Game fees.

[Pensaump]

Originally Posted by BuggBob

if you are only working for the money -- you are probably not a very good umpire.

Let me tell you something about money and good umpiring. The difference in money between your youth ball games and high school or college game fee's are a lot of different.

If I was in it "only" for the love of umpiring, I would still be calling kid ball exclusively 5 min up the road.

Getting into higher game fee's usually requires being a "pretty good" umpire.... If the higher game fee's are not motivation to get "pretty good" then what is???

If you are doing it only "for the love of the game" then you just stay down there in the youth leagues and let us worry about the money.

Your comments are the most Asinine thing I've seen on here in a while. Game fee's for rain outs HELP umpires and is GOOD for umpiring. The best thing about game fee's for rain outs is that it makes the coaches and AD's give a **** about the umpires on some level enough to call them so YOU don't have to make a trip for nothing.

Besides, the league you are calling in obviously only looks at you as a monetary figure anyways trying to not pay you, why should you look at them any different?

[Kevin Finnerty]

I like higher-level games for the challenge and to watch a higher level of play from the best seat in the house. No matter what the fee is, it is inadequate, so it's essentially irrelevant.

The fee is relevant for the other reasons that you so eloquently stated. We must get paid something so that we can be respectable.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

I like higher-level games for the challenge and to watch a higher level of play from the best seat in the house. No matter what the fee is, it is inadequate, so it's essentially irrelevant.

The fee is relevant for the other reasons that you so eloquently stated. We must get paid something so that we can be respectable.

A few local guys were trying to argue that JV and Freshman games should be paid the same as varsity games. I found that argument ridiculous -- it's not just the time that's being rewarded, it's the skill required to work and stick at a particular level.

Frankly, money is one of the key reasons I packed in the 3 D3 conferences I worked the past 5 years. They simply didn't pay enough for the aggravation. $185 with no mileage for an 18-inning day that frequently lasted 6 hours (not a lot of good pitching, either) with a bunch of Earl Weaver wannabes - yeah, that was a whole lot of fun. And the 2-3 hour drives up front. If they worked 3-person, I'd do it, but having to do a plate job every single day and having to drive most of the time, not worth it to me. Although I'm not really doing it for the money, it's part of the picture of respect (or lack thereof) that you get. And AFAIC, hiring 2 umpires for NCAA baseball is about as little respect as a sport can get -- they'd never think of running less than 3 for basketball or 7 for football these days.

This year I worked a lot of HS doubleheaders on Saturdays and made $120 for 14 innings and was 30 minutes from the house.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

A few local guys were trying to argue that JV and Freshman games should be paid the same as varsity games. I found that argument ridiculous -- it's not just the time that's being rewarded, it's the skill required to work and stick at a particular level.

Game #1 (Level of Play--Boys' H.S. Varsity): Final Score: Home-3, Visitor-2; Number of Innings: 6-1/2; Length of Game: 1 hr, 20 min; Game Fee: $60


Game #2 (Level of Play--Boys' H.S. Freshmen): Final Score: Home-15, Visitor-32; Number of Innings: 7; Length of Game: 3 hr, 20 min; Game Fee: $40


Rich:

I see your point, .

I had Game #2 years ago when the OhioHSAA had a 15-run rule.

MTD, Sr.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

Game #1 (Level of Play--Boys' H.S. Varsity): Final Score: Home-3, Visitor-2; Number of Innings: 6-1/2; Length of Game: 1 hr, 20 min; Game Fee: $60


Game #2 (Level of Play--Boys' H.S. Freshmen): Final Score: Home-15, Visitor-32; Number of Innings: 7; Length of Game: 3 hr, 20 min; Game Fee: $40


Rich:

I see your point, .

I had Game #2 years ago when the OhioHSAA had a 15-run rule.

MTD, Sr.

It's like I always say: If you want the 2-1, 75 minute game, make yourself a varsity umpire.

I work basketball and do between 35-40 games a season, all varsity. The JV game beforehand is usually, without a doubt, the more difficult game to call consistently. And yet I'd rather stay home than work one.

The only beast that's different is football. With one game a week, all Fridays, it's fun going out on Mondays and Thursdays and working subvarsity with the crew.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

It's like I always say: If you want the 2-1, 75 minute game, make yourself a varsity umpire.

I work basketball and do between 35-40 games a season, all varsity. The JV game beforehand is usually, without a doubt, the more difficult game to call consistently. And yet I'd rather stay home than work one.

The only beast that's different is football. With one game a week, all Fridays, it's fun going out on Mondays and Thursdays and working subvarsity with the crew.

Rich:

You missed my point. I agree with you. But there are some of us that work all three levels (FR, JV, and VAR) during the course of the season, and when you get those three hour FR or JV games, you really earn your game fee.

MTD, Sr.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

Rich:

You missed my point. I agree with you. But there are some of us that work all three levels (FR, JV, and VAR) during the course of the season, and when you get those three hour FR or JV games, you really earn your game fee.

MTD, Sr.

I don't know how you folks have time to work multiple levels. To me, looking at my schedule next season with 40 games (basketball) on it already, it looks very, very full.

Although I have a list with open dates sitting in front of me just in case I need it.

[Pensaump]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

I like higher-level games for the challenge and to watch a higher level of play from the best seat in the house. No matter what the fee is, it is inadequate, so it's essentially irrelevant.

The fee is relevant for the other reasons that you so eloquently stated. We must get paid something so that we can be respectable.

You are right about this. I didn't mean to only make that point of view. What you said is a VERY good point.

I'd pay some of my game fee's back if I could grantee good pitching every game!!