Umpiring for Free?

[catsbackr]

I was just wondering if anyone else gets requests to work Showcases, All Star exhibitions, etc. for free in the summer.

 

I just turned down a couple last week, one of them a Tennessee/Georgia high school exhibition, that the sponsors requested that we donate our umpire fee.  They requested a 4-man crew, too.  Just wondering if it happens in other parts of the country.

[HeadHunterLA]

I am in Los Angeles and occasionally get asked to work for free and will do it if the situation is right.  

[Specks]

No, when I work showcases during the summer we get paid. The players are paying a fee to atttend, here it's a business.

[grayhawk]

Yes, I get these requests.  I evaluate my willingness to donate my time based on whether or not I think the "cause" it worth it.

 

Charity events - yes.

Fundraisers - sometimes (depends on the organization).

An exhibition like the one you were asked to umpire doesn't sound like someone that needs free umpiring.  If I was connected, in some significant way, to the organization in question, then maybe I would do it.  If I was able to work with some high level guys, then that would entice me as well.

[scrounge]

I have a couple times, but it was specifically being structured as an umpire clinic as well. We worked an inning or two, then met with our evaluator, then worked another couple and had a final evaluation. I thought it was well worth the time.

[semper_fi_72]

I don't work for free, exception some LL.

I have worked 5 games for free this season, when I was off and did not have a paying game.

I do work post season tournaments as a volunteer also, but only if I don't have paying games.

I even turned back a Junior Semi Final and the Senior Final TOC games because I picked up Summer HS Legion games on those evenings.

I hate turning back games I said I would do but the LL District folks know I do this for a living and fully understanding me taking a $70 game over a Volunteer game.

The Seniors TOC Championship game would have been fun.  Was scheduled for the Plate.

[Dannytheman]

Our fields just go rained out or I would be working my 44th game for free this year. I am a Volunteer ump with LL.

BUT.......  Back in the day I would only do charity games, fund raisers. I did a couple softball games with the Philadelphia Flyers Alumni Team, and did some longest game charity work.

But never a tournament where the teams payed to play, or a high school game or Jr. College. That money was allocated for my pocket.

[MidAmUmp]

I was just wondering if anyone else gets requests to work Showcases, All Star exhibitions, etc. for free in the summer.

 

I just turned down a couple last week, one of them a Tennessee/Georgia high school exhibition, that the sponsors requested that we donate our umpire fee.  They requested a 4-man crew, too.  Just wondering if it happens in other parts of the country.

I'm with the the others on this...

 

If the teams paid to participate, then you can pay me to umpire.  Otherwise someone's getting rich off of this.

 

There are times where you need to work for free -

Opportunity to move up:

• Supervisors/evaluators watching guys work - more summer showcases are moving in this direction
• Fall college scrimmages
• Opportunity to work with veterans who have significant say on umpires moving up.

Resume building opportunities:

• All-Star games - only if the teams don't pay to play.
• That's about the only thing I can think of that would fall into this category.

Benefits & Fundraisers:

• Unless it's a really damn good cause, I'm usually busy.  I think I've only done one ever and that was last year for a HS coach with ties to our local D-I & D-II schools who was fighting ALS.

[noumpere]

I umpire almost all my games for free but I charge the teams $60 - $250 just to show up.

[MB_Ump]

I umped all my games for free for the first 6 years. We have convinced the leagues I work with to pay a little now to offset the expense of umping (gear, gas, uniforms, ect...) but I donate whatever is extra back. My real job pays me enough that umping is never going to be anything but fun money. I donate my time where ever there are interesting opportunities. Keeping it interesting and watching good ball are the things that motivate me, but the games should at least cover your expenses.

[catsbackr]

 

I was just wondering if anyone else gets requests to work Showcases, All Star exhibitions, etc. for free in the summer.

 

I just turned down a couple last week, one of them a Tennessee/Georgia high school exhibition, that the sponsors requested that we donate our umpire fee.  They requested a 4-man crew, too.  Just wondering if it happens in other parts of the country.

I'm with the the others on this...

 

If the teams paid to participate, then you can pay me to umpire.  Otherwise someone's getting rich off of this.

 

There are times where you need to work for free -

Opportunity to move up:

• Supervisors/evaluators watching guys work - more summer showcases are moving in this direction
• Fall college scrimmages
• Opportunity to work with veterans who have significant say on umpires moving up.

Resume building opportunities:

• All-Star games - only if the teams don't pay to play.
• That's about the only thing I can think of that would fall into this category.

Benefits & Fundraisers:

• Unless it's a really damn good cause, I'm usually busy.  I think I've only done one ever and that was last year for a HS coach with ties to our local D-I & D-II schools who was fighting ALS.

 

I like this plan, and I think I will use this as a guideline.  Thanks MidAmUmp!

[Stan W.]

I have done some games for free in the past...and I would again if they fit the critieria I agree to..........as a whole, I do not umpire for free.

 

Im going to freely steal and endorse the MidAmUmp approach.............(emphasis is mine)

 

If the teams paid to participate, then you can pay me to umpire.  Otherwise someone's getting rich off of this.

 

There are times where you need to work for free -

Opportunity to move up:

• Supervisors/evaluators watching guys work - more summer showcases are moving in this direction
• Fall college scrimmages
• Opportunity to work with veterans who have significant say on umpires moving up.

Resume building opportunities:

• All-Star games - only if the teams don't pay to play.
• That's about the only thing I can think of that would fall into this category.

Benefits & Fundraisers:

• Unless it's a really damn good cause, (And I will be the judge) 
   

I've got a lot invested in this avocation........time, money, training, materials, uniforms, passion, dedication etc.....I am worthy of my hire.......

[MPLSMatt]

I agree with most of what's being said above about certain things I'll do for free.  That said, I'm shocked that some of you do most or all of your games for free.  Kudos to you, but I don't think I could do that. 

 

I believe that there is a value to what I do and I should be fairly compensated for it.  If you want to go with the LL mindset of pretending that it's all in good fun and volunteerism is the name of the game, then parents and coaches better stay quiet as a church mice and have minimal expectations. As long as I'm expected to know the rule book in and out, leave my full-time job early to get to games, and deal with the disgruntled parents and coaches pretending it's MLB, I expect to be fairly compensated for my time.  I love umpiring and look forward to it each spring, but I don't think I'd be doing it for free. 

[Mike Prince]

I have a few friends who coach and will do a free scrimmage/practice game for them from time to time.  I did umpire a charity event last year and they insisted on paying the crew, I insisted on donating my game fees to the charity as soon as they handed it to me.

 

But for tournaments?  No way I'm doing that for free unless there's something else in it like an advancement or upper level showcase opportunity as mentioned elsewhere.

 

When I started doing this my wife always joked that I would do it for free.  Unfortunately as the years go on that is less and less true. 

[Minnz]

One more thing I would ask...will they be insuring you if you work for free.  What happens if you get hurt or if a player gets hurt and they sue you for negligence etc.  Just have to think of the what ifs.

[catsbackr]

I'm pretty sure NASO membership insurance has you covered.

[MT_Blue]

When i first started out i did for free because the league i worked with was short of officials (it was either someone who cared or a legion kid who didnt give a sh*t), after a year they payed, and then a year later i did some scheduling for them. Once I came to college how ever i have done VERY FEW free games, mostly scrimmages for travel softball out here where i know the coach (Umpired HS fast pitch with him). Since it was a chance to see more pitches before the travel season starts (fortunate for me its only about a week difference this year), and get evaluated by our UIC.

[BigUmpire]

" I don't do this for the money BUT I won’t do it for free"

 

 

 

 

Bumper sticker

[flastyle727]

I have worked 4 games for free this year. Travel ball games, each of the games I worked for free were to gain expierence with the 3-man system. So we would work two paid games and the 3rd for free.  I have found that it has allowed me to polish up a few things, work with the "college guys", and because your working for free the coaches leave you alone to talk with partners in between innings. I would not recommend working games that actually count, such as tournaments, for free. Pressure busts pipes and you have to pay for those repairs