How Long Until You Felt Comfortable?

[ElkOil]

I'm brand new to umpiring and I'm routinely told by veteran guys it'll take two years to feel comfortable behind the plate.  Between High School, Select Ball, Men's Summer Ball and Fall Ball, I'll be calling as many games as I can stand.  With a busy schedule, how long until you all felt comfortable -- whatever the meaning of it is to you?

[Forest Ump]

I know a guy who started umpiring 4 years ago. He's now working D2. Don't let anyone tell you how long it will take to feel comfortable officiating. Work hard and be confident in your ability.

[Tksjewelry]

I'll be a second year this season. I did 220 games last year but it was probably around game 75 that I was truly comfortable, add in the fact that I didn't play ball since I was 10 and I'm 40 now, so it may have taken me longer than most. I'm now most comfortable behind the plate. This year, I'm going to try to get more base time. I need rules and mechanics work.

[Richvee]

There will come a time when the game slows down for you. Hard to explain exactly what that is, but you'll know it when it happens. You might think you're "comfortable" somewhere in your 1st year of doing a bunch of games, but trust me, if you're honest with yourself,  a few years from now, you're going to look back on that first year or two and say, "wow, was that really me?"  

[maven]

There will come a time when the game slows down for you. Hard to explain exactly what that is, but you'll know it when it happens.

 

You're right to point out that the game "slowing down" is a crucial part of "feeling comfortable" behind the plate (or on the bases, which sometimes takes longer for umpires who are used to working solo).

 

It's not hard to explain, but the explanation requires a bit of brain science. The human brain is a pattern recognition engine, but it has to be trained up on the pattern. When we start umpiring, there's so much going on that our brains get overwhelmed trying to identify what is "pattern" or relevant and so worth our attention. As it comes to recognize pattern, it starts to treat everything else as "noise" or irrelevant and so to ignore it.

 

The other part is our limited processing power. We can process about 100–110 bits of information per second. This limit explains a common experience: since the average conversation includes about 60–80 bits per second, we can almost, but not quite, listen to 2 conversations at the same time.

 

The game slows down when we have trained up our brains sufficiently so that we filter out (ignore) enough noise that the remaining patterns are below our processing limit.

 

You heard it here first: better umpiring through neuroscience!

[Thunderheads]

 

There will come a time when the game slows down for you. Hard to explain exactly what that is, but you'll know it when it happens.

 

You're right to point out that the game "slowing down" is a crucial part of "feeling comfortable" behind the plate (or on the bases, which sometimes takes longer for umpires who are used to working solo).

 

It's not hard to explain, but the explanation requires a bit of brain science. The human brain is a pattern recognition engine, but it has to be trained up on the pattern. When we start umpiring, there's so much going on that our brains get overwhelmed trying to identify what is "pattern" or relevant and so worth our attention. As it comes to recognize pattern, it starts to treat everything else as "noise" or irrelevant and so to ignore it.

 

The other part is our limited processing power. We can process about 100–110 bits of information per second. This limit explains a common experience: since the average conversation includes about 60–80 bits per second, we can almost, but not quite, listen to 2 conversations at the same time.

 

The game slows down when we have trained up our brains sufficiently so that we filter out (ignore) enough noise that the remaining patterns are below our processing limit.

 

You heard it here first: better umpiring through neuroscience!

 

Holy CRAP is that cool!!!!

[th3]

my 1st 3 or 4 years i did around 40 games a year and dont think i was ever really comfortable. it wasnt until i started doing a full 150+ schedule that i became (a litlte bit more) comfortable. 

[catsbackr]

Good Lord, you guys work a lot of baseball games!

[Thunderheads]

I'll be a second year this season. I did 220 games last year but it was probably around game 75 that I was truly comfortable, add in the fact that I didn't play ball since I was 10 and I'm 40 now, so it may have taken me longer than most. I'm now most comfortable behind the plate. This year, I'm going to try to get more base time. I need rules and mechanics work.

Holy crap, ...where do you live ????

 

Good Lord, you guys work a lot of baseball games!

I just noticed that ... wow !!!!

[Matthew Turner]

I'm relatively new to this (umpiring, not baseball) and I'm curious as to what caused the most anxiety? 1.) taking authority/game management, 2.) balls and strikes, 3.) mechanics, 4.) rules, 5.) "speed of the game" (see maven's post) 6.) anything else??

