2 Questions for FED umpires

[MadCityRef]

$45 is outrageous whether taking or writing it.
(I thought the umps paid someone to write a fresh exam each year. Where can I get that job?)

Has your association told Baseball Ontario that this is a burdensome expense? And if so, what was the response?

The association could meet with the schools to explain how the cost hurts your numbers. I'd be discouraged starting out and having to fork over that amount of cash just to take a test.

And your association could be strong to suggest to the schools that your group will not take the test (probably in 09, but 08 is better), and as part of the protest, you refuse to work their games until the situation is resolved.
The schools want the games to be played with good umpires. Put the onus on B.O.

Here the state associations work for the school members; what they want, they get. And sadly, officiating is not their priority.

I'd get info from state and provincial governing bodies to present to B.O. Show them they are out of step.

Besides the exam, what else do you get for your money?

[ManInBlue]

Sounds like he's asking a question and leaving it at that. "They haven't emailed him back." What's wrong with a little follow through? If he hasn't heard in a week, ask again. Still nothing, ask again (or start calling rather than emailing). If he truly wants this resolved, he should be more proactive in getting an answer. Call, email, etc until you reach the person that can help you - and get an answer, set a meeting, something.

He's not completing the task. He's just doing enough to say "I asked" He needs to keep the ball rolling, not just throw it out there.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by MadCityRef

$45 is outrageous whether taking or writing it.
(I thought the umps paid someone to write a fresh exam each year. Where can I get that job?)

Has your association told Baseball Ontario that this is a burdensome expense? And if so, what was the response?

The association could meet with the schools to explain how the cost hurts your numbers. I'd be discouraged starting out and having to fork over that amount of cash just to take a test.

And your association could be strong to suggest to the schools that your group will not take the test (probably in 09, but 08 is better), and as part of the protest, you refuse to work their games until the situation is resolved.
The schools want the games to be played with good umpires. Put the onus on B.O.

Here the state associations work for the school members; what they want, they get. And sadly, officiating is not their priority.

I'd get info from state and provincial governing bodies to present to B.O. Show them they are out of step.

Besides the exam, what else do you get for your money?

What do you think the WIAA gets for a one-sport official as a registration fee?

They get good umpires when the group I hang with is working. Good umpires figure out ways to get to that point without people holding their hands throughout the process.

[bossman72]

Originally Posted by MadCityRef

$45 is outrageous whether taking or writing it.

Mind you that's 45 Canadian dollars.


But while we're at it. My state dues are $30 ($25 if you pay them early). My chapter dues are $50 which is ridiculous. They use most of that to stipend the assignor and other officers, when in actuality, the schools should be paying that money. All the other associations around my area don't pay their board members with the dues except mine. Sheesh.

[canadaump6]

I wasn't referring to the Superclinic years, as our league reimburses us for those. I am referring to the years where we have to fork over $45 to write an exam.

This fee also includes insurance each year - health as well as liability...

This is the first I have heard about the fee including insurance. I found nothing about it on the Baseball Ontario website, but I probably overlooked something again.

Using ONE game fee at the HS level for certification should not be a big burden on any umpire, and it is deductible from game fees for tax purposes…… Local umpiring and baseball associations are not (at least in Ontario) massively funded and tend to operate on a shoestring basis. In other words, get over it!

It is not really the money that is the issue, although $45 does cost almost 2 game fees around here. It is the principle of having to pay to serve your association that I strongly dislike. One would think that if they wanted level 3 umpires, they would pay their examination fees every year. Most workplaces pay their employees to take training, not the other way around. From the looks of things, it seems as though others are faced with the same issue.

[ptmac]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

I wasn't referring to the Superclinic years, as our league reimburses us for those. I am referring to the years where we have to fork over $45 to write an exam..

Think of it this way - You're paying $135 for three years including three exams and one superclinic. I don't understand why your 'league' would reimburse you for this. Other centers reimburse upon completion of a certain number of games umpired....but only if you umpire exclusively for them. I'm not aware of any area in at least Southern Ontario where a L3 umpire would leaguework exclusively for any association

Originally Posted by canadaump6

This is the first I have heard about the fee including insurance. I found nothing about it on the Baseball Ontario website, but I probably overlooked something again...

If your association pays the fee, any insurance payments to you for injury etc are taxable. If you pay the fee (not reimbursed), they are non-taxable. This insurance has been part of the certification process for at least 15 years....

Originally Posted by canadaump6

It is not really the money that is the issue, although $45 does cost almost 2 game fees around here. It is the principle of having to pay to serve your association that I strongly dislike. One would think that if they wanted level 3 umpires, they would pay their examination fees every year. Most workplaces pay their employees to take training, not the other way around. From the looks of things, it seems as though others are faced with the same issue.

I don't know about you, but I'm not an employee of any association. I umpire for a number of different leagues etc - why would one pay and another not? The real issue is - do you want to be a top quality umpire or not? In the larger scheme of things, an exam/certification/association fee is the least costly thing I do in umpiring - and there's a whole host of things that deserve more of my energy than that.

[MadCityRef]

Originally Posted by bossman72

Mind you that's 45 Canadian dollars.

CN dollar is 'bout even to US these days.

[tiger49]

Thanks ptmac for speaking up...$45 for an 8 hour course (with lunch included) is a bargin. Same goes for the 3-day Level 4 at about $300. With meals and rooms included.