Buiding a Partner

[poppyfor3]

You are given free rein to create a partner for 1 game. What attributes would you consider to be most important? What would you find less important? Assume you cannot have a perfect partner. Would you change your choices if this partner was to be yours for an entire season? Include the same level that you usually work.

[mstaylor]

1. Athlectic, is good to be able to move around the field.

2. Well dressed, should always look sharp. Many times it affects your preformance.

3.Rules knowledgable, must be able to make the correct call confidently.

4. Good communicator, must be able to talk to participants effectively.

5. Even tempered, must be able to stay in control when things blow up.

6. Good judgment.

7. Strong mechanics knowledge, must be able to know where to be, when.

There are more but I am drawing a blank.

Compromises the are acceptable.

1.I can accept shortcomings here, you don't need to be a world class sprinter. At 52, four heart attacks, 25 lbs more than I would like and several knee injuries, I am not as fast as I used to be but I have hustle and knowledge to cheat to the right spot.

2. This is subjective. I am nt saying you have to have every color shirt made, all the combos other heather, and dark grey pants and thirty hats but you do need proper uniforms, clean and presentable.

3. You don't need to be a walking rulebook but a good working knowledge is paramount.

4. You have to be able to explain what you are doing and why. You can't be arogant when challanged, you do need to be confident.

5. No compromise here. You can't lose your temper with a coach, you have to take the high road.

6. You obviously have to be able to call ball/strikes, safe/outs and other calls that are straight judgment.

7. Mechanics are standardised for a reason, your partner needs to know what you are going to do in any given situation. You can't be out there freelancing mechanics.

I work HS to adult baseball for the most part. The important thing to remember is all the different aspects of umpiring build or improve other areas. If you have good rules and mechanics knowledge it will help you confidence and levelheadedness while working. But if you are totally out of shape or have faded nasty uniforms, it will probably translate to your work ethic. It will certainly translate to your image that you give to the managers.

[Umpire in Chief]

I like MST's list.

In addition to the "good tempered" category, I'd want them to be fun loving, not only enjoys umpiring, but has a passion for it.

I also want someone I can learn from.

[JaxRolo]

1. Athlectic, is good to be able to move around the field.

1.I can accept shortcomings here, you don't need to be a world class sprinter. At 52, four heart attacks, 25 lbs more than I would like and several knee injuries, I am not as fast as I used to be but I have hustle and knowledge to cheat to the right spot.

AT 50, 5'7" 200# I may not look athletic but frequently get commended and praised on how well I hustle and get in position. I try not to let my Arthritic Knee and Plantar Fasciitis bother me. You don't have to look Athletic to be athletic.

[yawetag]

You can't get much more of a list than MST's. Under mechanics, I would like to add the ability to react to my movement. There are times that we all find ourselves out of position, sometimes due to someone else's fault. The best example is an F2 that blocks PU's movement to third on a first-to-third.

In these situations, I want a partner that can react quickly and cover that hole if needed.

[Umpire in Chief]

Hustle doesn't always mean speed. It can mean using your best effort to get into position. Remember angle over distance.

[jnazz]

As far as a new umpire goes hustle, communication and eagerness to improve are all musts. The rest can be learned IMHO.

[UMP45]

I would add to the list field presence and a desire to be there. I have worked with good umpires but on the field they just lacked that little "extra". I have also worked with good umpires, I'm sure all of us have, who looked like they could care less what was happening during the game. I know there are more but we could have a list a mile long.:mad: