Attention Rookies

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by rngrck

Well after reading some of these recent posts,

Here I try to get some advisement on starting out as a rookie ump and get knock downed for asking stupid questions.

[/QUOTE]

Reference, please. (I'm not doubting you, I just don't know to specifically to what you are referring).

Thanks

[rngrck]

Bob - Ok, here's an example of a obnoxious reply to a stupid question in which I wanted some clarification or different view points.
See "Ozzy 6900 " reply dated 3/28/08 at 8:43 A.M. I tried to copy the post here but couldn't. My topic was called "Batter's Hands".

[mbyron]

The thread is here: Batter's hands.

Ozzy's "obnoxious reply" was that he wanted to know where these crazy questions come from. Hard to see how that insults rngrck.

[rngrck]

DA , does the word "Crazy" ring a bell?

[mbyron]

I'm not DA, but "crazy" modified "questions," not you. Ozzy was complaining about how the questions persist, which has little to do with you personally. Why would you take offense?

[mick]

Originally Posted by rngrck

DA , does the word "Crazy" ring a bell?

DA ?
And you say others aren't playing nicely ?

[David B]

Originally Posted by rngrck

Bob - Ok, here's an example of a obnoxious reply to a stupid question in which I wanted some clarification or different view points.
See "Ozzy 6900 " reply dated 3/28/08 at 8:43 A.M. I tried to copy the post here but couldn't. My topic was called "Batter's Hands".

Sorry but I see nothing obnoxious. As you stated it was a stupid question and upon reading further I didn't understand what you were asking either.

Then I read your reply of

"Well I got news for you!! I had a batter extending hands so far over the plate, that the pitcher complained he couldn't see F2's target. Well, I agreed and had the batter back off the hands."

That's fine, but if you could just put a reference with your ruling etc.,

Amazing but in my 27+ years I just haven't come across this type of incident.

Thanks
David

[mbyron]

rngrck, if you're really a newer official seeking advice, I would offer 2 relevant pieces.

1. Learn to distinguish personal from non-personal comments. For instance, when I make a call, sometimes a coach says: "That's a terrible call!" Maybe so! Maybe the coach had a better angle than I did. Maybe I just blew it. He's entitled to his opinion of the call. But if he says, "You're terrible," well that's personal and he's got to go. Ozzy's comment in the thread you cited was not personal.

2. Learn the rules and enforce them. Newer officials in many sports get in trouble when they stop players from doing something because "that's just not how to play the game." Maybe so, but it's a coach's job to correct that, not yours. This advice can be hard to follow for people who played a sport and are passionate about it being played correctly. Such people can find it hard to limit themselves to enforcing the rules.

As a friend of mine says, advice is the cheapest thing. But that's mine.