Proper gear

[Catch18]

Gotta get some of these young lads caring about their tibias….maybe I can farm out some gear.

 

[MadMax]

… and no hat. 😲

… and no plate shoes… which could pass if he had big shinguards with all the foot-and-toe flaps (still) hangin’ on. 🫢 

… and he probably doesn’t have a personal protector on. 🫣

Yikes, I fear for him. On the one hand, I would verbally chastise him (as a fellow umpire) for going out there equipped so pathetically… but we do have an umpire shortage, and I appreciate whatever involvement he can give. 

Seriously, too, why aren’t the Smitty’s and Cliff Keens of the industry just giving away outdated styles of umpire shirts (and pants, while they’re at it)?!?! Really?! You’re just going to keep producing two-stripe shirts in cream, black, grey, red, n… oh… I answered my own exclamation. Because the NFHS book still declares the shirt “shall be navy”, the producers still keep producing that antiquated shirt cuz some pedantic ol’ state group keeps buying them. 🙄

Just give ‘em away already!

[JonnyCat]

43 minutes ago, MadMax said:

Just give ‘em away already!

But they might run out and not be able to supply any to New Jersey.

[Thunderheads]

8 hours ago, JonnyCat said:

But they might run out and not be able to supply any to New Jersey.

or Michigan,

or Ohio, or Mississippi, or Missouri, or whatever state still requires us to wear such 'stuff'

[The Man in Blue]

I'll do coach pitch games with just a face mask (although I still wear proper uniform).  Those kids look a little big for coach pitch, but it could be.

Most definitely a local rec/house league.  I still don't understand why those leagues don't set an expected uniform for their umpires, even if it is a league t-shirt that says "Umpire" on the front and "Don't yell at me" on the back.  It is a small token that shows some appreciation for the umpire and the kids.

On the other hand, I would rather see the kid dressed like this than with a proper shirt untucked, shorts, and his hat on backwards.  Either do it right or don't do it at all.

 

No comments on him standing in the kill zone?

[The Man in Blue]

Just for fun on a tangent ... @Thunderheads, would you be opposed to a redesigned/updated navy?

I still like the USA Softball navy (although the logo needs to be in light blue).

 

 

[Catch18]

… and no hat.
… and no plate shoes… which could pass if he had big shinguards with all the foot-and-toe flaps (still) hangin’ on. 🫢 
… and he probably doesn’t have a personal protector on. 🫣
Yikes, I fear for him. On the one hand, I would verbally chastise him (as a fellow umpire) for going out there equipped so pathetically… but we do have an umpire shortage, and I appreciate whatever involvement he can give. 
Seriously, too, why aren’t the Smitty’s and Cliff Keens of the industry just giving away outdated styles of umpire shirts (and pants, while they’re at it)?!?! Really?! You’re just going to keep producing two-stripe shirts in cream, black, grey, red, n… oh… I answered my own exclamation. Because the NFHS book still declares the shirt “shall be navy”, the producers still keep producing that antiquated shirt cuz some pedantic ol’ state group keeps buying them.
Just give ‘em away already!

I really fear, too, Max. Which is why I’ve stopped by to watch a couple innings lately, after my son’s games on the smaller diamond.

They (all) need help. Big issues last year with their UIC under-minded and resigning. I haven’t seen an adult umpire this year - word is they walked with him.

I don’t have the time to volunteer to take the role. But I’d love to step in, help train a little bit, clean up a lot of the obvious “I’m hear because the league president knows I’m on the HS varsity team” kind of stuff. Maybe turn some teens into good, young certified umpires…..and grow our dwindling ranks. For crying out loud, I live in a town of ~17,000 and I’m the only Class 1 HS guy in the zip code (OH does Class 3 after you graduate from the class, Class 2 can do up to JV, Class 1 Varsity/Post season). Works for me though, get my pick of the litter at the HS 5 min from the house.

