Do the participants really care how we are dressed

Originally Posted by Dave Reed

Well, this thread has (predictably) strayed away from the original question, and has become once again a fashion topic. Or the ever-popular "how long is your bill?"

My strongly held position, based on attending way too many baseball games in my role as a dad, is that the participants truly don't care how an umpire is dressed. At the D1 level, if a plate umpire were to show up in blue jeans, with the leg guards (necessarily) worn on the outside, it would be noticed because it would be completely outside the norm. But the participants wouldn't care or withhold respect. (Of course there are some participants who would be unhappy regardless.) Respect stems from competence, and competence or the lack of shows up quickly for a plate umpire.

In reality, except for new umpires, the participants already have formed their opinion based on previous games.

There's nothing wrong with dressing the part, and I suspect it helps some umpires be confident and competent. It almost certainly is an important aspect of moving up in the ranks. But the participants form their opinions based on primarily an umpires actions.

You have (predictably) missed the point many were trying to make in this thread.

[Dave Reed]

Originally Posted by rei

You have (predictably) missed the point many were trying to make in this thread.

If by "missed the point" you mean "not convinced of the point", then I plead guilty.

Originally Posted by Dave Reed

If by "missed the point" you mean "not convinced of the point", then I plead guilty.

No, you definitely missed it. You should re-read it all very carefully.

Now if you got the point many of us are making, and you are still not convinced, then really, there is nothing to say to you. You would never advance very high in any kind of officials association, and would probably never amount to any kind of decent official, and frankly, would have an opinion that no decent official would really care about.

[PeteBooth]

Originally Posted by rei

No, you definitely missed it. You should re-read it all very carefully.

You would never advance very high in any kind of officials association, and would probably never amount to any kind of decent official, and frankly, would have an opinion that no decent official would really care about.

Rei with all due respect Dave has a point. We all know that for the most part in order to advance in an umpire association there is a certain dress code. However, that's not what I asked.

Here is the crux of my OP

So let's take away umpire associations for a minute in which we are mandated to dress a certain way. Is apparel that important of an issue for the participants or is it more of an umpire vs. umpire issue

I am not talking about our peers or specific umpire associations. I am STRICTLY speaking as Tee said about the participants view.

I am assuming you read Nigel's thread about doing a game in shorts because he left his "stuff" home. At the beginning perhaps some got a laugh but as the game progressed IMO, the particpants cared more about how good his zone was etc. Granted he was solo but as long as he was hustling etc. that's all they really care about.

If Nigel did a good job he would most likely be requested to do another of thier games.

Our peers and umpire association perspectives are vastly different from that of participants.

Pete Booth

[kylejt]

I know plenty of coaches who also umpire. Come dressed like a hobo, and they're going to ride you like a rented mule.

My son, who is a pretty decent umpire, is coaching 13u travel ball. He kills umpires who show up dressed improperly. It's a big red flag that states "I have no idea what I'm doing out here".

[BigTex]

Originally Posted by kylejt

I know plenty of coaches who also umpire. Come dressed like a hobo, and they're going to ride you like a rented mule.

My son, who is a pretty decent umpire, is coaching 13u travel ball. He kills umpires who show up dressed improperly. It's a big red flag that states "I have no idea what I'm doing out here".

Shame on your son for being such a rat. If he truly is a decent umpire, he would never "kill umpires" or let anyone from his staff do the same. Let your son know that he can be an umpire or a rat, not both.

[johnnyg08]

Come dressed like a hobo, and they're going to ride you like a rented mule.

I've seen some pretty well dressed umpires in my area get railed pretty good conversely, I've seen the other side as well. TimC's post just a few above mine, pretty much sums it up for me.