Ump-App Online Training

[Ump-App]

Very interested to see if anyone has done any online training or online courses.  Full disclosure, I'm a developer for Ump-App which I believe might make this a "vendor account".  If there's a different location for me to post, I'd be more than happy to relocate.

That being said, I am truly interested in getting feedback if anyone has taken part in training online.  Something you'd like to see covered...  Something you were disappointed in...  Something that really helped you...  If it's something that will help us get better as a company, we'd love to use it to help other umpires.

[SeeingEyeDog]

35 minutes ago, Ump-App said:

Very interested to see if anyone has done any online training or online courses.  Full disclosure, I'm a developer for Ump-App which I believe might make this a "vendor account".  If there's a different location for me to post, I'd be more than happy to relocate.

That being said, I am truly interested in getting feedback if anyone has taken part in training online.  Something you'd like to see covered...  Something you were disappointed in...  Something that really helped you...  If it's something that will help us get better as a company, we'd love to use it to help other umpires.

Sell me on this app, please. What are your competitive advantages? What training am I receiving from your app that I can't get elsewhere? How does this app make me a better umpire? Why should I buy this?

~Dawg

[Ump-App]

Well, I'm a developer and not a sales guy.  But since you asked...  🙂

The creator of Ump-App and the instructor in the videos is D1 Umpire Tim Cordill.  If you've been to a clinic in the greater Midwest, you may have met him.  To say he's passionate about umpire development is an understatement.  He eats, sleeps and breathes umpire development and it shows in our content.  Our platform is comprehensive.  And I do mean comprehensive.  In the Baseball Umpire course, there are over 500 short videos (more than 12 hours total) broken down by situations into several categories.  There's a test at the end of each section to help in retaining the information.  A one year subscription gives you access to the entire course for the entire year.  The videos can reviewed any time during the year if you'd like to look back at a certain situation.

Video based training is an excellent way to cover a lot of information at your own pace and on your own schedule.  There's no way you can sit down in a preseason umpire meeting and cover a fraction of the information we do.  Our platform is also mobile friendly so the site is accessible wherever you you go. 

I'm a big fan of clinics and I've been to several.  They are excellent.  Video based training, however, is a powerful educational tool that will only continue to be a bigger part of how we improve and prepare for our seasons.  The knowledge you gain will make you more confident on the field.

If you have any more questions, I'd be happy to respond.

[JSam21]

Our local association has used the app and I've spoken with Tim a whole bunch. What I would like to see is having NFHS, OBR, and NCAA broken down into their own sections. Essentially using the same videos, but the quiz questions having rule set specific answers. There were several times where I thought we were answering the questions based off of NFHS interpretations (being mainly a HS group) and getting the question wrong because it was wanting the OBR interpretation. 

Other than that, it is a fantastic program that is especially helpful for newer umpires. It is very in depth and the use of video allows you to "take plays" without being on the field. It allows newer umpires, as well as veteran umpires, to see plays that they may not normally see and put a proper ruling in their memory banks so should it happen on the field, it isn't the first time that they have seen it. 

[spiffdawg7]

Tim is an outstanding teacher and is very passionate.  I love his CBUA videos and have learned a great deal from him at camps.  I agree with Jsam, I'd love to have the app if I could choose for all of the quizzes to be NCAA rules(and other umpires would be able to choose whatever level they prefer).  

[Ump-App]

I really appreciate the feed back guys, thank you!  We will definitely be expanding our NFHS content and I really like the  suggestion to add NFHS specific tests.  We are in an off-season development phase so please keep the suggestions coming.  Now is the time.

[ousafe]

Okay, this may be too big of an ask, but: add in Little League rules and situations. I see the reasons as twofold: 1) there's a huge number of LL umpires, and 2) they are more likely to be beginning umpires that would devour your content.

Also the "on your own time" aspect is particularly relevant to parents with young kids, who have crazy schedules.

P.s. LL uses OBR as a basis, then adds/modifies for safety and closed bases rules, so there should be significant overlap with your OBR content.

[Ump-App]

We are aware of the numbers for the amount of LL umpires.  We did look into creating a course for them but LL already offers some online training for them.  I haven't seen it so I couldn't speak to the quality or comprehensiveness of it but at least there is something out there for them.  And God bless those guys for working for free all summer!

[ousafe]

1 hour ago, Ump-App said:

And God bless those guys for working for free all summer!

Yup. I'm always a little sad when I hear a league has gone to paid umpires because it means a part of the community aspect of LL gets lost.

Let's be honest, LL is not the best baseball around. Select ball is way better. But it's also transactional (i.e. checkbook leagues) where expectations and relationships are just different. More akin to business relationships than family or friends relationships.

So we lose an opportunity to connect and be neighbors and cross divides if we bypass or dismiss what community efforts like LL offer.

BTW, ESPN is a whole other kettle of fish, fairly unrelated to what happens at the local league level...and while all still part of LL, please don't conflate the two separate aspects.  For me the value of the community building piece of LL far outweighs the big summer tournament.

