Looking Young

[GarthB]

1. If you aren't ready for the answer, don't ask the question.

2. It is near unanimous that your posts on this board do not reflect the thinking or ability of an umpire ready for college ball. Your rules interpretations, opinions of mechanics and history of game management have all been brought into question by your own words.

3. There are coaches who umpire and umpires who coach. There is a vast difference between the two.

4. If you think you have already arrived, you've missed the journey.

[BoomerSooner]

While I'm certainly not going to play the role of the wise, old, advice giving sage (I'm only 24), I will pass on some of the best advice that ever been given to me.

I had been working at my current job for about 2 years, had passed my board registry (I'm in the medical field), and felt I was due a nice raise. My yearly evaluation came and went with only the standard yearly pay raise (this is about the only time anybody gets pay raises). Thinking that my efforts were being overlooked I got pissed and debated going to my supervisor with my complaint. My dad, however, informed me that a better idea would be to continue working hard, because as he said, "hard work doesn't get overlooked" and that "anything worth having is worth waiting for".

Well, turns out he was right and about 6 months later my supervisor informed me that he wanted to see how I responded to the additional responsibilty of being board registered and whether or not I could handle the relationships between my co-workers, who in most cases were older and not registered. He said that I had handled the situation in a mature fashion and had earned a much more significant raise that he actually had to wait for the new fiscal year to start because it wasn't something that would fit under the old budget. So ultimately by listening to my dad, constantly working hard, and letting my actions do my talking, I have advanced according to what I've earned.

If I would have walked around with a chip on my shoulder thinking I was being overlooked or treated unfairly I wouldn't be where I am today. Canada, I've been where you are in both my professional life and with officiating, and the key is maturity and understanding that things happen when they are supposed to and for a reason. Being a 24 year-old husband and father of a 4-year old has probably pushed me that direction more than anything, but I've learned that life is too short to worry about what's wrong and so much more fun when you look at what's going right. Relax, don't worry about the big games, concern yourself with the moment you're in, and take pride in doing what you are doing whether its the big game or the game between two 0-14 middle school teams. I know it may not be PC to quote Bible verses but check out Matthew 6:25-34. It's is a great passage to remind us that we all too often worry about very unimportant things and miss out on the good stuff.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

1) And did I dismiss everything they said to me in this thread? As I virtually always do, I took their advice into account.

3)You know, you've been on my case for a long time. You don't know me. Don't make judgements, and don't tell me how to act because I take offence to that. Go back to the basketball forum where you belong.

1) Yup, you took everybody's advice into account, and then dismissed all of it....just as I predicted. You're predictable.

2) Know you? I was you! I started officiating both football and basketball when I was 15, and when I was 19 I was sure that I (a) knew everything that was possible to know about officiating, and (b) was better than the great majority of my fellow officials. I also ran my mouth off, just like you, but I was lucky enough though to have an assignor that sat me down and read the riot act to me. I was also smart enough to listen to him. It was amazing to discover as I got more experience just how much I didn't know and also how my fellow officials weren't as bad as I thought they were. Since then, I've also seen a ton of officials just like I was (and you are). It's fairly common in officials who start young. Some listen, figure it out, mature and turn into productive, competent officials. Others just become "bodies" or leave because nobody will recognize their vast talents. Which way you go now depends solely on you. Your future posts will tell us which group you're in.

Again, feel free to dismiss completely what I said, as well as what everybody else has told you also. Personally, I really don't give a sh!t either way.

[BoomerSooner]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Personally, I could care less.

In the grand scheme of things, I don't think this is a big deal; however the proper phrase is "I couldn't care less". Your phrasing suggests you do care whether or not your advice is ignored. If you can't care less that means you essentially don't care at all, which is what I think you were going for. This is just one of those things that I feel the random need to correct all the time for some reason.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by BoomerSooner

In the grand scheme of things, I don't think this is a big deal; however the proper phrase is "I couldn't care less". Your phrasing suggests you do care whether or not your advice is ignored. If you can't care less that means you essentially don't care at all, which is what I think you were going for. This is just one of those things that I feel the random need to correct all the time for some reason.

P.S.- I went back and edited my post for clarity.

[ozzy6900]

Well, the original poster is unreadable due to my ignore list, but after reading the posts from all those that still try to talk to this individual..........

In reference to looking young -

You may look young and that cannot be helped. People look at you and judge; there is nothing that you can do about that. My son is 19 and still looks like a young man. When he gets on the field, he gives the perception of an older, experienced umpire in his manner and the respect that he shows to others. He doesn't care if they do not respect them, he sets the standard for that.

I've seen him in ugly situations where I was not on the game. I watched him defuse many situations and when necessary, eject when needed. Not once has any coach complained to the association about anything. As a matter of fact, many HS coaches have asked why he does not do Varsity until they are told that he is only 19.

