting a long time to get an assignment and would get the worse I had then.

His only saving excuse would be that he was in the Hospital Emergency room from a car accident on the way to the game.

Anything else he should have called you and the assignor.

If it is scheduled to be a two man crew and you work solo, your assignor should be paying you additional for working the game solo.

[mstaylor]

Agreed Semper Fi.

[JaxRolo]

So one of the better umpires in your group was a no show?

Did you make contact with him once you received the assignment?

If you made contact and he in fact he knew he was to be there, I would no longer call him one of the better umpires.

He just went to the bottom of the list.

If I was assigning him, he would be waiting a long time to get an assignment and would get the worse I had then.

His only saving excuse would be that he was in the Hospital Emergency room from a car accident on the way to the game.

Anything else he should have called you and the assignor.

If it is scheduled to be a two man crew and you work solo, your assignor should be paying you additional for working the game solo.

I agree. But. We use the arbiter system and I don't think he even knew he had games. I did try to contact him the night before but he did not have a number listed in Arbiter. He always been there in the past so I didnt worry about it.

So on game day 30min prior to the game he wasn't there so i logged in to arbiter on my phone and saw the he never even Accepted the games. I tried to call the assignor and he didn't answer the phone. I think he was also working games.

I believe it was the assignors fault for not checking to see that everyone had either accepted or declined games.

[yawetag]

he did not have a number listed in Arbiter.

That's a problem. Our organization requires phone numbers in Arbiter.

he never even Accepted the games.

This is the Assignor's fault.

[semper_fi_72]

This is even more interesting.

What we have here is a failure to communicate.

You use Arbiter but one of the better Umpires in the group did not have a number listed?

Major problem and that falls on that Umpire and Assignor.

No phone number would equal no assignments as far as I am concerned.

Never accepted the games?

That problem falls on the assignor but, you should have been emailing and calling the Assignor the night before the games, not 30 minutes before. So part of the responsibility falls on you.

Although you are using Arbiter for assignments, it does not sound like it is being used properly by the Assignor.

Another reason you should get an additional fee for working the game solo.

Has always showed up before?

Sounds like you used the old ASSUME. Ass U n Me!!!!!!

You should know you never ASSUME on or off the field.

I know you know better than that.

I recently had a partner assigned for 3 games that never accepted his games. Did not return my calls and did not respond to emails. Once the time to accept games had past, Assignor pulled him and new partner was assigned. 15 minutes after the assignment was changed, he had accepted the games and was in contact with me.

Communication on and off the field is very important.

There are many times, especially at High School level, this communication starts with a email way before the game.

A phone call the day before the game.

Then either a phone call or text message a couple hours before the game to ensure we both have no issues and will be there.

[JaxRolo]

This is even more interesting.

What we have here is a failure to communicate.

You use Arbiter but one of the better Umpires in the group did not have a number listed?

Major problem and that falls on that Umpire and Assignor.

No phone number would equal no assignments as far as I am concerned.

100% agree

Never accepted the games?

That problem falls on the assignor but, you should have been emailing and calling the Assignor the night before the games, not 30 minutes before. So part of the responsibility falls on you.

Although you are using Arbiter for assignments, it does not sound like it is being used properly by the Assignor.

Another reason you should get an additional fee for working the game solo.

100% Agree

I should have been proactive but:

Arbiter is not being used properly at all. I actually did not get the games until the night before around 10pm. This has been a problem all along even before Arbiter. Games are not posted until the night before. So you accept the games then immediately get a reminder email.

The problem is that the Assignor is also the UIC, President , Vice-President , Treasurer everything and he doesnt know much about computers.

The good news is:

I have been recruited by another association that works the actual Real Spring High School games. They have a Board of Members with all the different positions. They are well organized.I have been attending their meetings and clinics.

SO I will keep working fall ball for this guy then move on in the spring.

Has always showed up before?

Sounds like you used the old ASSUME. Ass U n Me!!!!!!

You should know you never ASSUME on or off the field.

I know you know better than that.

100% agree

Communication on and off the field is very important.

There are many times, especially at High School level, this communication starts with a email way before the game.

A phone call the day before the game.

Then either a phone call or text message a couple hours before the game to ensure we both have no issues and will be there.

100% Agree

Total 400% Agreement with you on this one! :clap:

[PeteBooth]

That problem falls on the assignor but, you should have been emailing and calling the Assignor the night before the games, not 30 minutes before. So part of the responsibility falls on you.

Although you are using Arbiter for assignments, it does not sound like it is being used properly by the Assignor.

Another reason you should get an additional fee for working the game solo.

I disagree with all this Communication.

My responsibility is to SHOW up for the games I am assigned - PERIOD. If my partner can't make it, it's up to HIM to contact the assignor.