[Catch18]

I'll do coach pitch games with just a face mask (although I still wear proper uniform).  Those kids look a little big for coach pitch, but it could be.
Most definitely a local rec/house league.  I still don't understand why those leagues don't set an expected uniform for their umpires, even if it is a league t-shirt that says "Umpire" on the front and "Don't yell at me" on the back.  It is a small token that shows some appreciation for the umpire and the kids.
On the other hand, I would rather see the kid dressed like this than with a proper shirt untucked, shorts, and his hat on backwards.  Either do it right or don't do it at all.
 
No comments on him standing in the kill zone?

No, that’s 11-12s. See my previous post about previous seasons issues and losing umpires. I think they’re struggling to put it together.

And most def all positioning, mechanics, signals need taught. But I can’t blame them….we don’t know what we don’t know.

[Thunderheads]

6 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

Just for fun on a tangent ... @Thunderheads, would you be opposed to a redesigned/updated navy?

I still like the USA Softball navy (although the logo needs to be in light blue).

 

 

For me?  For someone who doesn't have ANY say in what we wear on the field ....NO ...I wouldn't be opposed to a re-design

[ErichKeane]

I wonder if this is a 'recruited from the stands' kind of situation?  With the umpire-shortage, it is pretty common to just grab a sibling from the next field over and use them instead.  Just give-em a mask and let them at it.

[Catch18]

My “President knows the varsity team ball players” recruiting was not allegorical

Hey, I did it….baseball junkie, started when I was a kid in the local leagues. Nothing wrong with that.

[The Man in Blue]

@Catch18 recruiting players really is something that we need to do more of.  However, it needs to be done with structure and focus -- not just "hey kid, here's a mask and a clicker, see the concession stand when you are done for $12, a soda, and a candy bar" (yeah, that was how I started).  Just because you play the game doesn't mean you understand the game ... as we see multiple times every weekend.

In fact, if I was a varsity coach I would be doing my best to get my players into calling summer ball and learning the craft of umpiring.  Even if the kid doesn't want to stay in umpiring, it makes them a better player and a much better student of the game.  Of course, you are going to get the kids who just show up (which seeing this level of interest/ethic is of interest would be of interest to me as a coach), but you will get the ones who take a serious interest.

I started one of my daughters into umpiring when she was 15.  She really benefitted from the different perspective and learning more of the "academics" of the game.  It changed the way she played.

One thing that I loved about my daughters' club volleyball experiences was that they had to officiate tournaments.  You would have one "real" referee on the tower, but the girls had to down ref, line judge, score, and keep book.  I wish this had been done a little more seriously, but I loved that they spent some time teaching them the game instead of just playing the game.

[MadMax]

On 6/1/2022 at 1:05 PM, Catch18 said:

I don’t have the time to volunteer to take the role.

Do not volunteer for this undertaking. Those kids have actual uniforms, the catcher has matching gear, and it looks like a decently maintained ball field. There are funds available. You must apply value to your time and efforts, otherwise a skewed perspective of what is “proper, effective umpiring” starts to fester. 

The most challenging aspect facing the development of umpires today ain’t the parents, or the coaches, or the loss of interest in baseball, or the current stay-home-and-receive-a-gov’t-check culture. Instead, it’s an adage by the Joker – 

… and this is why we don’t have effective training guides and material online, nor are there effective clinics, classes, or training sessions. Having an umpire shortage just compounds the problem, because why forgo available games to attend (and pay for?) training sessions… which may or may not apply things that you’d learn in a game environment anyway. 

[MadMax]

On 6/1/2022 at 9:47 AM, The Man in Blue said:

Just for fun on a tangent ... @Thunderheads, would you be opposed to a redesigned/updated navy?

In several states, you’ll find that it ain’t even a redesigned navy shirt that will “budge the needle” and be acceptable to these old buzzards. As much mockery and contempt as I make of the NFHS Rulebook, it at least creates latitude that the shirt “shall be navy”, without any specifics on style. So, according to that, you’d think I could wear this latest iteration of navy, and all would be AOK “acceptable”: 

But oh-HO-no! I can’t do that, because I’m not wearing the association’s shirt… which was adopted by a committee meeting… 30 years ago… by guys who are likely still getting a kickback for every sale that Bud makes because he brokered a deal 25 years ago with Hap and gets them in bulk pricing from Cliff Keen, and sells them at every association meeting… and then of course, once you have the one shirt, why would you need another??? 

