More like "Out of control"

Oh. One of THOSE umpires.

Why is it so important for you to prove your power to the world? You don't need any of this rigamarole to show you are "in control" - if you ask me, it shows me that you seem rather unsure of your control if you feel the need to assert it so strongly.

To each their own

But IMO

If deferring the explanation of ground rules to the HT manager lessens my position of authority on the field that day I have serious problems.

Quite frankly more authority is shown using the traditional method.
For example:

Option 1

PU
"Frank, won't you take us around the field and explain the ground rules"
I just told the coach what to do, and he did it. How much more authority do you need than that?

Option 2

PU
"OK, here are the ground rules......blah blah blah....."

Frank
"No Don, the tarps in play today" insert any change, addition, or oversight you wish.

Now Frank just trumped you. He corrected you and you must submit. You just relinquished authority in this situation.

Just maybe there's a reason HT manager giving the ground rules is traditional.

It's worth about $0.00000000000000001 per word. Maybe less.

Lineup cards, home coach gives the ground rules, start game. I'm in quiet, perfect control.

Do you demand a loyalty oath at the end?

I am talking summer ball only. In HS like Garth we get our monthly check

In summer ball with the exception of Tournaments (the assignor gets the money up front and pays us after the tournament is over) we get paid at the plate.

if we do not get paid at the plate we do not do the game. We inform the assignor and good luck on those teams getting umpires in the future.

Using your scenario you could do a Double Dip and not get paid for some 5/6 hours of work.

Also, at least from my experience, I am not going to wait around until AFTER the game to get paid - too many problems.

The aforementioned is the accepted practice in the association and area in which I work.

As they say to each his own

Pete Booth

I think it depends.

If I'm getting paid by a coach - then I definitely want it up front, as this could be the LAST person you want to be either waiting on or having a conversation with after the game.

If I'm getting paid by site admin, however, I have no problems getting it after - heck, sometimes they have to work up the concessions to pay us, and don't even have it beforehand.

If it's a HS game though, it's usually a check in the mail round here.

:eek: :eek: :eek:

In a perfect world maybe.
But in reality it just makes the lawyers richer

I'd rather run the risk of not getting paid for a date than look like I'm walking to the plate with my hand out.

Is she related to Lulabell? :D

Of course!:P

For HS we do not get a monthly check- paid at the pregame meeting like summer.

But yes, what i was referring to when my assignor says "don't worry, you'll get paid" is that we will eventually (probably by next meeting) get paid in full for whatever we worked and didn't get paid up front for.

I would never wait around until after a game for money. Too much bad stuff can happen as you said. My partners are not going to up and leave, make everyone go home, and reschedule for another day just because they don't have the money up front. We will get our money and the coach will be severely repremanded by our assignor, but just up and leaving is not the way we want it handled in our area.

Likewise, if i umpired in your area, i'd do the same as you.

No, I expect him to say "yes." Then when, as in a game last week, his catcher comes out with an illegal helmet and mask after being warned in a previous game, I toss the coach's sorry butt along with the catcher.