WHY! Because I am NOT the assignor and his call to me is moot because I am NOT in the position to get a replacement. If it's the day of the game then I would appreciate a courtesy call so I know I am SOLO and collect my game plus 1/2 Fee.

I am REQUIRED to be at work 8 AM Mon-Fri. My boss does not call me every day and say

"Pete going to be here" That's MY responsibility. We are supposed to be professionals.

the one thing I agree with - If I work SOLO it's a FEE and 1/2 otherwise I start looking for another association to join.

Pete Booth

[semper_fi_72]

I disagree with all this Communication.

My responsibility is to SHOW up for the games I am assigned - PERIOD. If my partner can't make it, it's up to HIM to contact the assignor.

So being proactive is not part of being professional?

I am REQUIRED to be at work 8 AM Mon-Fri. My boss does not call me every day and say

As many do, I assume you work your normal everyday job from the same location, with the same people? Your right there is no reason to call anyone. Do you call if your going to be late or not going to make it to work that day?

"Pete going to be here" That's MY responsibility. We are supposed to be professionals.

Part of being professional is making sure you check with partners. How do you find out what color shirts your wearing or do you just wait till the last minute to decide? While during the Regular Season every uniform I have may be in the car, I am not carrying everything around when I am only working weekends during the fall.

Pete Booth

[mstaylor]

I disagree Pete. We work amateur baseball, even at the college level they want you calling each other and the school. How hard is that? It saves you standing in the parking lot looking for somebody that isn't coming.

Edited November 2, 2010 by mstaylor

[yawetag]

I am REQUIRED to be at work 8 AM Mon-Fri. My boss does not call me every day and say

"Pete going to be here" That's MY responsibility. We are supposed to be professionals.

Pete,

If a meeting was scheduled that isn't normal (i.e., not one you have every week), would you respond to the email to say you're going to be there? If you had to work at a different location for a day or two, would you let your boss know? If you were unable to make it to work, due to sickness or whatever, would you call your boss?

Your boss doesn't call you everyday because that's your normal routine. Assuming you work in an office environment, you work Mon-Fri from 8am to 5pm (or whenever you actually leave work) at the same physical location, with scheduled weekly meetings on the same days at the same times in the same locations. You have the same people sitting around you every day. It's expected.

Amateur baseball is different. You're working different fields with different partners, sometimes at different times. You should ALWAYS contact your partner. It's expected.

I will agree that semper's amount of communication is more than normal. I do the following:

I call my partner the night before the game, usually between 7pm and 8pm. We verify the location and time of the game and discuss who's working what position. Usually, we'll exchange car information and what time each of us expects to arrive at the field, and sometimes where we're going to park (if one of us has been to the field before).

A few hours before the game, I'll call the AD of the home school. I'll introduce myself and the organization, then let him or her know I'm one of the umpires for the [insert level] game that afternoon. I'll verify the start time and field for the game, and most likely let him know who my partner is. Hopefully, though, my partner calls as well.

IF something has changed (start time, field, game status), I'll call my partner and the assignor and let them know of the changes. If nothing has changed, no phone call.

When I arrive at the game site, I'll either find the parking area agreed upon or look for a good area. I'll then call my partner (if he or she has a cell phone) and tell them I'm at the site and let them know where I'm parked.

Sending an email a few days before seems overkill. If they've accepted the game, they're getting an email from Arbiter.

[HokieUmp]

Part of being professional is making sure you check with partners. How do you find out what color shirts your wearing or do you just wait till the last minute to decide? While during the Regular Season every uniform I have may be in the car, I am not carrying everything around when I am only working weekends during the fall.

That's a) why I'm so glad my association keeps it at Navy blue and Light blue (in hot weather) as the choices. And the Light blue isn't mandatory; and why I'm amazed at how umpires are so teenage-girl-like when it comes to clothes.

Why is working in anything other than Navy blue needed? I have this discussion with other members of my association, but wearing lighter colors is really only a psychological benefit. And before the SoCal/Arizona/etc umpires tell me how I don't get it, two things:

1. I umpired for 4 years in the Outback of Australia, so I know ALL about hot. When Saturday game-days were 95F at 8:30 in the 'cool' (sic) of the morning, it's hot. And we didn't wear Navy, but we had this darker blue/green color for Australia Baseball Federation (ABF) umpires.

2. Here in the Mid-Atlantic, it might be so hot, but the humidity is brutal. And wearing a light blue shirt ain't changing that.

When I'm wearing plate gear, I'm sweating like a racehorse regardless of shirt color, and when I'm on the bases, it's not the top layer shirt, it's the fact I've got on an undershirt as well. (And by the way, when your lighter shirt requires a darker undershirt - here, if you wear powder blue, the undershirt is navy - what's the #$%^&@ difference??)

Just sayin'.