2014 Umpire Goals

[yawetag]

A bit of a back story: At the beginning of 2013, I dubbed 2012 my "pride killer" year. Due to my availability in 2011 (due to working night shift), I was given a full sub-Varsity schedule in 2012. However, I couldn't be available much more in 2012, but did help out the association a lot in picking up some games. Thinking 2013 would be the same schedule, I dubbed it my "rebuilding" year, in which I would focus on doing the best I can and show the association I was serious about umpiring. They surprised me by working with my availability AND giving me mostly Varsity-level games.

 

With that said, here are my two major goals of 2014:

1. Game Management. In the past, I've been too serious on the field. Loosen up and drop the wall between myself and the players on the field. With this, work on my communication with the coaches and managers. Often, I've given the impression of being unapproachable, as I thought that's what we were to be. I've learned that coaches, especially in the higher levels and the better schools, aren't as serious about it as I thought they were.

 

2. Help Others Succeed. When I first started several years ago, I didn't have a mentor or anyone to help me with my progress. I hated it. However, now that I've become more experienced, I haven't reached out to help anyone, either. This year, I want to make myself available to the newer umpires, even if it's to simply give them some advice.

 

I have other smaller ones, but those are the major ones. I'm excited about 2014, primarily because it's the first year since 2010 that I've been as available as I am now. I hope this availability allows me the opportunity to work with better partners, but also to work with newer ones, too.

[mstaylor]

Sounds like some excellent goals Andrew.

[Thunderheads]

A bit of a back story: At the beginning of 2013, I dubbed 2012 my "pride killer" year. Due to my availability in 2011 (due to working night shift), I was given a full sub-Varsity schedule in 2012. However, I couldn't be available much more in 2012, but did help out the association a lot in picking up some games. Thinking 2013 would be the same schedule, I dubbed it my "rebuilding" year, in which I would focus on doing the best I can and show the association I was serious about umpiring. They surprised me by working with my availability AND giving me mostly Varsity-level games.

 

With that said, here are my two major goals of 2014:

1. Game Management. In the past, I've been too serious on the field. Loosen up and drop the wall between myself and the players on the field. With this, work on my communication with the coaches and managers. Often, I've given the impression of being unapproachable, as I thought that's what we were to be. I've learned that coaches, especially in the higher levels and the better schools, aren't as serious about it as I thought they were.

 

2. Help Others Succeed. When I first started several years ago, I didn't have a mentor or anyone to help me with my progress. I hated it. However, now that I've become more experienced, I haven't reached out to help anyone, either. This year, I want to make myself available to the newer umpires, even if it's to simply give them some advice.

 

I have other smaller ones, but those are the major ones. I'm excited about 2014, primarily because it's the first year since 2010 that I've been as available as I am now. I hope this availability allows me the opportunity to work with better partners, but also to work with newer ones, too.

It's amazing what a little "approachability" can do for you on the field!   No, you don't have to "chit-chat" with everyone, but smile and say hello and show you're having fun and you're willing to talk ....  it goes a LONG way!  

 

Concur w/ mstaylor!

[afaber12]

 

1. Get my local association to encourage the removal of the preference for single umpires to umpire from the mound in local leagues, and leave it up to the umpire on the day to decide.
2. Attend the annual Level 1 umpire training course mid-year. (Gotta keep up with the training.)
3. Start working local junior games, to ready myself for rep-level games.
4. Start working state men's and women's leagues: many more opportunities to work 2-man, possibly 3-man, as well as to be evaluated by state instructors and help eliminate whatever things I do wrong or at least not as right as they could be.
5. Get enough games, skills and general experience under my belt to be in position to upgrade to Level 2 by 2015: state league first grade and national junior tournaments.

 

 

It begins! Got my first Women's League appointment tonight, with the season restarting from the Xmas/NY break. Even assuming the umpires I'll work with in these leagues are no better or worse than the ones in my local league, if nothing else they'll be a different group, likely different ways of thinking and doing things, so opportunities to pinch the best from both groups for myself (and spread between both at the same time).

 

The nerves/excitement are the same as when I got my first assignment and was waiting for the game to start!