[NCASAUmp]

I think the question here should also be: "How do I recover from this?" This incident, while a setback, is the perfect opportunity for you to shine in front of your superiors and in front of the teams.

A great umpire will seize this opportunity to talk with his/her assignor about how to bounce back from this. Talk with your assignor and ask what it is that you can do to improve as an umpire, including your relationship with the teams. Keep it positive, keep it upbeat. Be receptive to whatever s/he has to say, and follow through with whatever s/he tells you. Show that you want to work and what you want to learn.

When you see the teams that may have complained, don't bring it to the game and let them see that it bothered you. Go in there with a great, positive attitude and give the impression that you not only want to be there, but you love being there. If anyone asks you why you weren't at the tournament, just tell them that you were assigned elsewhere that day or were otherwise unavailable.

Each game is a fresh start. Each game is a new opportunity to shine. A great umpire always takes stock of where s/he is as an umpire, and always looks for areas of improvement. Always.

A lesser umpire will tuck his/her tail and blame the world, refusing to see the opportunity presenting itself here. Sure, this latest incident sucks, but press forward and keep doing your best out there. Your superiors will take notice when they see you bounce back.