When the assigner feels that my son is ready, he will be put on some Varsity work but until then, my son doesn't complain! He works what he gets and does so in a professional manner. When he is on the field, he gets the same respect that I do. Not because of the uniform but because he earned it from the coaches in the area. When he went to the State's Babe Ruth, he faced coaches that never saw him before. His UIC had nothing but good things to say about his work and his interaction with the staff and coaches.

He is in college so doing NCAA is out of the question in this area. I would not even approach Nick about putting him on NCAA without Varsity experience.

So here we have two people in the same business, the same age, looking the same (young looking) with two different attitudes. One will take what he gets and still remain professional. He will take criticism and work with it. He will work with other umpires good and bad and still remain professional even in the post game remarks. He gives honest ratings when asked by the assigner (we are all asked to rate our partners at times). He comes to the rules meetings and participates in the discussions and exercises. He interacts with other umpires in our association and outside our association on and off the field like a young man, not a hot shot. And when it is time, he still acts like a typical 19 year old - asks for money, stays out late, raises hell (only slightly), plays golf with his friends and still pi$$es off Dad now and then.

Then there is our poster from the North!

Finis

[t-rex]

Canada,

Are you in the picture that was posted on the ABUA forum at: http://www.umpire.org/modules.php?na...ewtopic&t=5070?

[ChucktownBlue]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

I do mention some of these things to one of my umpiring friends, and sometimes my assignor and I discuss other umpires, but I would have to believe that just about everyone else in my association does the same thing.

I can hear the conversation from here....

"You know Jim, CanadaUmp thinks you move your head while you're calling pitches. And Stu, accordingly to the kid, you should be hustling a little more, unless you're just too old to be out there. Bill, he really thinks you blew that interference award last week. Roger, he has told me he has to fight to keep from laughing on your punch-out mechanic."

Why would you believe everyone else does the same? What I picture when I read these comments is an arrogant, snot-nosed kid. "I do it so everyone else must be." If you're the "new kid" on the block," you can bet what you say to one of the older guys, makes it around to the others. I can't see any problems here....

Originally Posted by canadaump6

I pay my dues every time I do a game by coming prepared, focusing on the play or pitch and studying my rulebook and interpretations. Of course, if paying my dues means standing around on a ball diamond for another 25+ years without putting forth a full effort, then I guess I have a long way to go.

Paying your dues means calling lower levels games, going to the dingiest fields and dealing with the worst managers. And doing it professionally and without complaint or whine. That's how you earn higher level games.

"No one who is truly great at something has ever had to convince others that they are." One of the greatest lines I've ever read some years ago. Unfortunately I can't give credit where due. Take a couple extra moments and consider what it means.

[archangel]

I certainly agree with the others well meant advice, but playing devils advocate, lets look at it this way.
OK, lets say what you feel is actually correct--your assignor is basically discriminating against you, a very good umpire who is 19. Well then welcome to the real world. Hardworking people are not always rewarded. Sometimes things just dont go your way. Others make mistakes that can effect you. Deal with it. If having an assignor not giving you what you want is the biggest problem you have, maybe things arent so bad after all.
So you look very young? Perception is reality. Trust me, if looking too young is the case, you may regret it now, but will enjoy it later in life. This is from one who knows--being "carded" at bars till I was over 35......

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

Yes that is correct, in addition to being a baseball umpire, I am also a baseball coach and baseball player. I know you all hate me for it, but frankly I couldn't care less if any of you are jelous. Because jelousy is the only explanation I can think of for why you guys hate players and coaches so much.

I can assure you with a great degree of confidence that NO ONE on this board is jealous of you, for any reason, but if someone on this board was, it would SURELY not be because you also coach.

I call you canadacoach not because you also coach (which I actually was unaware of when I typed that, both here and in previous posts).

I call you canadacoach because in the vast majority of other threads, you talk like a coach and act like a coach. Perhaps your supervisors see that same thing in you.

And I'll echo what a few others have said... it is an EXTREMELY childish thing to come on a board like this, ask for advice or input, and then blast the advice or input. If you didn't want to know, you surely shouldn't have asked.

[Rcichon]

Give it all a rest for a moment.

I've been officiating for twelve straight years, UIC for the last three, been to and conducted numerous clinics.

I can call a game at any position with a fair knowledge of what it is I am responsible to do and call. Even with all of that, most members of this group far outweigh my knowledge and experience level. Yours too, that's why you consulted them as I do.

I come here for the things I do not know that I should know. So do you.

Like every piece of advice anyone offers you: take the advice and use it for what it is worth. If you consider yourself a student of officiating, [as in always learning] you will find value in every piece of advice given you.

When you seek counsel from your peers and then criticize that very counsel, you betray yourself.

[piaa_ump]

Sorry if I sound cold hearted today, but my friend, you just have to get over it.........descrimination is a part of life........especially in officiating...and Im not saying its right, but if you have been an umpire for any period of time you will have to have seen some of it in action........

