Umpire Recruitment

[SRW]

Some of you probably saw in the ASA April Rules and Clarifications that we had success using Craigslist to recruit for umpires this spring.

We held our first introduction meeting of our second training session last night. Of the 40+ that responded to the adds, we had 16 show up to the training.

Although not a HUGE turnout, we still consider it worth the investment ($25 for the add). Heck, if 10 of them stick with it, then we're up 10 umpires for a grand total of $2.50 per person for recruiting costs.

Any other ideas that are working from around the country?

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by SRW

Some of you probably saw in the ASA April Rules and Clarifications that we had success using Craigslist to recruit for umpires this spring.

We held our first introduction meeting of our second training session last night. Of the 40+ that responded to the adds, we had 16 show up to the training.

Although not a HUGE turnout, we still consider it worth the investment ($25 for the add). Heck, if 10 of them stick with it, then we're up 10 umpires for a grand total of $2.50 per person for recruiting costs.

Any other ideas that are working from around the country?

The economy seems to be doing a pretty good job at umpire recruitment in some areas...

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Dakota

The economy seems to be doing a pretty good job at umpire recruitment in some areas...

I will increase my registrations by 35% or more. From what I understand, baseball is about the same.

Of course, the economy helped. Chrysler closed their plant a couple months ago. Sucks that these guys lost their jobs, great for the officiating community, though.

[TwoBits]

Did the first tournament of the season last week. Several new faces umpiring around the ball park. Some have had their hours cut and are looking to make some extra money. We've lost a few umpires, too, as they are working extra hours on the weekends in second jobs.

The most disturbing thing I saw this weekend was watching an older gentleman drag a rake around the infield all day. In the past, working on the grounds crew has been a job reserved for high school boys.

This economy is terrible.

[tcblue13]

We have too many umpires. The schedules are so thin that we don't stay busy and we barely make up our fees and equipment costs.

Originally Posted by SRW

Although not a HUGE turnout, we still consider it worth the investment ($25 for the add). Heck, if 10 of them stick with it, then we're up 10 umpires for a grand total of $2.50 per person for recruiting costs.

I'm surprised you had to pay for an ad on Craigslist. I thought it was a free advertising board.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

I'm surprised you had to pay for an ad on Craigslist. I thought it was a free advertising board.

It is my understanding (from a weekly tech podcast I listen to) that job postings and the "erotic services" are not free. All other postings are free.

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

It is my understanding (from a weekly tech podcast I listen to) that job postings and the "erotic services" are not free. All other postings are free.

That explains why the local police is catching some flack for the entrapment they set up on Craigslist back in February. Unwise use of tax dollars!

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

That explains why the local police is catching some flack for the entrapment they set up on Craigslist back in February. Unwise use of tax dollars!

Hey... $25 ad bringing in hundreds of dollars in fines for soliciting a prostitute? Sounds like a worthy investment to me. Though I must say that I've never understood how it could be illegal to have someone pay for something that's free to give away. An orgasm is not the worst thing you can give a person.

I'll end my part of the discussion there.

[NCASAUmp]

But back to the OP, I don't believe our org has seen an increase or a decrease in the number of incoming umpires. Gained a couple, lost a couple, nothing real dramatic.

We've always been fortunate enough to have a decent supply of umpires in our org, and our attrition rate has always been low. Fortunately, the only ones who leave seem to be the ones we would want to leave anyway.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

...Fortunately, the only ones who leave seem to be the ones we would want to leave anyway.

Any way you can teach me how to make that happen?????

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Andy

Any way you can teach me how to make that happen?????

Give 'em the whiniest teams?

Actually, a lot of the new fellas who won't make the cut will eventually drop out on their own. They'll just get tired of getting yelled at.

It's the ones you DON'T want to lose that you should be concentrating on.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Andy

Any way you can teach me how to make that happen?????

That's simple. They supposedly send them to Transylvania County for a "tournament". Most of them don't make their way back. They wander into the Pisgah or become professors at Brevard College.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

That's simple. They supposedly send them to Transylvania County for a "tournament". Most of them don't make their way back. They wander into the Pisgah or become professors at Brevard College.

Which Transylvania County? We have one here in NC, too.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Which Transylvania County? We have one here in NC, too.

So's Pisgah (National Forest) and Brevard College...