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Since I have begun umpiring, I have been in a very unique situation. When I started, I was attending college away from home and picked up umpiring through the certification class as I was someday hoping to become a HS baseball coach. Now that I've been involved, I don't know if I could ever "cross over the foul line" and become a coach due to the passion I have for umpiring.
Now, I am finished with school and working in a new area. The association I have joined is a small, rural, "good ol' boys" group with poor mechanics and professionalism. The association I was a member of while a college student emphasized these umpiring characteristics and took pride in the fact that it was done properly.
It is frustrating, as I'm sure many of you can relate, working with a partner who lacks these important attributes. Instead of just complaining about them, I have decided that I want to become involved and fix the problems that I see. Here is my question for you...What would be my best approach towards this task? Here are the ideas I've come up with and please share your own or give your opinions on mine.
1. Approach the local association secretary and explain to him that I would like to organize and put on a mechanics clinic this coming spring prior to the season. It will focus on mechanics (plate/base work), rules, and professionalism.
2. I will start my own umpires association. It will start out small with umpires who I know work the correct mechanics and display proper professionalism and continue to emphasize them. With time, build a reputation for the new association and then keep the high standard with new members upon which it was founded.
I definitely understand that both of these will create some conflict but I truly feel that something different needs to be done. Some people tell me...
"If it ain't broke don't fix it. The players, fans, and coaches don't know umpiring should be any different, so why change it."
What are your opinions and some advice on the best way to go about it.
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