[noumpere]

I'm relatively new to this (umpiring, not baseball) and I'm curious as to what caused the most anxiety? 1.) taking authority/game management, 2.) balls and strikes, 3.) mechanics, 4.) rules, 5.) "speed of the game" (see maven's post) 6.) anything else??

All of the above.  It depends on the game / season / what level I'm working (is it a "new higher" level), etc.

 

And to the OP -- I've been doing it 43 years -- I'll let you know when it happens.

[catsbackr]

I'd say the only time most umpires really feel uncomfortable is when they work a level greater than their ability.

[GreyhoundAggie]

I would say game management is the most anxiety personally. You can't learn it from a book or a clinic. You can get pointers and ideas, but it only comes from getting on the field and being in those situations. That's just my opinion though.

[ElkOil]

 

There will come a time when the game slows down for you. Hard to explain exactly what that is, but you'll know it when it happens.

 

You're right to point out that the game "slowing down" is a crucial part of "feeling comfortable" behind the plate (or on the bases, which sometimes takes longer for umpires who are used to working solo).

 

It's not hard to explain, but the explanation requires a bit of brain science. The human brain is a pattern recognition engine, but it has to be trained up on the pattern. When we start umpiring, there's so much going on that our brains get overwhelmed trying to identify what is "pattern" or relevant and so worth our attention. As it comes to recognize pattern, it starts to treat everything else as "noise" or irrelevant and so to ignore it.

 

The other part is our limited processing power. We can process about 100–110 bits of information per second. This limit explains a common experience: since the average conversation includes about 60–80 bits per second, we can almost, but not quite, listen to 2 conversations at the same time.

 

The game slows down when we have trained up our brains sufficiently so that we filter out (ignore) enough noise that the remaining patterns are below our processing limit.

 

You heard it here first: better umpiring through neuroscience!

 

 

Great.  Now I have a man crush for Maven.  These things are so hard to explain to my wife.

[umpstu]

On the plate you're comfortable when the knee buckling pitches don't buckle your knees, IMO.  When you are no longer calling a strike when the catcher is pushing a pitch into the ground.

 

I think the bases is tougher.  It took years to train myself to take my eyes off the baseball, stare at the BR's feet and listen for the ball to hit the first baseman's glove.  As a player you are taught to always keep your eye on the ball.  It's tough to undo that.

 

Someone else's comfortable may not be your level, so just keep working on it.  

[Umpire in Chief]

Here's a post that even though made almost 7 years ago I continually refer people to about becoming more comfortable behind the plate and timing.


 

This may sound a little weird, but I've applied some of the principles of rifle shooting to plate umpiring...
 
Breathe- Pay attention to your breathing. You don't want to be tense.
 
Relax- When he's winding up you want to be properly relaxed w/ your position locked in.
 
Aim- You're locked into your position. Your eyes should be naturally lined up at the top of the zone instead of forced to be there. Your stance should give you a "natural point of aim" rather than having to force it.
 
Stop- Just before the ball leaves the pitchers hand you stop breathing at the BOTTOM of your exhale. This is esssential to keep you from blinking. If you stop at the top of your breath or part way in between, then you're tenser than you need to be and much more apt to blink.
 
Shoot- Well, not really "shoot." But this is where the pitcher pulls the trigger, and you watch the ball come down range. If the ball is hit or if the 2 seam fastball explodes in your face and you blink or flinch hard, then you didn't relax enough.
 
Follow Through- This is the timing that you guys all talk about. Watch the ball into the mitt, and take a breath in and make your call.
 
BRASS-F is the acronym.
 
I'm still fine tuning the analogy and my own timing.

[JaxRolo]

Proper training will get you comfortable quicker.

Attend formal training not just an association clinic.

[th3]

I'm relatively new to this (umpiring, not baseball) and I'm curious as to what caused the most anxiety? 1.) taking authority/game management, 2.) balls and strikes, 3.) mechanics, 4.) rules, 5.) "speed of the game" (see maven's post) 6.) anything else??

rules, timing, positioning

[LMSANS]

Proper training will get you comfortable quicker.

Attend formal training not just an association clinic.

I can't believe I'm doing this...I completely agree with Rolo.

I use to attend the training run by the state regularly.  Then I went to one of Evans' clinics and it was like the whole world changed.  The game had slowed down some and I was seeing things better.

[ElkOil]

 

Proper training will get you comfortable quicker.

