Movement Policy?

[DonInKansas]

Heh; I'm just trying to get to Lawrence-Dumont in Wichita, where the Shockers and Wranglers play.

[David B]

Originally Posted by Rags 11

What is the movement policy for your HS associations? How many years & games at JV will get you to varsity?

Is movement based on a coach's ratings?

Once you are a varsity umpire, is there any mechanism for you to be moved DOWNWARD, or are guys varsity "for life?"


Thanks,
AR

Our HS is similiar to Ozzy. We usually ask all officials to call JV and Jr. High, that is good training for the young officials to work with veterans.

It takes about three years before we will give umpires the "quality" varsity assignment, but then we are in a "hot bed" for baseball. In our part of the state we have annually four or five of the best teams in the state, so those teams demand and require the better officials.

But we will work in the younger/newer guys for non-district games and so forth until they are ready. We require three years before someone gets a playoff game, but that is changing now because of a shortage of officials.

Once an umpire gets to varsity level he stays there, but the level of games that he get depends on his "ability" to umpire.

thanks
David

[Rags 11]

Fellas,

Thanks for the informative responses. Each question, with the exception of the downward movement, is current policy in my neck of the woods.

Our rookies only see JH ball for at least the first two years. So, hypothetically, you could be a college umpire, and, as a new member of the HS association, a middle school umpire.

Movement is based solely on coach's ratings, and openings occur only as a result of attrition.

AR

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by Rags 11

What is the movement policy for your HS associations? How many years & games at JV will get you to varsity?

Is movement based on a coach's ratings?

Once you are a varsity umpire, is there any mechanism for you to be moved DOWNWARD, or are guys varsity "for life?"


Thanks,
AR

It's my first year in the association, but I've got a bit of a grasp on how it's handled based on conversations with the more-experienced umps.

In your first year, you will never see a Varsity game (I'm sure emergency situations will make it minutely possible). I've got JV and Freshmen games scheduled and have only picked those up when calling in for games.

The guy I worked with tonight said that your second year is usually lower-level Varsity teams and you work your way up. He also said the organization will ask experienced umps how well the newer ones did; this determines how quickly you move up.

[DG]

Originally Posted by Rags 11

you could be a college umpire, and, as a new member of the HS association, a middle school umpire.

Would not happen here. If you are have experience and/or are good news travels. If assigner does not know you and/or you have no former resume you pay your dues...

[SAump]

Originally Posted by DG

Would not happen here. If you are have experience and/or are good news travels. If assigner does not know you and/or you have no former resume you pay your dues...

If you come from another state association, they start you at the bottom too.
They don't want to offend the guys who have paid their monthly dues.
Nobody likes hearing about the rising fastball in their arsenal.
The guys who get the jobs are the ones who work week in and week out.
The guys who can't make it (availabilty) get to pick their work because everyone else has to cover the other games.
But when a shortage of games comes up, or that game comes in the last minute, we know who is getting the call from the boss.
Like the baked beans commercial, he ain't talking.

[FTVMartin]

We work all levels. There is no such thing as a varsity umpire here. I'll do about 75% varsity but I have a few JV and Frosh games where I will be helping to break in some newer guys. Over the summer we work everything from Pony to College level.

[briancurtin]

Originally Posted by SAump

If you come from another state association, they start you at the bottom too.
They don't want to offend the guys who have paid their monthly dues.

Is this an association of children? You would think a group of umpires might have a thicker skin.

[dash_riprock]

I am a member of the same association as Rags (the original poster on this thread). Rags is leading a movement to bring about much needed change to our organization. It will be difficult to displace the "old guard." Here is what we are up against.

1. All high school/middle school officiating assignments are done by the State Public High School Association, which knows nothing about umpiring.

2. In order to be state certified, new candidates must attend a series of rules classes and pass the FED written exam (closed-book), and pass a mechanics "test," which consists of an inning or two on the field and behind the plate at a varsity pre-season scrimmage. It is near impossible to fail the mechanics test. No consideration is given to prior umpiring experience at any level.

