Partners

[PeteBooth]

[QUOTE=charliej47;677457]

More and more I am running across people who state they are only there for the money and don’t want to cause any problems and when the games start they constantly only make the ”safe” calls. I have had veteran officials state that they no longer care what they are doing and are only there for the money. This is occurring at top level games as well as the “REC” level

I am NOT condoning the behavior but I UNDERSTAND it. I believe most of these type officials ORIGINALLY started out with good intentions BUT here is what most likely happened.

1. The umpire association got tired of paper-work when you dump some-body meaning they didn't back up their officials. Coaches calling and complaining about a crucial OBS / Interference call and then having to explian themselves. Etc. etc.

2. Tired of the OVERALL BS that comes from TODAYS game.

As mentioned NOT Condoning it but understand it.

I have also noticed that as I get older, the average age of those officiating keeps increasing

HS games start at the 4PM or so hour. Therefore, you have to have a job that allows you to get time off or you are finished at around 1:30 2 ish.

For the most part when you are young and have a family it's difficult to get a job that is conducive for HS ball. What you see today is officials getting HS certified but do not officiate during the HS season. They get certified so they can umpire summer ball where there are many games on the week-ends and under the lights.

Therefore, for the most part there is not too much "young blood" during the HS season.

Pete Booth