FED UMPIRES Manual, Let's Start the rewrite

[justanotherblue]

why not start with the rule book, then worry about the maual.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by justanotherblue

why not start with the rule book, then worry about the maual.

The answer would basically be the same: Throw it out.

[jkumpire]

Yes, I know we all have our favorite stuff for mechanics, mine being the six weeks of notes from Harry's in 1985 when I was there.

But you and I all know that FED is not going to adopt CCA mechanics, or an expensive Evans book, also when both are set up for higher levels of baseball than FED is.

And until we all who work BB move to JR's state, we are stuck with FED.

[cc6]

If you work FED, and your assocation tells you to use the FED manual, then that is what you have to use. Not everybody owns the CCA or Evans manual, and even if they did, it's still out of line to do things differently than how the league trains you to. The solution to disagreeing with the FED manual is to not work any more of their games, rather than going against the directions of supervisors and evaluators.

Take the Baseball Ontario umpire's manual for example. It might be a bit different than what is taught in the pro schools, but we go by the Baseball Ontario manual because the majority of people who are carded under OBA haven't been trained PBUC mechanics. For example, PBUC says to go out on any flyball that pulls the center fielder towards the right field line. OBA says to go out on any flyball that pulls the right fielder towards the line. We do things the Ontario way because that's what we are told to do, not because some umpires decide that their way is better than the rest without consulting the book publishers.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by cc6

. The solution to disagreeing with the FED manual is to not work any more of their games, rather than going against the directions of supervisors and evaluators.

You seem to be confusing not using FED rules in a FED game as opposed to not working FED mechanics in a FED game.

The answer to FED's crappy manual is to, as an association, adopt another one.

[cc6]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

You seem to be confusing not using FED rules in a FED game as opposed to not working FED mechanics in a FED game.

The answer to FED's crappy manual is to, as an association, adopt another one.

So you're saying that rather than coping with the mechanics manual of the organization they work for, many umpires knowingly go against what the manual teaches them?

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by cc6

So you're saying that rather than coping with the mechanics manual of the organization they work for, many umpires knowingly go against what the manual teaches them?

No umpires as such work for NFHS. As independent contractors, we work (around here at least) for assignors and leagues. Those organizations do not have their own manuals.

Our association uses the red book.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by jkumpire

Yes, I know we all have our favorite stuff for mechanics, mine being the six weeks of notes from Harry's in 1985 when I was there.

But you and I all know that FED is not going to adopt CCA mechanics, or an expensive Evans book, also when both are set up for higher levels of baseball than FED is.

And until we all who work BB move to JR's state, we are stuck with FED.

I haven't been "stuck" with FED since....ever. I have never seen a mandate from FED that their manual must be used. From what I've seen on this board, many areas do not work FED mechanics. I believe someone posted that the entire state of Oregon has abandoned them. It also appears that at least parts of Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, California and other states also have left FED mechanics behind.

That said, if your association has endorsed FED mechanics, perhaps you are stuck. My sympathies.

[umpduck11]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

I haven't been "stuck" with FED since....ever. I have never seen a mandate from FED that their manual must be used. From what I've seen on this board, many areas do not work FED mechanics. I believe someone posted that the entire state of Oregon has abandoned them. It also appears that at least parts of Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, California and other states also have left FED mechanics behind.

That said, if your association has endorsed FED mechanics, perhaps you are stuck. My sympathies.

In Alabama, we have our own mechanics manual also. This is used state-wide, not association to association.

[SanDiegoSteve]

I've never seen a FED manual. We don't use them here. We use CCA and Red Book, along with whatever is gleaned from pro school grads and the pro umpires in our association.

After the things I've read here over the last few years about the FED manual, and the awful mechanics portrayed in the rule book, if I ever see a copy of the manual in my house, it will be deposited into the round file.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by jkumpire

Yes, I know we all have our favorite stuff for mechanics, mine being the six weeks of notes from Harry's in 1985 when I was there.

But you and I all know that FED is not going to adopt CCA mechanics, or an expensive Evans book, also when both are set up for higher levels of baseball than FED is.

And until we all who work BB move to JR's state, we are stuck with FED.

States can change any of the mechanics that they want to. The NF does not care or cannot stop you from doing it. The NF creates these books to have a standard if individual jurisdictions choose not to create their own mechanics. There is nothing that says you must follow the FED mechanics or else.

