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Always be open minded and willing to learn. But the flipside of that is just because someone has been around a long time it doesn't necessarily mean that they know what they're talking about! Longevity doesn't automatically equate to knowledge or ability.
Like Reagan's old line- "Trust, but verify". If something doesn't seem right with the information you're being given, do some checking for yourself to clear it up.
A few examples of "expert advice" I've been given in recent years by seasoned officials:
- In the two-man system, a base umpire should NEVER go out on a fly ball. It's not one of our mechanics and it's not allowed. This bit of wisdom came to me from an umpire that was proud to tell me before the game that he'd been doing this for over forty years.
- In ASA softball, if the first play by an infielder is thrown out of play the award is two bases from the time of the pitch. I actually had two different umpires with over twenty years experience each argue this point with me in two different games.
- When in "A" position and "walking the line" it is never permissible to take more than one step. This came from a clinician at an ASA National Umpire School. He was dismissive with me when I told him that our umpire manual specifically says to take "one or two steps".
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