Topic for discussion: Handling Situations!

[Durham]

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.

[UmpJM]

Durham,

1. They say too much.

2. They don't listen.

JM

[Durham]

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

[Justme]

Originally Posted by Durham

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.

1. Lack of traininig

2. Poor training

3. Lack of ability

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by Durham

What are some of the reasons that cause umpires to handle situations poorly?

They get surprised.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by Durham

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.

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!

[BigUmp56]

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


Tim.

[GarthB]

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.

[Durham]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

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


Tim.

This was classified in our fear/weakness bullet. We said, just do what they pay you to do and enjoy a nice long post game with your buddies.

[David B]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

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!

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

[tiger49]

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.

[mcrowder]

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.)

[D-Man]

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

D

[Durham]

Originally Posted by D-Man

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

D

Most of us do, I know that I do. I had my 6th of the college season this past weekend and after I ejected the player, his coach came out and wanted to just personally attack me. He started to tell me that I had a "chip on my shoulder." I got freaking pissed but I stayed calm. I asked him if he was talking about me doing my job: keeping players and coaches in the dugout, not allowing them to argue balls and strike from the dugouts and coaches boxes. Not allowing the center fielder to yell at my partner working the plate, not allowing them to wear wind shirts, having a pitcher remove his entirly white glove and I only ejected his player after I had warned him 3 different times. Then I asked him how far I was suppose to let his player go and if he wanted me to NOT do my job. He turned around and went back to his dugout. And didn't say a word in the rest of game or during the 2nd game of the DH, my plate.

[ctblu40]

Originally Posted by Durham

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.

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

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