Arrogance and Being "Bigger than the Game"

[canadaump6]

From one young umpire to another, I would say not to listen to the morons who call you "arrogant". People do have issues with a younger person keeping control of things and ejecting if need be. I am in a similar situation to you. I had always thought my standards for behaviour on the ball diamond were strict but fair, until a veteran umpire told me I had developed a bad reputation as someone who likes to throw his weight around.

I recommend you keep your approach. If people don't like the way you handle things, then go to another association where age isn't an issue. People don't seem to realize that there is nothing in the rule book about age, but age appears to be the only possible cause for these people having issues with you.

It still would help to have more details. How many ejections have you had, and what levels of ball do you work?

[Adam]

Without getting specific "reasons" for their opinions, it's hard to say much. If possible, I'd ask the voluntary advisors, "What is it specifically that gives that impression?" Their answer could either give you something concrete to think about, or tell you their simply full of it.

Talk to your assigner, see if he or she has heard any similar criticisms of you. Just say it's something you heard from casual fans and you wanted to see if there was any truth to it.

As stated before, the impression could be caused by little things in your body language; how you stand, whether you're smiling, your tone of voice, whether it looks like you're enjoying yourself. If it doesn't look like you're having fun, it could seem as if you take yourself too seriously.