Attend formal training not just an association clinic.

I can't believe I'm doing this...I completely agree with Rolo.

I use to attend the training run by the state regularly.  Then I went to one of Evans' clinics and it was like the whole world changed.  The game had slowed down some and I was seeing things better.

 

 

What kinds of things did the clinic do that the state training lacked?

[grayhawk]

"Comfortable" is a loaded word.  I'm not sure I am ever completely "comfortable" out there.  I have certainly experienced the game slowing down for me multiple times, but we all know there is a play out there with our name on it.  Though that's not something that I dwell on, I try to constantly remain vigilant so I don't get surprised (which always leads to bad things).

 

Perhaps the better question is, when did you reach a point where you felt "confident" when walking out on the field?  I honestly don't remember, but I feel that I have moved up at the right pace so that I have had the confidence in myself to work each game at each level, without much in the way of anxiety when working that first game at the next level.

 

My very first HS playoff game was on the dish in Division 1.  I had actually never even worked a regular season varsity D1 game to that point, but I felt that I was ready for the challenge and I didn't disappoint myself in the least.  I was pleased that the association had the confidence in me to put me in that position.

 

Keep working, keep learning and keep challenging yourself.  Try to work up levels as much as possible in the off season and you'll accelerate your learning process and your confidence.

[LMSANS]

 

 

Proper training will get you comfortable quicker.

Attend formal training not just an association clinic.

I can't believe I'm doing this...I completely agree with Rolo.

I use to attend the training run by the state regularly.  Then I went to one of Evans' clinics and it was like the whole world changed.  The game had slowed down some and I was seeing things better.

 

 

What kinds of things did the clinic do that the state training lacked?

 

It wasn't so much what, as how.  There were many more reps and the instructors were more confident.  I wish I could do it more often.

[Hawkman]

I think it took me a few years before I really felt like I was on top of everything out on the field in general. I've been doing this 10 years and I still have the occasional night where I just can't seem to get in a good groove behind the plate. I think sometimes that has more to do with the pitcher and/or catcher than me, but we all still have an off night occasionally. But now if I feel like I'm a little off I don't worry about it like I did in the early days, I just have a few things I do to try and get myself into a groove. Good mechanics and setup are crucial to good plate work so I try to make sure I have a ritual that I follow for each pitch. It helps me lock in and focus. However, I think the mental aspect of working the dish is equally if not more important. As a poster above noted, you really start to get comfortable when you can become Zen like in your ability to block out distractions and focus solely on the job. It comes eventually if you care enough to work on it. I always feel like I can get better, but I also feel relaxed and confident when I step onto the field now.

 

Biggest stressor? Has to be game management for me. It doesn't stress me much anymore but unfortunately the only way to develop solid game management skills is to be caught up in a bunch of ****storms over the years and learn from your mistakes and successes. Trial by fire. I made a lot of mistakes with coaches and players over the years but learned from every mistake. Having worked basketball for years before working baseball also helped as game management is tremendously important in basketball with a lot more unpleasant coach/official interaction.

[Tksjewelry]

@Thunderheads Omaha. We have a ton of national tournaments during CWS. I took almost every possible game I could of any type. Will this year too. Trial by fire as they say.

@Matthew Turner now, rules and positioning give me "anxiety" (I'm not sure that's the word for me). At first first it was everything above.

Our UIC and a few of the upper level umpires made a special effort to take me under their wings and help, even now at association rule meetings they do. If it wasn't for those guys, I would not have made it through last year. Just sitting around and talking to other umpires helped too. War stories, crazy plays, great situations, just discussing those gave me better insight on how to handle things. Even the posts on sites like this help. I read far more than I post.

What also helped me, was knowing what partners NOT to take and having the confidence to say NO to working with them. There is nothing worse than being a newbie and having a partner with a superiority complex. They undermine confidence, ruin your authority with coaches you'll see again, and throw you under the bus.

[spiritump]

Proper training will get you comfortable quicker.

Attend formal training not just an association clinic.

I can't believe I'm doing this...I completely agree with Rolo.

I use to attend the training run by the state regularly.  Then I went to one of Evans' clinics and it was like the whole world changed.  The game had slowed down some and I was seeing things better.

 

What kinds of things did the clinic do that the state training lacked?

In my experience most State C!inics is just High School big wigs telling war stories. A real clinic (cost money and is usually a couple of days) have Minor League or a MLB guys teaching