Quote:
Originally Posted by Manny A
I guess they want to perpetuate the philosophy that umpires should not be noticed...  |
There is a Commissioner Emeritus that believes our state softball HOF needs to stop electing people with an umpiring background. TOO MANY UMPIRES, he insists.
When you talk to people in the game, many believe the umpires control the game, the code and the rules which is far from the truth, HOWEVER, what is true is that many involved in the game from TD to council rep, whether commissioner, JO rep, player rep, senior/master rep, etc. have had some connection to umpiring in their resume.
The question is why and I believe I know the answer. It is because parents, coaches and players come and go and many move on to other sports/activities when they or their child ages out of the youth program or finds something else to do.
The umpires are usually involved in the game for one of two reasons: the money or the game. Sometimes both, but those in it for the game usually stay in it even beyond their umpiring days simply because they enjoy participating in the sport in some manner.
When the Elite program first appeared to off-set the ISF program and give ASA another source of income, HP stated that on the hats for ASA/USA Elite they were going to change the word on the edge of the brim from "Elite" to "Umpire". Though I don't know who else would be an ASA/USA Elite individual, umpire is not noted on the hat. This past year someone asked KR if that was ever going to happen and his response was something to the effect of, "no, we have enough problems, we don't need to advertise we are umpires". While I understand that point when a spectator at a tournament or game, I do not buy it in general. If you are a good umpire and assuming reaching that level you are, why should we not be proud of being an umpire?
Long story to a point that over the past decade or so, the manner in which the umpires have been treated by many organizations is as a second class citizen. However, in ASA fees have been increased 3 times during that period. For those increased fees, the umpire has seen a 50% reduction in the level of liability insurance and more limited parameters of application along with more options and costs in uniform and equipment.
The "umpire" has been taken from a tradesman status to a commodity and that, IMO, is diminishing the willingness to support and participate at the higher levels, willingness to pay for training that should come for nothing, and in the long run, professionalism on and off the field.
If some association do not start showing their appreciation to the umpire, what they have left will eventually do irreparable harm to the integrity of their particular program.