Topic for discussion: Handling Situations!
 

What are some of the reasons that cause umpires to handle situations poorly? I have boiled it down to two main reasons, but I want to see what others think!

I taught my first of 3 classes on handling situation in last night’s high school meeting.

Durham,

1. They say too much.

2. They don't listen.

JM

In handleing situations poorly, you have to include when the umpire ignores a situation that needed to be taken care of.

1. Lack of traininig

2. Poor training

3. Lack of ability

They get surprised.

1. lack of training
2. lack of experiece
3. don't know when to "zip it"
4. don't know how to listen
5. don't bother with the rule book
6. post on the internet -- LOL! :D

They think they're larger than the contest they're officiating.


Tim.

Durham:

Such an open ended question about a subjective matter will invite subject answers. Some will be thoughtful, others will be knee jerk and betray biases of the poster.

First, the matter of poor handling of situations is extremely subjective and and related to the level of ball. How a pro umpire properly handles a situation may be deemed improper at the LL level. Appropriateness in handling situations may be in the eye of the beholder.

Second, while it may be poplular to bash umpires who handle things other than the way we think he should, it really doesn't contribute to an answer to your question. Attitude issues are a symptom, not a cause.

I believe Justme and LDUB have nailed it.

Handling situations is the most neglected area in most training programs. Most new umpires take the field with having no idea of how manage the game or handle situations.

Then, when they are surprised, they don't have a clue and are inclinded to react personally or to ignore the issue. Both directions can be perceived as arrogance, but in reality are the product of ignorance. They just don't know better.

You're to be congatulated for including this issue in your training.

I handle things badly when I take things personally. I get better and better with each ejection though.

D

I would love it if my association gave classes on this.

So how are these things presented? Do you role play?

1) Poor listening skills
2) Lack of Experience

Kiss
 

I agree totally!

When speaking with a coach, less is better.

Example from game tonight - pop up down first base line..
BR, F1, F2 and F3 all converge. Ball ends up being dropped in foul
territory.

Coach comes out to ask about interference. I listen he talks.
"That has to be interference, the F3 had to dodge the runner and F1 ran into the BR." etc., etc.

None of that happened at all but I just said, "Coach, I didn't think it was interference. We did NOT have any contact so we have a foul ball."

I walked back to the plate and we played on.

I can see many umpires talking with the coach for several minutes over nothing. Its a judgement call - play on.

Thanks
David

Ones we don't always think about:

Bad day at work/home and we allow it to carry over to the diamond.

Partner does do his part in helping the situation, allows mulitiple people in the conversation.

Not enough protection after the game. Allows stuff to happen away from the diamond.

1. Poor communication skills
2. Being on the field for the wrong reason.
3. Lack of training (either in the rule(s) in question, or in the general handling of confrontational situations.)

This might not answer your question specifically but the main problem today is a lack of a mentoring program. I think this is true even at the major league level where the new "young-guns" handle things differently then the "old timers" used to handle. I believe Steve Palermo commented on this as well.

Generally speaking there is a shortage of umpires throughout the country which means the Vets who could be mentors and provide evaluations etc. are too busy doing games themselvs. I do not know if this is true at the collegiate level as well but I do know this is a problem at the HS level especially in my association.

In addition, the vets do not get to work with the rookies as much because of the shortage.

Like everything else in life you need experience and also feedback to improve.
What's happening today at least in my area, is that rookies do the modified games and fill in some JV games, however, they are working with another inexperienced partner as well.

Yes umpires need to attend rules / mechanics clinics but you only get so much knowledge "sitting the bench"

The "other" factor is the umpires who fall in the "I do it for the paycheck only" camp. These types of umpires could care less what happens and whether or not the coach has a valid complaint etc. They simply take their checks and move on. They know there is a shortage and whether or not they had a good/bad performance is irrelevant because they will have work.

Pete Booth