An Umpire's New Years Resolution
 

What is your New Year's Resolution as it relates to UMPIRES. I could care less about your plan to lose weight or give up smoking or family problems you may wish to address. :rolleyes: But I do wish you the best as you continue to try to resolve personal matters in your own life. ;)

Happy New Years!

My Resolution: I want to add many more games to my resume this year, than last.

1) Professionalism (always a goal, can never be good enough in this department)
2) Rules (once a week I'd like to sit down and just reread and reread and reread)
3) Get better games and just have the chance to impress the big wigs

I think I'm going to work more Legion games this Summer. I'd also like to get another Babe Ruth regional assignment for 16-18 this year.


Tim.

Don't be satisfied with last year's good performance and keep up my enthusiasm.

Also, try and help as many other umpires as i can to become better themselves.

I am going to try harder to recruit some younger guys into our association.

1) start smoking

2) gain some more weight

3) discuss my family problems with y'all ad nauseum.

Be tolerant and helpful to the umpires I work with who are less experienced.

Learn from the ones I work with who have something to share.

Be more tolerant with managers and less tolerant with assistants.

Get through the season without ejecting Dan Hubbs.

1.Look over and study the LL Rule Book from end to end.

2.Attend as many umpiring clinics/schools as possible

Big 3
 

1) Continue to use good timing and mechanics both behind the plate and on the bases.

2) Hustle, hustle, hustle.

3) HAVE FUN!!!!

OK, I posted this last year. Then I had a great year. It's relevant, so I'm posting it again -

AWARENESS. I've been fortunate enough to be able to watch some excellent college umpires, and this is the one thing that seems to keep manifesting itself with the cream of the crop. They know what's going on, where the crap is coming from, where it's liable to come from, who doesn't like whom, past history, who the "players" are, who the "rats" are, who they can talk with and who they can go to to get things done. They know what the score is, who is frustrated (coaches AND players), which partners need "guidance", when to listen and when to raise their voice, when to warn and when to dump. They know the direction the game is headed at any given moment. They pay attention to "message" pitches, chirping, bench-jockeying, and even "eye-balling". They watch the weather, the fans, and they know where security and game management is. If you ask them, they can even tell you where the bathroom is, and the best hot dog in the league, the most economical hotel, and the best local steakhouse.
For me it's all about awareness, and in 2007 that's the one thing I'm going to focus on improving in MY umping career.

JJ

In all seriousness, Dan, I would suggest a substitute publication for the LL rulebook. You should obtain a copy of Little League's "Umpire Clinic Manual." This is a much more appropriate training manual for a beginning umpire than mere rote study of the rulebook would afford.

I have a PDF version I would email you if send me a private message with your email address.

I resolve to get through my personal issues, then decide if I even want to call any games this summer. I probably will, given the financial issues I'm up against. I've said this the last two years..."One more year and that's it..."

Dave, thanks a ton.

However, We get the Umpire clinic manual every year at the District umpire clinic held by UIC. I do have a copy of it and have studied it. I have found it to be very useful, much more then the rule book (of course i must know the rules anyway). But mine is from last year, so it might be different slightly. I will pm you my email you can send me a PDF of yours. Thanks :D

Hmmmmm..................
 

I believe from some of your past postings that this is factually incorrect.