Ford Frick's Ten Commandments for Umpires

[VolUmp]

Gentlemen,

 

I try to read this a couple of times each season, and most importantly, right before a new season.

 

I have had very few EJ's in the last ten years.  I had way too many prior to that.

Other than age and maturity, I believe I owe it to these wise old words from FORD FRICK.

 

We should all read Ford Frick's 10 Commandments for Umpires each February before our first game.

My comments are below in red.

 

.....................................................................................................................................................

  1.   Keep your eye on the ball.

  2.   Keep all your personalities out of your work.  Forget and forgive.

        (This includes past behavior of coaches and your current partner)

  3.   Avoid sarcasm. Don't insist on the last word.

        (Nothing burns me like a sarcastic coach.  I have to show restraint in not being a hypocrite)

  4.   Never charge a player and, above all, no pointing your finger or yelling.

        (As a parent, I find this one about the most difficult to avoid ... pointing and yelling ...)

  5.   Hear only the things you should hear - be deaf to others.

        (See only the things you should see - be blind to others.)

  6.   Keep your temper. A decision made in anger is never sound.

        (When an NFL official is on the mic and addressing the crowd, he never shows a temper.

        I like to pretend I'm mic'd up and behave as I would if on camera.)

  7.   Watch your language.

        (You can't be misquoted if you say nothing.  Substitute words like flippin' and frickin' are

         for teenagers ... they always get misquoted later as the "F-Bomb.")

  8.   Take pride in your work at all times.

         Remember, respect for an umpire is created off the field as well as on.

        (Buy new hats and shirts when the old ones fade ... come on ... this isn't our primary income for most.

        Knowing the rules and mechanics, and reviewing them each off season is a must.)

  9.   Review your work. You will find, if you are honest,

        that 90% of the trouble is traceable to loafing.

        (Not sure if I buy this, but I'd agree that 50% of it is.  The other 50% is coaches not knowing their own

        rules and just not being very good at what they do ... )

10.   No matter what your opinion of another umpire, never make an adverse

        comment regarding him.  To do so is despicable and ungentlemanly.

       (I assume this means making an adverse comment regarding your partner or an umpire in your association

       to a coach, fan, parent, etc.   There are times when accountability must happen, but then it needs to be

       made to the officers of your association.)

[Jocko]

Frickin Frick. *61 is his legacy in my eyes.

[johnnyg08]

I've never seen that before.  Thanks for sharing!

[RichMSN]

Frickin Frick. *61 is his legacy in my eyes.

 

That's right.  He's the guy who put the asterisk on the 61.  Brutal.

[BalkHawk]

decent advice, coming from a man who, insofar as I can tell, never was an umpire.

[BT_Blue]

Isn't he the one that the broadcaster Hall of Fame induction award is named after.