Also keep this in mind, it is not like baseball mechanics are that far off base from each other. The mechanics differences are really minor at least from the CCA Manual to the FED Manual. And just like anything in mechanics, these are guidelines, they are not mandates. There are situations not covered clearly in the mechanics and if your partner does one thing, you have to adjust to cover plays properly. For example the FED tells umpires that are in the A position to go out on every hit to center field to right field. The CCA Mechanics basically says "Read, Pause and React." All I care about is if my partner goes out, I cover what they cannot cover. It is not really that complicated if you ask me.

Peace

[BretMan]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

For example the FED tells umpires that are in the A position to go out on every hit to center field to right field.

Actually, it depends on which part of the book you read. There are sections that seem to be telling the umpire in "A" to go out on everything. Other sections tell the umpire to pivot into the infield on routine fly balls.

And that is another problem with the FED manual- editing. It was originally written years ago, so some of the instruction is just plain outdated. Bits-and-pieces have been revised through the years, creating a sometimes disjointed or conflicting document.

I do totally agree with the premise that any state or local association is free to adopt whatever mechanics they see fit.

I wonder if you were to take the FED manual and, say, the CCA manual side-by-side how much of the content would be in agreement. 75%? 90%? More? It just seems that with a little updating, editing and reorganization the NFHS could have themselves a first-rate umpire manual.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BretMan

Actually, it depends on which part of the book you read. There are sections that seem to be telling the umpire in "A" to go out on everything. Other sections tell the umpire to pivot into the infield on routine fly balls.

And that is another problem with the FED manual- editing. It was originally written years ago, so some of the instruction is just plain outdated. Bits-and-pieces have been revised through the years, creating a sometimes disjointed or conflicting document.

This is the very reason my state threw out all NF Mechanics books as the way to follow mechanics. It is not uncommon that mechanics are rarely changed and when situations come up that show a flaw in the mechanics, it takes more than necessary to change a positioning or practice. That not to say our mechanics are perfect, but they at least can be changed.

Originally Posted by BretMan

I do totally agree with the premise that any state or local association is free to adopt whatever mechanics they see fit.

Just so you know that appears to be the NF position on the issue. I have said this before, Mary Struckoff who is the editor of the NF Basketball Book and works for the NF commented on this very thing a few years ago. And I asked her personally when she came to a convention in our state of officials. She made it very clear the NF does not care if states come up with their own mechanics and said there was nothing the NF could do about it if a state or association wants to deviate from their mechanics. And she even gave a couple of examples of states that choose do their own thing (even though she personally disagreed with a particular mechanic) and the state was unwilling to follow the NF standard.

Originally Posted by BretMan

I wonder if you were to take the FED manual and, say, the CCA manual side-by-side how much of the content would be in agreement. 75%? 90%? More? It just seems that with a little updating, editing and reorganization the NFHS could have themselves a first-rate umpire manual.

I am sure if the NF spent a little more time and money to create a better product, that more states would be willing to follow their mechanics. And I think the biggest problem with the NF and their mechanics books is the fact that you do not see a lot of officials on the committee and when changes are made they are not with consideration from people that have actually strapped up the uniform. Then again, this is just my opinion. I am sure there will be those that disagree with that part of this discussion.

Peace

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by justanotherblue

why not start with the rule book, then worry about the maual.

I agree.

I learned a long time ago that there are many, many complainers about, well just about everything. Ask them to step up to the plate, run for an office, take the lead role, re-write a manual, etc, etc. they are nowhere to be found.

Start the re-write yourself. Go for it.

However, if the acceptable mechanic (whatever it may be) is something that is not explicity covered in the rules and manual, (and I agree it is not), for missing a base is your main reason for re-writing the manual, then????

Lets look at the practical side of this. Exactly how many times have you had to make this call and use whatever mechanic you choose to use. Once?
Twice? Threee times?. In twenty something years I am lucky if I remember once. I know some may say that is because of my age but, I haven't quite lost it yet.

I think most officials get a good understanding of the intent of the rules and the proper way to handle a missed base infraction more sooner that later. I also do not know of any Professional Federation Umpire.

So if it is perfection you are after, go for the re-write. Some will be happy, some will care less.

But, putting things into perspective here, Welll ???????????????????

[bossman72]

The problem lies when you deviate from the state association's standard. PA uses the FED manual as the standard, which should only be used for kindling.

Here is the catch: you work CCA mechanics in your chapter. You work playoffs or with someone from another chapter and they work FED mechanics. Even though you pregame CCA mechanics, if you blow a rotation and subsequent call, YOU (the one who uses CCA) are in the wrong because you didn't use the FED standard (even though it sucks).

PA guys - we should submit something to "Uncle Marty" and ask him about changing the standard.