Experience, my friends.
Sometimes, "flipping a coin" is a way to make a judgement call. In many games, you've only got two umpires . . . at most! You've got to call something, and process a lot of information in a very short period of time. You should never, ever be in a position where you ask your partner if he "agrees" with your call; or if you think you've "blown" it. As old-timer MLB Umpire Marty Springstead says, "You've got a baseball traveling in excess of 100 mph, athletes at the top of their game, and a "banger" play going on . . . and you're worried about what you're gonna call! Heck, call SOMETHING." The same is true even on the small diamonds with the sun shining in your eyes. You've gotta trust your own judgement, is the point I want to make. And you've got to live with your own decisions. If you've blown it, you've blown it. Get in a better position the next game; and learn from your "blown" calls. No matter how many partners you ask . . . I guarantee you . . . YOU WILL STILL GET SOME CALLS WRONG!!! Call something . . . and deal with what comes next.
Jerry
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