Rules training and education

[Tim C]

The manual as currently written takes an umpire from ethics and professionalism, through uniform and acceptable signals, to mechanics for two and three person crews. (Beware -- the CCA does not allow copying of their mechanic pages and are very testy about using their moniker to identify the use of their mechanics (we use "The Oregon Modified" mechanics which mimic the CCA manual).

In Oregon (The Oregon Athletic Officals Association -- State Umpire Committee) has decided to force all umpires in the state to show improvement. To do that we need to set standards -- we have a classes schedule that covers two hour classes (12 each year) for classroom and 3 hour classes (3 each year) of field work.

Since Oregon is a Federation state we incorporate rules discussions into each classroom experience. Since I am "1st Vice President -- Rules" I am required to do not only the season opening "Rules differences & Points of Emphasis" I also try to have real world experiences to share with three different groups of umpires.

We try to keep from "Third World Plays" and deal with actual happenings from our members. We have tried (with a fair amount of success) to have umpires call me or e-mail me plays that we discuss (with research and rules citations) to keep people on the same page.

As with any group we still have individual umpires that make up rules (this year a 12 year vet told a hitter he couldn't change sides of the plate for batting after he had two strikes) but things are better.

While it is true that Evans is nearing the date of release of the the new "JEA" it is great but does not change often enough to cover the "new Fed" each year. With 23 new OBR rules (including penalty strikes rather than "directed pitches") we will be plenty busy helping guys prepare for summer OBR leagues.

I am lucky that I work in an area that over the years has increased the amount of training required to work . . . I don't have to start at ground zero to convince people that they need to learn.

As our system sits now by the time a fourth year umpire hits a varsity field he has about 192 classroom hours, 48 field class hours and at least 2 professional run umpire clinics under their belt.

Over the remainder of an umpire's career in our association they are required to attend 9 meetings per year that they get both added mechanic and rules classes as necessary.

We are now considering an "advanced class" that any umpire that wants a high school playoff assignment must attend at least two meetings.

Finally, on the state level:

Not only are we setting up a mandatory training for "trainers" we are trying to impliment a state wide evaluation process to select umpires that work the state championship playoffs that documents certain requirments to qualify to work.

We're trying, man!

Regards,