Have you ever umpired out of the US?

[maineump]

Two years ago I had the honor of being asked to umpire a Little League Regional tournament in Guam. There were 11 countries from that region in the tournament, and each country had an umpire at the tournament as well. The 2 of us from the US were the first 2 from the US mainland to be invited.

I had an incredible time out there. The baseball was top-notch and it is amazing to see the difference in dedication by the kids and coaches at that level.

There are definately differences in umpires from different countries. My roommate for the week was from Tokyo, Japan. Barely spoke english, but was an outstanding umpire. He and I were 2 of the umpires assigned to the final game. I learned a lot about game management from him, as he could 'communicate' with anyone, baseball is baseball and coaches are coaches - no matter what language they speak.

I learned a lot about different cultures, made a bunch of new friends, and just had the time of my life.

I always try to use each game as a 'learning tool'- whether it is what to do or not to do, picked up a lot of neat tricks while I was there.

[JaxRolo]

In 2006 while I spent a year in Kuwait I Umpired slow pitch softball.  Does that count?

[Thunderheads]

In 2006 while I spent a year in Kuwait I Umpired slow pitch softball.  Does that count?

Kuwait does ............

 

SLOW_PITCH SOFTBALL ...........NOT SO MUCH!! LOL

[maineump]

I posted to see if anyone found any different mechanics or how the game was different out of the US.

In my case, it was the same rulebook that is used in the US, but how it was interpreted by the coaches was different. The coaches seemed to know the rules better than the US. It was either that, or when they asked for our interpretation they couldn't understand what we were trying to tell them  . The major 'international incident' occured when the Korean coach wents nuts when an umpire (not me) kept the batter in the box after he 'took one for the team'. That coach questioned a couple of things each game but was respectful to us when he did it. Must be a different game over there.

[maineump]

LOL - oops, forgot about our neighbors from Canada - Our state is bordered by you fine folks too!

Met some great umps from 'the north' and they always have a great time at tournaments. Love to spend money (must be the exchange rate?

All the time! 

[UmpJM]

I have never umpired outside the country, but my association provides the umpires for an annual international tournament held in the area.

 

Working that tournament, I've had the opportunity to do games with teams from Japan, Puerto Rico (I know, US territory - still...), Canada, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Brazil, Mexico, and New Zealand.

 

I find it a blast working games with the international teams.

 

JM

[Ump29]

All the time! 

 

 

Same here !!

[maineump]

I have never umpired outside the country, but my association provides the umpires for an annual international tournament held in the area.

 

Working that tournament, I've had the opportunity to do games with teams from Japan, Puerto Rico (I know, US territory - still...), Canada, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Brazil, Mexico, and New Zealand.

 

I find it a blast working games with the international teams.

 

JM

Our district hosts the Senior League World Series. I totally agree with you about the umps from abroad. The cool thing about some of these guys (Europe & Carribean especially) is their styles - very animated for the most part. These umps are all selected from Little League, and some of them have never even worked a 3 or 4-man crew before getting to us. We take 3&4-man for granted I guess.

I am also astonished when I hear about them getting equipment. We take it for granted, that you call or order on-line and it is to you in a week or so. Out of the US, the shipping charges are HUGE. When I went to Guam, I asked the UIC if they needed anything - I took a bag load of indicators, ball bags, brushes and blank hats.

I have seen posts on here about Mizuno gear from Japan. My roommate wore the top of the line Mizuno, and he hated it. He left all of the pads with local umps when he was done - it is a tradition in Japan. He gave it to a guy that had very old stuff, amazing to see the smile on his face. He also gave me money to purchase new stuff in the states and ship it to him. It was much cheaper for him to do it that way and he liked my gear better (I let him try it out). We also brought back money to order shoes and uniforms for the locals out there -

All in all - I guess we have it really good here in the US, & Canada compared to the rest of the baseball world. Maybe that is why it is called 'America's sport' huh?

[zm1283]

I haven't been out of the U.S., but I had an 18U team from Canada last summer at a tournament here.  

[umpstu]

Two years ago I had the honor of being asked to umpire a Little League Regional tournament in Guam. There were 11 countries from that region in the tournament, and each country had an umpire at the tournament as well. The 2 of us from the US were the first 2 from the US mainland to be invited.

I had an incredible time out there. The baseball was top-notch and it is amazing to see the difference in dedication by the kids and coaches at that level.

There are definately differences in umpires from different countries. My roommate for the week was from Tokyo, Japan. Barely spoke english, but was an outstanding umpire. He and I were 2 of the umpires assigned to the final game. I learned a lot about game management from him, as he could 'communicate' with anyone, baseball is baseball and coaches are coaches - no matter what language they speak.

I learned a lot about different cultures, made a bunch of new friends, and just had the time of my life.

I always try to use each game as a 'learning tool'- whether it is what to do or not to do, picked up a lot of ne then get out of the gameat tricks while I was there.

Never umpired out of the country, but want to respond to the learning tool comment. I love that. I feel the same way and that if you don't have that attitude get out of the game. I am fortunate to be able to work with a whole bunch of Div 1 umpires and they try to learn and perfect their game each time out. And I am talking about CWS umpires. Keep up that attitude.