[SeeingEyeDog]

On 8/12/2023 at 11:55 PM, Ump-App said:

Well, I'm a developer and not a sales guy.  But since you asked...  🙂

The creator of Ump-App and the instructor in the videos is D1 Umpire Tim Cordill.  If you've been to a clinic in the greater Midwest, you may have met him.  To say he's passionate about umpire development is an understatement.  He eats, sleeps and breathes umpire development and it shows in our content.  Our platform is comprehensive.  And I do mean comprehensive.  In the Baseball Umpire course, there are over 500 short videos (more than 12 hours total) broken down by situations into several categories.  There's a test at the end of each section to help in retaining the information.  A one year subscription gives you access to the entire course for the entire year.  The videos can reviewed any time during the year if you'd like to look back at a certain situation.

Video based training is an excellent way to cover a lot of information at your own pace and on your own schedule.  There's no way you can sit down in a preseason umpire meeting and cover a fraction of the information we do.  Our platform is also mobile friendly so the site is accessible wherever you you go. 

I'm a big fan of clinics and I've been to several.  They are excellent.  Video based training, however, is a powerful educational tool that will only continue to be a bigger part of how we improve and prepare for our seasons.  The knowledge you gain will make you more confident on the field.

If you have any more questions, I'd be happy to respond.

Uhhhhh...yeah. I used to be in sales, [sips whiskey...] ...tough racket. That's a helluva pitch right there. Thank you.

~Dawg

[Ump-App]

Thanks Dawg!  I am passionate about our product.  From the instruction quality, the production quality and the volume of content we have, I genuinely believe nothing else comes close to us.  There's always room for improvement however, so that's why I came here looking for some feedback.

[SH0102]

I have seen some of Tim’s database of plays at camps, and I’m on board with having access to them.

I do agree about what others said above about various rule sets. Many ncaa umpires also do HS and many, like myself, do pro ball (independent leagues) that use OBR, some do all 3.

If you’ve seen CCS videos, Lindsey often elaborates on the differences between rule sets, for example the most recent one mentioned in ncaa the lean into pitch is auto strike whereas hs and OBR are not.

I def think either the videos/plays should highlight the ruling in all codes (when they differ) and/or the quizzes should have a pre set setting where you answer based on the rule set.

For example, if a video has follow-through interference, if I’m taking the quiz in NFHS mode, it’s an out on batter (unless runner is retired by direct throw) but if I am taking it in NCAA or OBR setting, it’s runner returns if not retired.

If that isn’t possible for one app/price; then I’d surmise a pay-by-rule-code should apply.

So if you only work NFHS, no need to pay extra for ncaa/obr (or pay extra to have it developed into one app and price).  If you work multiple codes; then you bite bullet and pay for multiple rule set options

[Ump-App]

Ultimately, baseball is baseball.  By far the majority of the rules are universal so there is a lot of crossover between rule sets.  Of course the rub is in the differences.

[MadMax]

Eliminate top-down diagrams.

If video is “so powerful”, then there should be two implementations of video in a training series: 

1. Top-down (drone or high-angle camera) demonstrations, in real time, at (controlled) game speed. Then, combine or supplement them with… 
2. Ground-level, first-person, “umpire’s view” of such events as FPSR, OBS, INT, etc. 

There’s an anecdote in filmmaking / stream-producing – “Show, don’t tell”. Quit telling me what OBS and INT look like, SHOW me what they look like, from my (typical) perspective(s) as an umpire. 

[834k3r]

Honestly, I'd love to see some role-play examples of ejections. Newer umpires (pointing at me) are always told to toss someone when needed, but there's never a way to practice it until it's time to do it for real.

[MadMax]

Just now, 834k3r said:

Honestly, I'd love to see some role-play examples of ejections.

We don’t want a training video to have a R -rating, Beaker. 

Although, it would be mildly funny to <bleep>, or make wizzbang noises (like NFL Films did), or Italian exclamations (like TLLS w/ Craig Ferguson) to obscure any… profanity. 

I remember doing this exercise at HWUS, and the redjacket just whined, and whined, and whined. He ended the hop after I wouldn’t eject him. He wondered why. “I’m an NCAA umpire… I haven’t heard a magic word outta you.” 😁

🤬

[Ump-App]

We definitely want to get the drone perspective going.  Pairing it with ground level perspective would be great as well.

Getting teams together to go through a shot list has some drawbacks from the lack of authenticity and competitiveness.  As a teaching tool, it’s definitely something we plan on adding.

[bostavan123]

Exciting to connect with a Ump-App developer! Even though I'm not a umpire, I can totally relate to the power of high-quality training programs. I once went through an hrdf training that worked wonders for my skills.  So, I'm super intrigued to learn more about Ump-App and its capabilities. If it's anything like my past training, I'm sure it's got some impressive features.