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Originally Posted by MadCityRef
Hello,
This winter I am creating guidelines (tips, do's and don't's, etc.) for the new umpires in our association. I would appreciate if you could share bits of advice or past experiences that made you a better umpire/official.
Thank you,
Mad City Ref
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Here's a few of the things that quickly come to find.
Rule knowledge & application -- knowing the rules isn't enough, you need to know how to apply them.
Consistency -- be consistent with your calls (i.g., strike zone)
Hustle -- always hustle
Positioning -- hustle to get into the proper position to make your calls.
Get the call right -- always strive to get the call right.
Communication -- communicate with your partner (verbally & hand signals)
Timing -- watch your timing. Don't make calls too fast, give them time to settle. Remember, it ain't nothing until you call it.
Appearance -- look like a professional. Proper & neat uniform.
Conditioning -- you can't hustle properly if you're not in good condition.
Handling situations -- learn how to deal with coaches & players.
Always know where the ball is & who has it -- never, ever, lose the sight of the ball. Know where it is & who has it, especially if it's still live.
Game Management -- learn how to control your game. Keep it moving so that you can get your 9-innings (or whatever) in and go home. You need good game management to get the most innings in even if your games have a time limit.
Mechanics -- you need to know the proper mechanics.
Have fun -- unless you're making $90k+ per year umpiring you're probably not in it for the money so remember to relax and have fun.