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Longtime reader, occasional poster. This is 80% rant and 20% request for advice, so feel free to call me out if I’m being a baby.

I have umpired softball for just under 10 years. I was well trained by an ASA local org and have gone to a couple of national schools. I do adults only, modified and slow pitch.

Recently I was very gently called out by a senior leader of one of the leagues I work for. He asked me not to call “ball” on pitches out of the zone. He also asked me not to delay my call my a beat. Example: ball in the strike zone, batter doesn’t swing. It hits glove, and I think “strike”. I pause to inhale, give a loud “strike!” from the down position, then come up with a hammer. (I was trained to slow down, not rush any call, so I have developed this habit of taking a breath.)

The league senior leader was concerned that my slight pause could put runners in jeopardy on a three-ball count. They would interpret my second of silence as ball four, jog to the next base if forced, then be liable to be picked off.

I am planning to follow the direction I’ve been given. He asked me very respectfully, and he knows better than me what his league wants. And I want to keep working for them.

And yet... I am having a hard time with this. I put a great deal of stock in my ASA/USA Softball training, and don’t want to turn into a “go along get along” type of ump who picks up a million bad habits. Maybe I need to relax and not take myself too seriously.

Have any of you been in a similar situation? How did you deal? (For me, walking away from this league is not an option, and as long as I work for someone, I plan to comply with their requests.)

Thanks!