Rookie umpire

[HumblePie]

Welcome, StrasburgUmp ... you've received a ton of great advice by the gentlemen above.  I'd like to add a few thoughts from which I've benefited over the years. 

Without knowing your age, I'll share that I got a relatively late start, and didn't umpire my first game until I was 40, when I was coaching my oldest son in 8u Coach Pitch baseball, and the league approached many of us coaches and said,

"Either step up and umpire in age groups where you have no child playing, or we're gonna have a lot of games with an umpire working solo." 

I stepped up for no other reason than that, and I ended up loving it.  This is my 21st year, but many guys my age have 35-40 years under their belts.  It was the best thing I ever did, hobby-wise, and I would even encourage a 60-yr-old to jump in if he has the enthusiasm that you apparently have.

It may have sounded like "hyperbole" to be told, "Forget everything you've ever known from a player/coach perspective about the game," but the truth to that statement is staggering.

A few examples:

1) Can you explain the Infield Fly Rule, how it works, when it applies, and why it was put into the rule book in the first place?  90% of otherwise good umpires cannot properly explain it (or its origin) even if they generally make the right call.

2) Can you explain the Dropped 3rd Strike rule (better called the "3rd Strike, Not Legally Caught" rule), how it works, when it applies, and why it was put into the rule book in the first place?  Hint ... it was created for the very same reason as the Infield Fly Rule.

3) Do you know the difference between Obstruction and Interference? Most coaches I know use the word Interference for both infractions, and they really don't know much about either rule, yet they are more than willing to argue your calls.

4) Are you aware of the rule that explains when a defensive player is not allowed to intentionally drop a pop up or a line drive (meaning, allow the ball to touch his glove, pop out, and fall to the ground), and perhaps more importantly, when he is allowed to do so?  Again, most coaches cannot explain this rule, yet they will argue them like they wrote them.

5) Did you know that when you double off a runner after a caught fly ball, that is not a Force Out, but rather, an Appealed Out?  Even though no one said a word (e.g. "He left early, Blue!"), that is the case. And why does it even matter what it's called?  It matters ... Hugely ... and very few coaches know this, and all of the same coaches love to argue that a run should not have scored because of that Force Out being the 3rd out of the inning.

6) Do you know the difference between a FOUL BALL, a FOUL TIP, and a FLY BALL over FOUL GROUND?  Neither do most coaches. They are very different animals, and the words get used erroneously and interchangeably all the time ... even with MLB TV announcers such as Joe Buck.  "Foul Tip ... back to the screen ..."

7) Have you ever heard of the 40 Myths of Baseball?  "Tie goes to the runner, hands are part of the bat, if his feet were fair the ball is fair, he's out of baseline on a home run," etc.  Some of the 40 myths no longer apply with a few rule changes over the years, but it is mind boggling how many times in one HS Varsity Season, I hear Varsity Head Coaches quote these myths with abundant confidence that they are rules. What's really disturbing is when you have two equally ignorant Head Coaches on opposite teams smirking and laughing together between innings because they "know" they have a moron for an umpire. It happens.

Don't be intimidated by ANYTHING I've just written ... just take the gentleman's advice and forget pretty much everything you've known as a player and a coach, and re-learn the game as an official.  YOU WILL LOVE IT.

READ the rule books.  STUDY and MEMORIZE the case books.

READ the rule books.  STUDY and MEMORIZE the case books.

If you know a lawyer, they will explain that studying Case Law is what got them over the hump and what made far more sense to them than just reading the statutes. It puts the rules in a context that finally makes sense.

 

I would be honored to communicate with you if you would like an "older brother" with quite a bit of time on his hands.  I'm about to move 2,650 miles, to a land where they play baseball nearly year round, and will join a new umpiring association there likely before I get a new driver's license. I love it that much.

My oldest son is now 29, and he made me a Grandpa, and I sure miss those days of umpiring baseball games with him when he was 16 - 20 years old.  I'd give my right arm to have those days back.  Enjoy it while you can!

[JonnyCat]

9 hours ago, HumblePie said:

Careful, JonnyCat ... I was around in the 70s ... 😎

Damn, me too! 

[JonnyCat]

9 hours ago, HumblePie said:

I'm about to move 2,650 miles, to a land where they play baseball nearly year round

Where are you moving to?