[MikeStrybel]

Jeff, this is my last post to you regarding thsi topic. You will undoubtedly take the last word.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Well then why does everyone from the IHSA, Referee Magazine or even other publications discuss general officiating practices. Just the how the IHSA runs their camps it is clear that what is used in one sport works or is used in another. And if it was not relevant, then people would not have given examples of other sports.

Please stop. Communicating to coaches and athletes is one thing. Giving one an advantage rather than officiating is another. Go ahead, call down state and tell them how you believe it is appropriate to issue warnings that are not legal. Tell them how you believe it is acceptable to coach rather than officiate in certain circumstances. Follow the rule book, Jeff.

Point taken and you are right. But the manuals from the NF are very limited and often do not discuss many advanced officiating techniques and why people attend camps instead of relying on the manual alone.

Again, stop. You cannot support your opinion with anything in writing.

OK, but that is pro school. If I go to a NBA camp those practices do not always translate to lower levels either. Of course there are some best practices that can apply to all levels when the pros teach it, but there are a lot of things that do not translate. For one those players are making money and that is their job. We are dealing with kids that might play baseball to pass the time for their other sports or they will never play after their HS career is over.

You cannot help yourself. Do not bring up other sports. I don't care what other sports allow. Your generalization of baseball players is truly inappropriate.

I also am directly involved in all my sports with training and every one of those that is run with the IHSA's approval we teach things that are not stated in all literature. Not only is that expected in every case, it is used across the board. I even run a clinic with a football crew member for the IHSA in Peoria and we talk about things that apply across multiple sports. We have to as that is the design of the camp. I cannot just talk about baseball only stuff when I have track, football and volleyball officials in the room.

Again with comments about irrelevant sports. Ugggghhh.

I did quote you now.

That must be your way of apologizing for misquoting me.

But that is involved in a larger Power Point system. Coaches and Officials ratings are only worth 5 points and Top 15 is only worth 5 points, so multiple people have a say in your ratings in these two areas. That means you have 30 other points (40 Total Power Points) that factor in your rating system.

I felt no need to explain the entire power system. You can get 5 points simply by waiting until your friend or association furnishes you with the test answers. You can another 5 points simply by attending a clinic each year. Points are important. The difference between a playoff assignment can be a single point. That is why so many do whatever it takes to get high ratings from coaches. I have had coaches tell me that umpires call them to remind their staff to rate them highly and include them on their annual Top 15 list. That is shameful politicking.

So to say that ratings drives a philosophy not to piss off coaches and fans that is kind of a misrepresentation in my opinion.

Logic evades you then.

For one fans have no say in any ratings system around here, so why would those care about what fans think really? And only varsity games can be used by coaches to rate you (they have to fill out an extensive from to give a single rating).

Again, I never said that fans rate us. Please stop mistaking what I said. That is as nice as I can write that.

And I can tell you that I did not have the highest ratings and worked a state final in two different sports. Actually my baseball ratings dropped the year I worked a state final and I was not at the total possible points when I worked the same level in football. And my ratings in baseball have been pretty much the same and I have advanced in basketball. Yes ratings matter, but in our Official's Handbook it is clear the sports administrator can make some decisions independent of the ratings and I know they do from things they have stated.

We have a new Executive Director. He strictly adhered to the Power Ratings this year for playoff assignments.

Well there are many people that do not know about what college umpires have to go through and not every state has a ratings system by the coaches. So you might want to make that clearer as many people might be unaware that our system is not the same as their system.

There is no need to tell NCAA officials about our ratings system. It is well documented. Illinois colleges adhere to the national policy. Some JUCOs here haveeven adopted the rating system for their NCAA brethren.

This is my problem mostly with this disagreement we are having. I never suggest that someone is cheating or helping the other team. I simply said that it is common practice to use some form of preventative officiating in baseball as others do in other sports.

Common practice among officials who want to make their job easier. Call what you see or at least try to.

And yes that is relevant if you work other sports because it is common to teach or reference other sports as to what applies. I just was at a basketball camp where I was a clinician. We used a baseball example to make a point about how to make a basketball call.

Sigh. Roll eyes.

I once attended a prestigious umpire camp which featured an umpire who told us how he was sick of getting hit by pitches and foul balls, so he pushed the catcher forward while the pitch was being delivered. The attendees laughed. I didn't adopt that philosophy. Some things that are taught at camps are simply not worth emulating.

The example made sense to many as they were umpires currently or at some point in their officiating career. Do not take this so over the top that someone is telling you what to do. If you do not want to tell a pitcher that is close to a balk to be aware of it, then so be it. I would work with you and get along. But I would hope that when you do make that call you are not doing it on a borderline play that is so marginal that now every similar action must require a call from me as your partner or I have to hear why we are not consistent based on something we called previously. Again, I can sleep well at night with what I do as well. But do not act like there are those that do not teach this or expect this at all kinds of levels.

There is no such thing as a borderline balk. It either is or isn't.

I cannot speak again for what goes on at pro school; I can just speak for what I have seen D1 umpires to State Final umpires do. And there are so many camps and umpires I have heard talk about these things at all kinds of IHSA camps as well as those run by the NCAA. Again, not trying to convince you to change, just stating that this is widespread. No reason to get all hot and bothered about this, we are having a discussion about what is best to do. We are all not going to agree on every issue.

Jeff, I will let you have the last word. As I have stated numerous times, umpire to what your area expects. If they tolerate umpires who prevent players from breaking the rules, in violation of the umpire accepted official codes of ethics, great. I am hardly 'hot and bothered' by your posts. I find them amusing and a bit challenging to dissect, but hardly confrontational. You can call them as you see necessary. I will too. I will also continue to encourage my fellow umpires to do better than what is expected or talked about secretly between ourselves.

Enjoy your summer. I will do my best to do the same.