New Umpire advise

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by CoachJM

IHSAref,

I
Ozzy, you want to give him question #2? Or, you know, whoever's on now, Garth? DG?

JM

Nahh. When I read this: "I am already doing volleyball and basketball and just trying to fill the gap", I tuned him out. There are many good reasons to umpire baseball. Filling the gap is not one of them.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by GarthB

Nahh. When I read this: "I am already doing volleyball and basketball and just trying to fill the gap", I tuned him out. There are many good reasons to umpire baseball. Filling the gap is not one of them.

It's not a reason to keep officiating, I agree, but a lot of good officials have started with that mindset. It's how I started working football and I got hooked, quickly.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

It's not a reason to keep officiating, I agree, but a lot of good officials have started with that mindset. It's how I started working football and I got hooked, quickly.

We'll have to agree to disagree.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by GarthB

We'll have to agree to disagree.

Not all good officials start and stay for pure reasons. If it wasn't for the money grubbers or time fillers I'd never fill the league I assign.

Some of the best in my league are purely in it for the money, too. It happens.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

Not all good officials start and stay for pure reasons. If it wasn't for the money grubbers or time fillers I'd never fill the league I assign.

Some of the best in my league are purely in it for the money, too. It happens.

Rich....the only "reason" I addressed was "to fill the gap."

I didn't say it wasn't a reason, I said I didn't believe it was a good reason.

[IHSAref]

Fisrt off the Pitiching Team won the game. Second off yeah I want to ump to fill the gap but not only that....I also want to give back to the community. I am not worried about the paychecks at all.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by IHSAref

Fisrt off the Pitiching Team won the game. Second off yeah I want to ump to fill the gap but not only that....I also want to give back to the community. I am not worried about the paychecks at all.

I am not being a wise a$$ here - go down to your local LL or kiddie ball and watch the guys/kids umpire there. If you want to give back, that's a great place to start. See if you can grab a rule book from them (if not an MLB rule book will do for now) and read it! Ask questions and keep your eyes open. As an official, you will pretty much spot the good officials from the bad ones. Stick with the better ones.

Regards,
Ozzy

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by IHSAref

Fisrt off the Pitiching Team won the game.

Did you happen to see this part:

"the batter takes a mighty swing at an "inside middle" pitch and hits the ball off his hands..."

[mike1989]

why would you waste 5 minutes of your time to write all that out....when it all stops when he swings and it hits his hands...

[Don Mueller]

Originally Posted by IHSAref

Fisrt off the Pitiching Team won the game. Second off yeah I want to ump to fill the gap but not only that....I also want to give back to the community. I am not worried about the paychecks at all.

Not to be preachy or controlling or anything, but if the paycheck isn't important IMHO coaching a team would be helping the community much more than umping. Lord knows the world needs more coaches that actually care about the kids rather than caoching just to get their kid playing time.

[DTQ_Blue]

Hook up with a local Little League. Most of them will train you and give you games to work at a level you're comfortable with. You will soon learn whether you enjoy the work or not. If you do, you can stay with the little league and advance in the level of games you work... albeit volunteer, or find a local association and begin working and getting paid.

If you go the latter route you will be expected learn a lot more about rules, mechanics and game management, but if you enjoy umpiring it will be something you'll want to do anyway.

If you don't enjoy it, it's not worth doing. I've worked with guys who only do it for the money and it's not a positive experience for me.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by GarthB

Rich....the only "reason" I addressed was "to fill the gap."

I didn't say it wasn't a reason, I said I didn't believe it was a good reason.

OK, chalk it up to what I was drinking

I've found with my knee injury this winter I have plenty of things to help me fill the gap. It's making me re-evaluate whether I really need to (I should say "want to" cause I sure don't "need to") work 3 sports year-round.

[GarthB]

1. PWL: You might check out my post to the new kid above.

2. Rich: Sorry to hear about your injury. Did you read my installment on preventing injuries?

Injury has been on my mind recently. I've been assigned to work some semi-pro football games this spring I watch a couple last year. The players are primarily D-1 kids who didn't get drafted and either intend to walk-on or think they have something to prove. They play with abandon and you know the position I work.