Transitioning
 

To anyone with experience transiting one rules set to another:
I'm considering moving up to High School ball from LL.

Presently, I've called games for 12 years, from Minors to Senior LL level. I know a few people in my area that have been encouraging me to join an assoc. and do HS ball.

How was the transition? As in learning another rules set.. Ever find yourself confused or hesitent with an interp?

Any additional info is appreciated.

-- Rob

A copy of the BRD would make the transition easier. :rolleyes:

Mu advice: forget everything you know as an umpire about the rules and read the FED rule book as if it's the first time you've read any rule book.

It's best if you have a firm understanding of OBR. From there the other rule sets will be easier to grasp. It's all baseball in one form or another. From there it's learning safety rules and quirks associated with the lower rule set. Especially Fed.

Congratulations.

People make a big deal out of FED rules. I'll never completely understand why. I mean, LL umpires can accept the concept of the "poof rule" in which a non offending runner is penalized and disappears, yet they have a problem, that in FED, a balk is a dead ball, which was the OBR rule for longer than not.

It's not a difficult transition. FED rules allow for more participation, more safety and to make it easy to approximate a national standard without national training.

Learning new rules is similar to learning a new language. It's best to learn a second language the way you learned your first.

Same with FED.

When making the transition from OBR to FED, remember one important thing......

You can't look at FED rules through OBR eyes!

Remember that, and you will be fine.

I also recommend the Baseball Rules Differences by Carl Childress. Available from this site. Keep it in your reading room/library that usually contains a lot of porcelain fixtures. Read it daily during your constitutional. When you get to the end start over. When you have a situation that comes up come to this site and do a search and read, read, read. If something hangs you up, ask a question and read all of the replies until you have it. Discuss with more experienced umpires. You should be fine if you already have 12 years of experience. The physical part will be a little tougher. If you aren't in shape, get in shape. The coaches and players expect you to: 1. Know the rules, cold. 2. Be in position and hustle to get there before you make calls. IF you can do that you will be fine.

Welcome and good luck.

I always found it difficult when doing NCAA and Fed ball at the same time however, it meant more time studying each set of rules and applying accordingly.

As already suggested, learn each set of rules separately and THEN, make the comparisons afterwards. Be thourgh in studying each and DON't learn the rules by heresay. Be stubborn and find the answer for yourself. If others can do it, so can you.

"Baseball Rule Differences" by Childress is a excellent guide but read every manual you can get your hands on and then you can choose what works best for you. It will definitely take time but don't cut corners. I used to pride myself in my rules knowledge. And for sure , no matter how long you been doing this, you can always learn something new.

Don't forget books on game management and mechanics. You just can't read enough. During the season I would carry all my manuals in my car to study before and after games.

Again Good Luck

PS: If you ever do NCAA ball and completely figure out the DH rules, let us all know.

The biggest difference I saw moving to FED is the game management side. There is more intensity in the HS game than in most LL/youth games. Although, I noticed more change in intensity when I moved from rec league to travel ball (USSSA). That move made the move into HS very easy.

I tend to get my rule sets confused. I constantly have to go back into the books after games, discussions, etc. Had an argument yesterday with UIC about the DH rule - I was arguing the NCAA rule was a FED rule. Don't study rule sets as a comparison - read/learn them individually.

Looking to move to NCAA next year - intensity increase again. I plan to spend the winter buried in the NCAA rule book.

I gotta start wearing a mask... those foul ball to my forehead are affecting me..

12 years? So for how many years doing 90 foot baseball. Were you not ever interested before in doing HS games... someone just now brought it up?

Hey, good for you for being a volunteer for 12 years.. that;s alot of free hotdogs and diet cokes however.

But just think, now you can buy your own equipment. But then there's those HS officiating drug tests...

This really is not a big deal. The rules of baseball are very similar from one level to another. There are just some idiosyncrasies that you have to understand and if you know how to umpire change the rules should not be a problem. Just read the rulebook of the level you are going to work. It is really not hard or hard to understand. HS rules are made for HS situations. OBR rules are made for pro ball and many of the rules are not translated to lower levels very well if you ask me. And obstruction is still an obstruction at any level. The thing you need to know is how to apply the rule to the appropriate level.

Baseball does not have all the rules differences as other sports and the rules differences are minimal at best. If other officials can come up with ways to figure out all the rules difference in other situations, I am sure you will manage.

Peace

I don't know about your area, but where I live 90% of all LL games are umpired by paid umpires. Very few Little League districts use the volunteers. Both associations I have belonged to here at one time or other did LL minors to Big League level of LL. Mostly JR/SR/Big League (but some lower) through our HS association, and all levels through the youth ball association.

That's really surprising to hear.

I remember seeing an application to umpire LL regionals and it stipulated that the applicant must be a volunteer umpire.

Is it no longer required that LLRegional and LLWS umpires be volunteers?

A copy of the BRD would be the ultimate reference book for rules differences but the major rules differences are listed in the FED rule book, page 70 of the 2007 book. Highlight the listed rules and then read the FED rule book from beginning to end. You will know you have a difference when you come upon a highlighted rule.

In your first year of HS ball you are likely to get only JV games or maybe a non-conference varsity game with an experienced umpire. When you don't have a game scheduled figure out which games are the highest classification games (ie 4A in my state) between cross town rivals and go watch the other umpires.

It is still required. It's just that when a LL all-star team advances beyond the local league level, the paid umpires are no longer welcome. They use them due to a shortage of volunteers during the season, but once the teams are narrowed down to the post season tourneys there are enough volunteers.

I call hokey-pork! That may well be the perception but in all reality the difference is criminal....in the district around here if you are paid in cash( or check) you cannot work above quarterfinals.

