Quote:
Originally posted by Carl I.
I would guess that being the people that take abuse the most, you are pretty easy going with each other. I always did wonder if umpires had a fanbase also, and now after a little bouncing around the net, I see you do! Very cool!!!
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I've always respected sports officials, no matter the sport. It's got to be a tough job taking all that abuse: everybody knows you can't please everyone. I accept this "abuse" as a "it makes me a better human being" kind of thing, and this job
is making me better. Yes, I am teachable, even in my 50s
I'm in my second rookie season as a SP (ASA rules) ump after a 19-year absence. Somehow, I had let memories turn into
"aw, this is too easy ... I think I'll get back out there" in my head. This season has been a stunning reminder of how wrong I can be: this can be a tough, tough job if you aren't prepared.
Get that rule book. Spend a LOT of time in it.
In the environment in which I work (local Parks & Rec, Adult ... Men's and Ladies' divisions),
respect from the players is the most important thing you can have. I find that they want to see
you work as hard as
they do:
HUSTLE, even if you think it needless to get an angle on the play underway. This makes
physical stamina very important, particularly when it's very hot & humid out. I start committing errors as I tire out: really dumb stuff like being out of position, losing track of counts, issuing decisions too quickly, etc. The lesson for me here is that
physical exhaustion and mental exhaustion go hand in hand: preventing one prevents the other.
Mike (IRISHMAFIA) gave perhaps the wisest piece of advice, which I'll rephrase for you:
If you seek to be the best umpire you can be, watch others. Learn from their mistakes. Watch what they do right. I spend a lot of time doing this, and it's very effective. After a game, I have never been turned away by an ump of whom I've had questions. Wonder how they do something? Disagree with a call? Want details? Just ask: you'll get your answer.
Men, women, old, young ... we are a small band of perfectionists who love this game, and are willing to mentor or teach almost anyone. I've learned all kinds of things on a "tips & tricks" basis that would have taken me years to develop and perfect on my own.
I admire this fraternity, and am honored to call myself a part of it. This forum is a
very important tool in my equipment bag. Even the sometimes contentious, detailed discussions of rules, behaviors, and events help
me improve
my game.
For me,
there's nothing quite like the feeling of walking away from the field after a game knowing that I did my job perfectly ... that I did my part in allowing a lot of people to display good sportsmanship. Of course, if I want this feeling all the time, I have to improve my game all the time. Perfection is an incredibly difficult taskmaster.
"Fanbase"? I won't hold my breath. But knowing this fraternity of blues is out there is a big, big help.
Welcome, Carl!