We do it to ourselves, guys. We dishearten and turn away guys because we (hiding under the auspices of an “association”) resist change, expansion of scope, and challenges to our artificial, fabricated “authority”. Shirts, hats, and gear are just tangible examples. 

[The Man in Blue]

Alright @Thunderheads ... If I can wear that navy shirt, I will work with you any time!  😁

While I do not disagree with you about the archaic nature of umpire uniforming (it's nice the fabrics are finally starting to change to meet our needs), I also have to say that I understand the need for a baseline.  I agree though, there should be some options available.

For example ... I can ask new partners what they want to wear and I get a response like:

Black ... uh, which one?

 

Light blue ... powder or Carolina?  Which style?

 

 

... and we won't even get into pants ... !!!

I am big on umpires matching, but it's too much to keep up with.

[Richvee]

On 5/31/2022 at 11:41 PM, JonnyCat said:

But they might run out and not be able to supply any to New Jersey.

We can’t buy the old “ run of the mill” navy. Now it needs to be special. 
 

https://www.ump-attire.com/Products/USA300NJ-N/New-Jersey-NJSIAA-Short-Sleeve-Umpire-Shirt-Navy

[JonnyCat]

3 hours ago, Richvee said:

We can’t buy the old “ run of the mill” navy. Now it needs to be special. 

Oh my! And $50.00 a pop!

[Catch18]

FML….Email from State assoc.:

“Many of you may have heard about an upcoming change to the OHSAA logo…..blah blah more blah….”

They’re giving us 2 years. Great. Dropped $70 on a new quarter zip windbreaker this year. Prob a 7-8 year coat, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Way to help the officiating shortage. That’ll keep the 2nd year guy around for more.

[Richvee]

1 hour ago, JonnyCat said:

Oh my! And $50.00 a pop!

Yeah. It hurt to spend that on a navy shirt. I had no issues spending that for the black one. 😀

[LMSANS]

Way too much energy spent on shirt color. It doesn’t make you a better umpire and some guys don’t look good in any color.

[The Man in Blue]

3 hours ago, Catch18 said:

FML….Email from State assoc.:

“Many of you may have heard about an upcoming change to the OHSAA logo…..blah blah more blah….”

They’re giving us 2 years. Great. Dropped $70 on a new quarter zip windbreaker this year. Prob a 7-8 year coat, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Way to help the officiating shortage. That’ll keep the 2nd year guy around for more.

And this is why I like patches … just saying. 

[Richvee]

8 hours ago, LMSANS said:

Way too much energy spent on shirt color. It doesn’t make you a better umpire and some guys don’t look good in any color.

While you are correct, the stereotype of the “ I only have navy” rang true again this season for me. Three partners replied to my game confirmation emails with the “ I only have navy “ line……. None belonged on a varsity baseball field. 

[LMSANS]

On 6/4/2022 at 8:30 AM, Richvee said:

While you are correct, the stereotype of the “ I only have navy” rang true again this season for me. Three partners replied to my game confirmation emails with the “ I only have navy “ line……. None belonged on a varsity baseball field. 

So shirt color does determine skill level?😜

[Jimurray]

4 hours ago, LMSANS said:

So shirt color does determine skill level?😜

It can be an indicator of skill level and rules knowledge. Not always but radar goes up. My punchline: "You didn't have an umpire, you had a guy that bought a blue shirt at Academy."

[Richvee]

17 hours ago, LMSANS said:

So shirt color does determine skill level?😜

No. Like @Jimurraysaid. The radar goes up. It certainly doesn’t mean I haven’t had high school partners with black that shouldn’t be on a varsity field either. And it doesn’t mean every guy with only navy isn’t good. ( though I’ve yet to work with “ only navy “ guy who excels, I’m sure he’s out there somewhere. )