Quote:
Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA
I agree, but disagree. Work ethic is the difference between an umpire and someone who umpires.
You can warn a child about being burned by fire or touching a hot iron or whatever, but only when the child suffers a burn of some type will s/he be able to fully appreciate and understand the warnings.
Do it right the first time and there is no "catching up" to do, which I find to be a difficult task for many.
The OP suggested a mentor. Would a mentor just offer an answer or page number? Or would a mentor ask a question or offer a comment which would lead to further research and hopeful discovery?
Mike offered the "interference" section. It was stated that there is none. Well, actually there is.....in the Index which breaks down the many situations and locations to find the appropriate rule.
Do we really need to break out that fishy chinese proverb? 
You might also note that I previously provided the test answer references which should have taken him to the answers. |
You should consider newbies as new born babes. They have to learn to crawl before they can walk. A little more spoon feeding at the beginning is appropriate. To your questions regarding a mentor, the answer is yes to all of them. A good mentor will adjust his approach as the umpire grows. At first, he should answer questions directly. Then as his understanding is strengthened, he should probably start asking questions that will get the umpire to think. Then he could direct the umpire to the appropriate rule.
My mentor answered my questions directly instead of telling me where in the book to look for the answers. My first year I asked a lot of questions. No so much my 2nd year and I didn't ask any my 3rd year. Learning to umpire is a process. I think we can show a little more patience to the newbies and give them more of a direct answer and explain the reasoning instead of just say read rule x.y.z. Then as they grow in understanding, we change our approach. Just like parenting! We answer questions directly when they are young and then as the get older we ask questions to stimulate their thinking.
As to your Chinese fish proverb! I'm assuming you mean "give a man a fish feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime". Well, how are you going to teach him? Tell him to "Go read a book"? How about showing him and teaching him what bait to use for the fish he is after. What's the best time to fish and why. How to cast.