BUT......if you were paid in gift-cards or script to the store of your choice...World Series Here I Come.....I am also volunteer of the decade and all around great guy....have you seen my new kayak LL gave me?

And for the record I don't do LL....I just call HOKEY_PORK!



And Steve this is not a rant about you or your LL. If you say it is so I say good for you.

griff

What, uh, are you talking about? I don't have a LL. Perhaps you have me confused with a member of LL baseball. I do know that there are more LL's here that use paid umpires than those who use volunteers during the regular season. I have never worked a game for free, other than a pre HS season scrimmage or two per year.

About District/Regional and above
 

It's like what SDS sez but with a twist: If you have been calling games for years and have had training [and I guess if you're not a complete moron], you are encouraged to 'report' on your resume that you are a volunteer Umpire if you want to be considered for a Regional or LLWS game.

I get paid for calling games by this local League. Does not compare to HS but I can pay for all my gear, uniforms and some gas.

I've never done a Regional [& above] but I think I'd like to before I 'leave'. I just won't bring myself to lie on the resume.

Maybe my last year I'll not accept payment.


Anyway, thanks for the input!:)

Good for you. I've received a PM that implies that's exactly what well over half of this year's LLWS umpires did. That's both disheartening and counterproductive.

You mean to tell me that someone paid some of those guys ? Some of the ones that I saw should refund their park's money.

Leave it, don't look back. Go on to HS ball where you will sometimes have some good games to call, and nobody will consider you a volunteer.

Steve..I guess I do have you confused with someone else. Sorry.

1. I echo Bob read the FED rule book as if were the first time. Also, AT FIRST do not try and compare the different rule codes. Forget about OBR / LL when reading the FED rule / Case Book.

2. After reading the book, see if you can get some past years tests from some HS umpires (hopefully the answers are not already on them).

3. Purchase the BRD (Baseball Rule differences)

4. Learn the mechanics that are practiced in your HS association. Sometimes one develops bad habits when working LL games.

Why! Because in LL you might be "covering' for bad partners. Many Times at least from my experience in LL you have the dish and you have a parent / coach / Jr. Blue who is on the bases.

Suggestion: I am not telling you to give up volunteering Umpiring LL games, but I would stay away from doing the dish in the minors / majors because you will develop bad habits. The LL Strike zone is not the same as the HS strike zone with the exception of some low modified / JV games.

5. Leave LL ism's behind. What do I mean by that

A. Some LL organizations etc. want the umpires to "hang around" after games etc. In HS we do not do this. When the game is OVER it's OVER. Give whatever baseballs you have left to the Home coach and head for your car.

B. When EVERYONE knows the ball is FOUL do not go screaming FOUL at the top of your lungs.

C. The coach can warm -up F1. Also, if a player is not Squatting down they do not need a helmet and mask to warm up F1 - That's why it's extremely important to heed the advice of Bob and read the FED rule book as if it were the first time and also forget about the "other' rule codes.

There are many many differences between FED and LL which include both safety and playing rules.

Pete Booth

I know two gentlemen who have umpired in the Little League World Series and when I work with them in our district year after year, that they get paid after each game in cash.

I have been paid for doing district and sectional games in the LL tournament.

I believe that if being a "volunteer" is a requirement to umpire at the LLWS, then some people are not being entirely truthful.

Uic
 

As assignor/UIC, I can emphathise the plight of Regional/LLWS assignors: They need qualified people to call games. It's LL Inc. that creates this situation by mandating 'Volunteer Umpires Only'. What hypocracy!

They too look the other way when assigning games. They know who is in these games and that fact that they have, at some time in their 'officiating vocation' been remunerated.

Hah!, I hijacked my own thread!:D

Pete,

I see a whole lot more bad HS umpires in my neck of the woods than bad LL umpires.

I worked a LL Regional this year. I worked a high school sectional and a college conference tournament (NCAA D3), too. I wish umpires would stop painting "Little League Umpires" with such a broad brush. Would you like me to paint you with such a broad brush?

--Rich

Be Afraid...Be Very Afraid !
 

I started my career as a LL umpire.

The first thing that is going to hit you like a ton of bricks is the fact that ANYTHING GOES, and you are the target. There are no rules of conduct for coaches, or fans. You are going to get abuse you never new existed.

Every call is going to be scrutinized, ridiculed, and argued.

There will be no League Commissioner (or AD) to handle the crazy situations. Even when working with a partner, you will be alone at times.

Rules will come into play for situations that only happen once in a career, so read this forum every day, so you will be prepared.

Your timing, judgment, rules knowledge, and game management will be pushed to the limits of human ability.

You will have partners that will sell you out to save their own butt.

If you can make it through the first season, you will be on your way to being a better umpire than you dreamed possible. You will enjoy umpiring more than ever before, and you will spend the off season counting the minutes for the next season to start. You will also wonder why you ever did this for free (then when you get older, you'll remember, and return to volunteering your time for the kids).

Advise...

As already stated, read the FED rule book front to back, back to front. Then start in the middle, and work your way out.

Pick and choose who you listen to (other umpires) very carefully. The more arrogant, and indignant they are, the less you should listen.

If you blow a judgment call, stick with it, during your first year. Don't get into the habit of changing calls.

Try to objectively judge how you did after each game, and try to fix one, and only one, thing the next game.

Be confident, but not arrogant.

Dress properly, and keep your uniforms and equipment in tip top shape.

Purchase the Umpire Instructional Aids at www.reegind.com

Oh yeah...Don't forget to loose the mask, and use a Helmet. (sorry guys, just couldn't resist.)

I agree that the mask should be loose

*snicker*

Wow! Where do you work games? No wonder you've had to rely on a helmet.

I was talking about posting on a public forum. ;)

Uhhhhh, you got me :eek: