Do you talk to players - Joke with them

[Mike M]

Being able to maintain a professional appearance as an umpire while incorporating your personality into your umpiring is a learning process. From my perspective, it has taken me also three years (about 150 games total) to feel comfortable with my skills and knowledge to be able to relax enough to interact with the game participants. When I do lower level games (Babe Ruth 13s or Frosh games), I am able to interact at a appropriate level. However, when I am doing a Varisty game, I am still need to focus more intently to make sure I do not miss something.

As matter of fact, I got a real wake up call doing a Varisty game. Cruising along as BU in a tight game. Visiting player attempts to steal 2B and I am call him out and return to Pos A. Fans from home team congratulate me on the good call. I make some off hand remark, mentally patting myself on the back. Two batters later, a whacker at first, that if I was focused I would have called out but for some reason I call safe.