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Originally Posted by Skahtboi
Here in this part of Texas, we actively recruit officials via newspaper, public access programming, other sports officials' publications, going out to fields to watch "lower" level umpires in hopes they would move up, by talking to players and trying to encourage them to join the ranks of sports officials...etc. We are still showing negative growth year after year, and the primary reason given by those who quit are the way they are treated by fans, coaches, players....etc.
So...as someone who is a part of organizations who have put many a line in the water, and still come up empty handed, let me tell you, Mike has hit the proverbial nail on the head.
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We actively recruit new officials via newspaper and other sources too. The mistake made around here (IMHO), due to the extreme shortage of officials, is that many new officials are 'rushed' through training and into games. Because of this the newbies are often in over their heads and have a bad experience. After a few bad experiences they quit.
We have tried to work our vets with the newbies but many of the vets won't work the lower level games, they say they've paid their dues. Some vets, like me, just tell our assingors to work us where we are needed the most but we are in the minority. So the bottom line is that many of the newbies never have a chance.....this is applicable for all sports, again IMHO.