Partner Evaluations

[JRutledge]

When I work the plate I always ask what my partner thinks about my zone. I just want to see if they see something that I might be doing. That does not mean I take every word to heart or even sometimes agree. But I do ask.

Other things I may not ask about, but I like to talk about plays that were tough and if what I did comes up that will be something I will keep in mind.

Bottom line is I learned long time ago to always consider the source and if I only pick up one thing someone tells me that is a good thing. It might just reaffirm what I am already doing or make me rethink. Most of the things I do are based on training anyway so I am not going to learn something that new in a conversation with a partner. And unfortunately in many cases I work with very few guys that are more experienced than me so it appears sometimes people are reluctant to say much unless I press them. I do not rely on these conversations to shape ultimately what I do.

Peace

[jkumpire]

I always have some kind of post-game discussion, unless my partner does not want one.

Since I am a local HS rules interpreter and one of the older umpires in my area, I get asked a lot of questions, and I end up working with a lot of younger people. So I make it a point to offer an evaluation and ask for an evaluation. Sometimes the evaluation lasts for a long time, other times it doesn't. A lot of times I will ask for the evaluation first, which opens up the conversation.

In my area we have a lot of people who have mechanical faults, and who do not have a great knowledge of the rules. So when I get a chance I always throw my 0.02 in.

The thing about it is I am trying to learn as much as my partner does, I have not done a perfect game yet...

[ozzy6900]

After every game, I invite my partner to critique me as we are walking off.
"So, how was my zone?"
"How was my positioning today?"
Usually my partner will invite my critique after he is through.

There are several of us who will sit in the parking lot and go over the game with a fine tooth comb. We have been at this for many years and love working together.

[jicecone]

Probably for my first 10 years I couldn't get enough feedback. Of course depending upon the partner, it was a matter of how I weighed the info. With a new partner, I will generally start the discuusion about how I might have banged a call or about a particular play and get the feel for how deep my partner wants the discussion to go. With an old partner he might just say Jim, you sucked behind the plate tonight and we go from there. We would always tell rookies that no matter what the evaulation, sit and act interested and say thanks for the info. Eventually you will figure out if should toss the evaluation or review it to learn.

For the most part though, if you have been doing this long enough, you know. But, there is always something new to learn. As Ozzy has already implied, how many times do you find yourself and your partner sitting in your chairs outside your car, an hour or so after the game, only two cars left in the lot. Discussing the game, the association and other scenerio's from other games.

You got to Love it Baby.

[UMP 64]

I would only take the time to evaluate my partners if my assigor would use the evaluations as another part of his evaluation "formula" . Our baseball assingor has a "formula" that he shares with everyone. Not sure where all the numbers come from, but at lease you have something to compare.
My softball assignor makes up his evaluations. He does not see his officials and does not know what he is looking at anyway, since he thinks the game is still being played as it was in 1971, and most of our umpires are officiating like it is 1971 and the coaches like the 1971 vintage method. Most are happy, except a hand full that know better and have a baseball background.
My volleyball assignor "looks at" peer evaluations, but I do not think these evaluations have any bearing of our over all final ratings.
Be honest with yourselves. Do you really think any of the information used by any assignor, would change someones final rating position more than1 - 2 places? I don't think so. Keep in mind, the assignors have the final decision, and it almost always come down to the good ole boys. Just the way it is.