Quote:
Originally posted by WindyCityBlue
I will begin this discussion as genial and confrontation-free as possible. That said, it is a hot button issue here. Are multi sport officials better than single sport?
Since 1998, I have worked baseball exclusively. I've tried football, softball and hockey - all sports I played competitively. I liked them all but love baseball. Even though I live outside of Chicago, I travel a lot and work games ten months of the year (not a whole lot of BB in Sept. and Oct.) I focus on working the best ball available and work hard at gleaning the best habits of my partners. I attend and teach training clinics across the country and see a lot of guys that work several sports. They claim that they are better officials because of what they bring from each discipline. I can truly understand and admire the dedication it takes to work several competitive sports.
Yet, I focus all year long on one sport - striving for a level of perfection that alludes all of us. This micro-focusing allows me to understand the nuances of the game and appreciate a lot of things that slip by the casual official. So here it is...would you rather be outstanding at one specific sport or good at several? We are not talking about the well-rounded official here. I want to know if you think it makes a difference to work several sports.
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I think if its done with passion that it's not a problem to work more than one sport, but I think it can be a problem with guys who work every sport.
I personally work baseball and basketball. This gives me a little break during football season, and I think that gets me ready.
Also, many of the football officials are unable to attend the basketball meetings and clinics which I think is a big hindrance in their preparation for that season.
I do find that by calling another sport it helps me to better understand some of the "umpire terms" such as game management and also advantage/disadvantage.
Many times we think that only applies to basketball but it also can be applied to baseball and I'm sure football.
So I think it can be a great help. I do think that many of the guys though are too extended by trying to do too many games and too many sports. I think this definitely affects their passion for the games they officiate.
Example a guy calls five baseball games in a day. No way he is going to call every game with the passion that should be required. But its often necessary because there are not enough umpires.
How many bad calls will be made in the final two games simply because the umpires are tired or bored. I think this often applies also to officals who call too many sports.
Also I think that boards such as this really help. It makes it easier for an offical to prepare for a season "at home" by participating and reading discussion about the rules etc., This is a big help in getting ready for a game when you might have been calling a different sport a week ago.
Thanks
David