Umpiring - The Mental Aspect

[PeteBooth]

In a "Sequal" to my thread on Burnout I decided to go "one step further" and talk about IMO what is lacking on the "Boards" and that is THE MENTAL ASPECT OF UMPIRING

Since my inauguaration to the Internet Boards, I have heard everything from "Last Time By" to the fact that a runner can come back out of the dugout and touch home plate in which all along I thought that once a runner is in the dugout - he has abandoned his / her right to come back out again.

In other words, rules / Proper Mechanics and Appearance have been discussed "ADNAUSEAM" . What hasn't been discussed much IMO is The Mental Aspect of Umpiring. Rich Fronheiser's article (that he sent me) touches on it, but at least in my short time on the Net, I haven't seen many threads discussing it.

No matter what brand of ball (Amateur or PRO), there is a mental aspect to the game. You can have all the talent, but if you do not play smart and "come ready to play", you will probably end up on "the short end of the stick".

IMO same is true when officiating. In my personal experiences, I find that I am much better prepared in Summer / Fall Ball than I am for the Spring Session. Why?

In the Spring Session which is basically my HS season, I am coming from work. Now all of you know how work can be. Sometimes we come right out of a meeting in which we are "putting out fires" - have to get to the game site in which we have "no clue" as to where it is at least the first time around.

Now we have to deal with players and coaches. F1 has a "tricky" move in which we could have a balk call. Teams do not like each other - so watch the base-paths for malicious contact. In other words, we have to be ready and sometimes coming straight from work are we really ready.

In Summer / Fall ball - I get a chance to go home - eat with my family and have plenty of time to get to the game sites. Also, I am familiar with all of the locations so I do not have to worry about getting lost.

I think we all have had those games in which we were ZONED IN . By Zoned in I mean we got every call correct.
If we had the Plate, Consistent Strike Zone - no complaints. If we were on the bases, got in proper position and had those bangers "nailed".

and then we have had those games in which we felt like our next assignment would be - "Hey you want fries with that"?

Are there any GOOD books dealing strictly with the mental aspect of umpiring? IMO having a good mental attitude will deter Burnout and also tell one when it's time to take a break.

Thanks in advance

Pete Booth

[BJ Moose]

There are so many ways to take a thread like, "The Mental Aspect". Briefly, I will toss some anecdotal observations.

The "Crusty Old Gruffy Chip-on-his-shoulder Veteran"
An easy way to have a BAD MENTAL ATTITUDE (BMA). The partner who "complains" during your entire 30 minute pregame, bad field, lousy ball, why am I doing this level, why aren't I promoted, the assigner is an idiot, the board members are idiots, my last 6 partners were idiots, etc.

Oh Yea, this is a GREAT way to head onto the field. So in the perfect world.. you clear your head, and are focused on the upcoming game, without outside influences, past games, wife, job, etc.... (Impossible, I know).

Almost at the polar extreme is another guy I know in my Assoc. Nice guy, none of the attributes of CRUSTY, no BMA, but..... he's just a lousy umpire... bad mechanics, missed calls, twilight zone zone.... BUT......... this is the big BUT.... HE DOESN'T CARE!

He's a business owner, works hard, and he uses umpiring to CLEAR HIS MIND. He is happy going to the field, he is happy leaving the field, even as the fans are yelling at him. He simply doesn't care! The field is his ESCAPE!

He said once.. "A lady behind the backstop says, Hey blue, don't you hear all these people yelling at you, how can you listen to that? I said, This? This ain't nothing, you should hear my wife bitch!"

A man who has found peace.

[blarson]

I'd like to see this too. Many times I wonder about my mental state. Mainly my confidence. If I have a game w/ 3-4 bangers in the field. I always wonder in my mind on at least one of them. Even on the ones I feel confident about, I always wonder how my partner saw it. I usually ask on the close ones between innings or after the game. I always want to look for ways to improve so I'm constantly looking for feedback or reviewing the call in my mind later but sometimes I wonder if I'm doing it to a fault.

I'd love to see articles on the mental apect of the game, from preparing to self critiques.

[PeteBooth]

Thanks Peter - This is a start. Know of any books on the subject?

Pete Booth