NCAA Softball Umpires

[GarthB]

I envision our recent addition as more of a troll like this:

[charliej47]

In the 40+ years of calling balls & strikes, I have umpired baseball and softball. I have enough uniforms from different Alphabets to fill a closet.

Most of my games I've been by myself as most of my games were ASA softball, either SP or FP.

The year NCAA went with their own ruleset, I attended their clinic and was informed on how to i was to call balls and strikes. I was told how I was to address the coaches and players and what my mechanics would be and if I expected to advance past regular season play, I would conform to their expectations. After the clinic, I called the assignor and told them I would not be doing college softball except as fill-in from then on and I have since quit doing college softball.

[greymule]

I was told how I was to address the coaches and players and what my mechanics would be and if I expected to advance past regular season play, I would conform to their expectations. After the clinic, I called the assignor and told them I would not be doing college softball except as fill-in from then on and I have since quit doing college softball.

Sounds familiar. I'm glad you put your principles ahead of the demands of effete elites. But why did you quit doing regular-season games? You could still have done those without selling your soul.

[VanStanza]

I too am a person who umpires both baseball and fastpitch softball at a ratio of about 50-50. I have umpired both for about 12 years now, and have officiated both at a high level.
When I first began doing both, it was mostly out of necessity due to the low number of good officials in our area. Long story short, it has been 12 years of ups and downs with respect to my feelings for both games, and the umpires that work them.
I can, with honestly and respect for both games, agree that each game is very different with respect to the skillset required to do them.
A comment has been made that you need to be in better shape to do one game or the other. It has been my experience that you need to be in great shape to do a great job in either game. On one hand, in a softball game, the plays are quicker and shorter, requiring good instincts and reflexes. It is true that there are more bangers at 1st, and snap throws by catchers. In baseball, the plays take more time to develop, but the distances you must cover are greater. Your hustle to get to the best position is difficult, requiring good athleticism.
The mechanics (another topic many have touched on) are different for both. Many baseball umpires criticize the "robotic" mechanics. I think they are appropriate for the game in that they are crisp and uniform from official to official. I do not agree with some NCAA mechanics, and do feel they are over the top (check swing mechanic), but many look good. In baseball, many softball umpires criticize baseball umpires for their "lazy" mechanics. I believe that the mechanics, regardless of the game, need to be executed properly, and a certain level of personality can be injected into mechanics.

The bottom line....both games are great. Both games are challenging to officiate for different reasons. In both games, there are poor umpires (who think they're good) and there are great umpires.

On a final note, if you have never done a high level fastpitch softball game, or have never done a high level baseball game, you do not have the grounds to criticize the other game's officials. Have pride is one thing, being assinine is another.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by VanStanza

Have pride is one thing, being assinine is another.

And having a good dictionary or spell check is another. Asinine has only 1 "s."

[etn_ump]

Steve,

You slay me!

[jimpiano]

Originally Posted by VanStanza

I too am a person who umpires both baseball and fastpitch softball at a ratio of about 50-50. I have umpired both for about 12 years now, and have officiated both at a high level.
When I first began doing both, it was mostly out of necessity due to the low number of good officials in our area. Long story short, it has been 12 years of ups and downs with respect to my feelings for both games, and the umpires that work them.
I can, with honestly and respect for both games, agree that each game is very different with respect to the skillset required to do them.
A comment has been made that you need to be in better shape to do one game or the other. It has been my experience that you need to be in great shape to do a great job in either game. On one hand, in a softball game, the plays are quicker and shorter, requiring good instincts and reflexes. It is true that there are more bangers at 1st, and snap throws by catchers. In baseball, the plays take more time to develop, but the distances you must cover are greater. Your hustle to get to the best position is difficult, requiring good athleticism.
The mechanics (another topic many have touched on) are different for both. Many baseball umpires criticize the "robotic" mechanics. I think they are appropriate for the game in that they are crisp and uniform from official to official. I do not agree with some NCAA mechanics, and do feel they are over the top (check swing mechanic), but many look good. In baseball, many softball umpires criticize baseball umpires for their "lazy" mechanics. I believe that the mechanics, regardless of the game, need to be executed properly, and a certain level of personality can be injected into mechanics.

The bottom line....both games are great. Both games are challenging to officiate for different reasons. In both games, there are poor umpires (who think they're good) and there are great umpires.

On a final note, if you have never done a high level fastpitch softball game, or have never done a high level baseball game, you do not have the grounds to criticize the other game's officials. Have pride is one thing, being assinine is another.

Nice post.

The argument from here is only that softball umpires have to be is as good of shape as a baseball umpire to do a good job.

And, for most of us who do summer ball, the stress factor grows much faster in slow pitch since there is only one umpire.

[GarthB]

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Ahhhhhh. Technology. Gotta love it.

[UMP25]

Indeed. Same here.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by GarthB

Ahhhhhh. Technology. Gotta love it.

I really should start using that feature.

You know, I've done slow pitch softball and on the whole, it is garbage. One umpire is probably sufficient for that "sport". I respect both the games of fastpitch softball and baseball. Slowpitch...well not so much.

Frankly I think the football scores are boring, as is the constant stream of base hits. I'll take a 2-0 pitcher' dual any game, even on the bases.

Edit: That said, I still respect all umpires. As I've said, I've done both sports and while I prefer baseball, I will never criticize a softball umpire. The mechanics and attitude towards calling games is different, but I guess variety is the spice of life or some other cliche such as that.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by GarthB

Ahhhhhh. Technology. Gotta love it.

Me too. Me too.

[ctblu40]

Originally Posted by jimpiano

Nice post.

The argument from here is only that softball umpires have to be is as good of shape as a baseball umpire to do a good job.

And, for most of us who do summer ball, the stress factor grows much faster in slow pitch since there is only one umpire.

Ummm... no, the argument was that softball umpires must be in better physical condition than baseball umpires.

And let me break some news to you. To work softball, an umpire needs to be in the same, if not better, physical shape as anyone needs to do baseball. If you don't believe it, you are only fooling yourself

Nice try though.