[Jim Porter]

Originally posted by Roland Wiederaenders

The misconception is that the schools are only for the umpire interested in a pro education. At JEAPU, however, two one week clinics are held just for amateurs. Repeatedly
the phrase is uttered...........when you get back to your local association, find out what is the local policy. JEAPU does not teach with an 'X marks the spot' philosophy. He teaches the basics!

Roland, there's no misconception here. No one said that you shouldn't attend Jim's Academy, or Harry and Hunter's school. In fact, you should.

What I said was that, if you are an amateur umpire, your schooling should not end there. That's true for any clinic or camp taught by Pro instructors. Pro instructors are not in touch with the amateur game. That's not their fault - it's to their credit. They're Pro umpires - of course they can't teach you how to properly handle a Little League coach, or teach you the philosophies of mandatory play or maximum participation, which are issues for Little League umpires. They won't be talking about the 60' diamond.

But that's beside the point because I was talking about the Academy, and not about a one-week camp. The Academy is there to prepare umpires for Pro assignments. So is Harry and Hunter's school. That's their job. Ask them, they'll tell you. They told me.

The misconception is that we are often treated as though we are not profesional. I would suggest that a professional is anyone who get $ for his services, who constantly seeks to improve himself, and who deal with game situations in a competent [professional, nicht vahr?] manner. While I am not a JEAPU clone, I am a professional. Papa C is also a professional, and I study his teaching/publications, but neither do I wish to be his clone.

Roland, c'mon now buddy. Pro umpires work Pro baseball. Amateur umpires work amateur baseball. It's been this way for generations.

Let's not play games with words. Unless you're working professional games you are an amateur umpire. It's that simple. Don't be put off by who you are. No one says you won't act professionally if you're an amateur umpire.

The misconception is that special "insider" information is taught at the schools. And that information is good for application in ALL situations nation wide.

Ummm, Roland, Jim Evans' Baseball Rules Annotated is the most exhaustive reference for the rules of baseball. No other manual or book goes into the details of history, customs and usage, pro interpretations, or traditions as in-depth as JEA. That's a fact. So, until this book is available to the general public, I'm afraid it is a book that can only be obtained by attending Jim's Academy. Do you know of another way to obtain this book? If you don't then it is only for Jim's students.

There is nothing secret about the Customs and Usage for applying 6.08c:

The umpire should signal interference by pointing to the infraction and verbally recognizing "Interference." The ball remains alive and in play until all play ceases. At that time, the proper award is made.

Should all runners, including the batter-runner, advance at least one base, the interference is ignored.

In the event that the ball is batted and a play follows in which all offensive players do not advance at least one base, the umpire shall invoke the penalty implicit in 6.08c. It is then the offensive manager's responsibility to inform the umpire that he opts to take the results of the play rather than the interference penalty.
End quote.

I agree. There's nothing secret about the Pro interpretation of the customs and usage of this rule. It's been brought up many times in this thread. If you're a professional umpire working in a professional game, by all means interpret this rules as the Pros do. A Pro coach is paid to know these sorts of things.

But in the amateur world there is no convincing argument why we shouldn't bring the coaches together and explain to them what's going on. Carl Childress agrees and Jon Bible agrees. It is just plain wrong for an amateur umpire to act like a pro umpire and treat everyone on the field as if they're pros too. That, to me, is just plain silly, and a bit arrogant on the umpire's part. You're not a pro! It's not a pro game. The coach ain't a pro coach. The fans aren't pro fans. It is a different animal.