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Let's face it. There isn't exactly a waiting list to become a softball umpire. Therefore we lower our standards. If you leave, that will increase the shortage of quality umpires and create a bigger problem for the sport. Which, in turn, would cause others to get their fill eventually too.
Softball umpires need to do a better job of marketing, recruiting, and yes training too. But instead of dropping out, why not recruit a few good prospects? Young people don't realize what a great opportunity they have to earn more on the field than they do frying chicken and flipping burgers. 2 of my teenagers are now eager to learn the rules and get started.
What if every good umpire got just one more good umpire to join the ranks? As the numbers increase, so does the opportunity to be selective based on skills and overall desire.
I don't want to hijack this thread, but I am appalled by the attitudes of many umpires who are knowlegeable and seasoned veterans who can't wait to get the game over and off the field. They ***** about the weather, the coaches, the players and any number of things that are just negative as hell. Well, in my opinion, these are B-players that eventually need to be weeded out. As I revealed in an earlier thread, I am a 15-year coach who has come over to the "dark side". I am very disillusioned with a lot of what I have mentioned. But I love the game, I love umpiring, I love learning, and I love doing it right. I have attended the National Umpire School, our Regional Clinic, our Association Clinic as well as a Developmental Clinic that was held. The number of A-players is definitley too low. So, in a lot of cases I am learning what not to do from other umpire's mistakes. OK I am off my soap box.
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