3. After candidates become state certified, there are two requirements to maintain the certification: 1) Umpires must pass the annual FED rules test with a grade of at least 80%. The test is given out in advance, and then we have a "test session" at a beer hall, where we go around the room, each umpire answering 1 or 2 questions. The correct answers are given by our interpreter if the umpire gets it wrong (they often do). Most umpires show up with blank answer sheets and rule books that have never been opened. Everyone scores 100%, unless they become too drunk to properly use a pencil. This session costs $5, which includes all the beer you can drink (I have no problem with this policy!). 2) At least once every three years, umpires must attend the annual mechanics "clinic." The clinic lasts about three hours, and consists of seeing 10-15 pitches from a pitching machine, with critique from varsity instructors (most of the time you are standing around watching others). The cost of the clinic is $15, and some members bit¢h about the hardship it imposes on them. No other training is offered by the association.

4. You must spend a minimum of two years at each level, starting with middle school then JV, before there is any chance of moving up to varsity. There is no provision for downward movement. As a result, movement to the varsity level is dictated by attrition - opportunities for advancement to the varsity level only occur if an umpire dies, retires, or moves away.

5. Movement to the next level, (including the selection of regional and state playoff umpires), is based SOLELY on coaches ratings. Each coach must rate each umpire in every game. I don't have to tell you how much the coaches know about umpiring. Umpires have been given poor ratings for not going out on a fly ball with men on base. Schmoozing with the coaches often affects ratings as much as, or more than, ability. As a result, there are "top 10" playoff umpires who are absolutely brutal.

6. There is outstanding training available locally given by another private (non-school) association. At least two two-man and one 3-man clinics, as well as cage work clinics, are available each year. These are generally 3-day clinics, and include NCAA D-1 playoff and CWS clinicians. By my estimate, about 15% of the association's umpires avail themselves of this training.

7. There are 20+ year varsity umpires who have never had any formal training, and who receive no recurrent training other than the once-every-three-years clinic.

8. Most of the associations umpires who also work college games (JUCO and/or NCAA) are at the JV level.

So you think you have it bad?

[Durham]

If you want to change it, take over the leadership. We did here in our local association and things are working out very well. There is one guy that has done so much work I have told him to write a book with all the material that he has put together. We are even in the process of doing away with the rating system all together as far as numbers go, because let's face it; the assignor knows who can and can't work, so we are in the process of developing a system where umpires are put into groups like can work, needs some improvement, and needs a lot of work. The program has really taken on a year around improvement structure. Sac Umpires

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by Durham

If you want to change it, take over the leadership.

We're trying. Election meeting is in May.

[johnnyg08]

In your associations is your assigner appointed or elected? Our association voted a while back to appoint the assigner as opposed to electing...I was brand new at the time and chose to keep my mouth shut. Looking back, this is probably the most important role in the association, it should be an elected position...other thoughts?

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

I am a member of the same association as Rags (the original poster on this thread). Rags is leading a movement to bring about much needed change to our organization. It will be difficult to displace the "old guard." Here is what we are up against............

I think that your biggest problems are with your assigning and control by the coaches.

Our association is like a contractor. The association has a representative to the State Board but the association, actually our assigners, contract with the schools. The schools send the Varsity schedules to the Varsity assigner and sub-Varsity and middle schools send the schedules to the JV assigner. The assigners then use The Arbiter to set the assignments to us (the sub-contractors). If you become "free" on a "blocked" day, you must call the JV assigner first because the JV schedule can get pretty messed up with all the cancellations and changes. As a matter of fact, the Varsity assigner will not assign you unless you have talked to the JV assigner first.

Coaches are welcome to speak to the association about an umpire. We actually have a liaison set up for this. Coach's input is not a factor unless you really are a screw up. Complaints are forwarded to "The Better Officiating Committee" and they will determine if there is a need for a "look" at the umpire in question. They do a very good job as last year there were only two complaints from Head Coaches. There is no "blackballing" by coaches but there are many umpires that will not work for certain schools.

So pretty much, we service our customers (the schools) and our association runs itself. Oh yes, our assigners get a percentage of our game fee for doing their job. It's not a big cut but because of our size, it adds up. I admire them because I know first hand that their phone rings all hours of the day and night so they should make something for that.

[Durham]

Not to mention I would never want to assign in the Northeast with all that weather. No wassigning in Florida, the southwest or the west coast, that might be a wee bit easier.

[Blue37]

Originally Posted by SAump

If you come from another state association, they start you at the bottom too.

The football association next to mine is like that. An official new to that association, regardless of past experience, spends one year on the clock then two years on sub-varsity before they get a varsity game.

We've picked up some great high school and college officials who choose to make the drive to work with us rather than play silly games with the other association.