How you deal with it is what separates you from the rest...........in sports officiating to have some descrimination come your way you only have to be too short, too fat,too skinny, have facial hair, glasses, long hair, short hair, no hair, an accent, too old, too young, be female, be white, black or asian, be new to officiating, be a long time vet of officiating.......

The one constant thing about descrimination in sports officiating is that it does not descriminate...........depending on who is doing the evaluation, no one is 100% immune.........

what can you do?........do the best you can. The rest will take care of it self........If a TD or league does not want me, I will not lose one game over it........there are plenty of games to go around.

[canadaump6]

I have read through the posts and taken them into account, whether agreeing with them or not. Will respond in further detail later on.

[TussAgee11]

As a 20 year old (young enough to be a son of almost all members of this forum), I feel the need to respond on several fronts.

CanadaUmp: I feel the same way as you at times in regard to assignors. I too think I'm a good official, and get praise after I work a game from my partners. That being said, I still have loads to learn, mainly about game management and quirky rules interps. I do my best on the rules stuff, as that knowledge can be attained just be reading and rereading. Regarding game management - some naturally have it. Stories like ozzy's son show that. I do not have it yet, but constantly work on it. Its difficult to manage a game well when you have a lousy partner, which is what I am most of the time stuck with since I can't do HS ball due to being away for college. By the time I get home, the season is almost started, and I work my way into the crap shoot of umpires that is summer ball. I'll work with good partners occasionally, and not good ones other times. My experience tells me that you just have to keep working hard and if you deserve it, you'll get it.

Last year I got slightly upset when I wasn't working any adult league games. I thought my assignors were just assuming I couldn't handle it, even when they never saw me umpire (honestly, I've never had an assignor for big field ball evaluate or observe me). But then I realized, its not that he doesn't think I'm good enough, its that he already has good enough guys to do these games!

So you have to break into that threshold, which can be hard because politics could be played depending on your association. The only way to do it is through hard work and constant, honest vigilance on your performance.

[canadaump6]

I've taken a lot of good stuff from this thread, and taken it all into account. However I do think there is some bad mixed in with the good- a couple people claimed that it is not my age and appearance holding me back, it's my lack of skill. The thing that gets me there is that these people have never seen me work. Now I do take some blame for that. A while ago I said I'd get some kind of video up of me calling a ballgame so that I could get some critique, and I have yet to do that, so for now you guys are stuck with assuming whether or not I am in fact decent.

Ozzy, you have been a problem to me even before I started showing signs of a possible attitude problem. I'm not going to sugarcoat here; you have disliked me from the start, and as a result I do not like you either. While I have considered your advice and reminded myself to behave just as Ozzy's perfect child does, I am not impressed with the old "my son is better than you" BS. I tend to very quickly grow tired of parents that go on about their kids, and doing so to belittle me is just not something I am going to put up with.

BoomerSooner, I greatly appreciate the advice you gave me. I read through Matthew 6:25-34. And I'm sure you've heard it a thousand times before, but way to hang in there and get the promotion you deserved!

Jurassic Referee, just realize that this is my place to vent and act spoiled, so that it doesn't carry over into real life. Now I am going to politely ask that you stop lecturing and judging me as you so often like to do. If you can't contribute or gain from this forum, go back to the basketball and football ones as those are the sports you officiate.

t-rex, I am in the Cooperstown Dreams Park picture you posted. I am in the second row. Amongst the people that are sitting, I am on the very far right, but there are some people standing beside me as well. And yes it's not a good picture of me but I'm not photogenic.

Chucktownblue, you mentioned:
Paying your dues means calling lower levels games, going to the dingiest fields and dealing with the worst managers. And doing it professionally and without complaint or whine. That's how you earn higher level games.

I do lower level games when asked by my assignor. Out of about 55 games this year, I've done a couple 7/8 year old house league machine pitch games. Did one early in the year to mentor a younger umpire doing his first ever game; we even had to stand around for 45 minutes because there was a scheduled practice before the "game" that we were never told about. I do these kinds of things without complaint, and my assignor gives me low-level games anytime he is stuck for guys and the higher-level stuff has been taken.

mbcrowder wrote: And I'll echo what a few others have said... it is an EXTREMELY childish thing to come on a board like this, ask for advice or input, and then blast the advice or input. If you didn't want to know, you surely shouldn't have asked.

I'm trying to be patient here, but I already said that "I took all advice into account,".

Tuss Agee wrote: I thought my assignors were just assuming I couldn't handle it, even when they never saw me umpire (honestly, I've never had an assignor for big field ball evaluate or observe me

That is a frustration for me as well; I have never had someone do an evaluation of me. All that my umpire in chief and assignor know about my umpiring comes from word of mouth from other umpires, coaches, and when they work games with me.

Garth: University and College baseball are totally different things. University ball is not nearly as competetive, although it is still competetive. I assure you that it wouldn't be that hard to do; that may make me cocky for saying that, but it is the truth.