[HokieUmp]

I have/am.

 

My first formal training was in Australia, at their National Umpire School in 2003.  Worked games in Australia from 2003 to early 2007.  I doubt I'm considered current now - left there in Feb 2007 - but I was a Level 2 in their system.  Life goal is to live there again.  And with very few exceptions, every partner I had there was an Aussie.

 

Now, I umpire in Japan, but today was my first truly international game.  There's a team of Americans associated with my base that play in local leagues, and I'm trying to become their 'regular' when they're the home team (home team gets the umps, so I'm not doing off-base.  Yet).  Nearly became the first "wind out" I would have ever had, but we got it done.  I've worked HS games, and there are some private schools that play the US DoDDs schools.  So that sort of counts.

[Umpire in Chief]

I have not traveled internationally, but I have called games with teams from Puerto Rico and Toronto.

[JaxRolo]

I have not traveled internationally, but I have called games with teams from Puerto Rico and Toronto.

 

A lot of the Puerto Ricans are ambidextrous. They Speak English and Spanish.

[maineump]

I have not traveled internationally, but I have called games with teams from Puerto Rico and Toronto.

 

A lot of the Puerto Ricans are ambidextrous. They Speak English and Spanish.

It is amazing how many US teams that the coaches and players 'refuse to speak' English. Livin' in America folks, if I don't understand it, then it might cost you IMO. You understand me, should be 50/50

[gnhbua93]

 

I have not traveled internationally, but I have called games with teams from Puerto Rico and Toronto.

 

A lot of the Puerto Ricans are ambidextrous. They Speak English and Spanish.

It is amazing how many US teams that the coaches and players 'refuse to speak' English. Livin' in America folks, if I don't understand it, then it might cost you IMO. You understand me, should be 50/50

The same goes for the umpires.  Fellows, Rosetta Stone is out there.  Remember this is a political two-way street.

[Jocko]

 

I have not traveled internationally, but I have called games with teams from Puerto Rico and Toronto.

 A lot of the Puerto Ricans are ambidextrous. They Speak English and Spanish.It is amazing how many US teams that the coaches and players 'refuse to speak' English. Livin' in America folks, if I don't understand it, then it might cost you IMO. You understand me, should be 50/50

political two-way street.

A common misconception. There's no such thing.

[gnhbua93]

 

 

 

It is amazing how many US teams that the coaches and players 'refuse to speak' English. Livin' in America folks, if I don't understand it, then it might cost you IMO. You understand me, should be 50/50

political two-way street.

A common misconception. There's no such thing.

So what thing there is?  Conquest?

[Jocko]

It is amazing how many US teams that the coaches and players 'refuse to speak' English. Livin' in America folks, if I don't understand it, then it might cost you IMO. You understand me, should be 50/50

political two-way street.

A common misconception. There's no such thing.

So what thing there is? Conquest?

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Ha! I was talking more actual politics. I personally don't subscribe to the whole "Speak English or Go Home" mantra. I believe in the American melting pot.

[Umpire in Chief]

I have not traveled internationally, but I have called games with teams from Puerto Rico and Toronto.

 

A lot of the Puerto Ricans are ambidextrous. They Speak English and Spanish.

Yeah at the start of the game everybody spoke beautiful English. Then we had a situation and suddenly they only spoke Spanish.

[maineump]

It is amazing how many US teams that the coaches and players 'refuse to speak' English. Livin' in America folks, if I don't understand it, then it might cost you IMO. You understand me, should be 50/50

political two-way street.

A common misconception. There's no such thing.

So what thing there is? Conquest?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ha! I was talking more actual politics. I personally don't subscribe to the whole "Speak English or Go Home" mantra. I believe in the American melting pot.

I didn't mean speak english or go home in my last post, but it did look that way huh?   I don't have a probelm with any languages, I agree that there are many spoken (it is almost 90% french in the northern part of our state), I mean when they are disagreeing with the call, then speak english please, if I heard you before in english then you go spanish or french on me at the time of the discussion, then that is my issue.

When I was in Guam, the finals had Korea and Taipai (sp) in the finals. Neither coach spoke english, but if we couldn't get through an issue, they had to have a translator.

[yawetag]

Yeah at the start of the game everybody spoke beautiful English. Then we had a situation and suddenly they only spoke Spanish.

 

Happens all the time at work. When someone does something wrong and gets approached about it, they suddenly realized they couldn't speak, read, or understand English.

[guitarplaya2007]

I've umpired in Canada before, i didn't really notice that much of a "difference" in the interpretations of rules or anything though... then again this league contained teams from both the US and Canada and we played in both countries...

[BalkHawk]

I have never umpired abroad, though I have done games for teams from Canada, Puerto Rico, the Domincan, and Alabama.

Paying for a trip to Japan by umpiring there would be two dreams come true.

[renegadewolf]

I've never umpired inside the united states, wouldn't mind working a game or 10 state side (Hawaii would be nice....).  So long as it OBR set and not FED.... but then again we are talking umpiring baseball so it should go without saying it aught to be OBR

[BT_Blue]

I umpired two summers (our winter) in Sydney, Australia in 1998 and 1999