pulled foot at 1st - getting help

[gobama84]

Asking for Help and Changing Calls
by Tom Anstett

Too many times I see umpires make a call on a close play and the coach will come running out insisting on the umpires go get help from their partner. "Come on Blue, you need help on that, just ask your partner he had a better angle, he can help". Trying to be a nice guy, or perhaps being a little intimitated, you go to your partner for help.
MISTAKE!

First off, if you make a call, you are telling everyone that you saw the play, you've processed the information from the play and you made you're decision. If you weren't sure about something on the play and you don't have all the information you need to make your decision, you ask for help before you make your decision, remember it's still your call, you're only asking for help to get more information in order to make a decision. Don't throw your responsibilites on your partner.

If you ask for help just because the coach wants you to, you will be asked to go for help on every close play, by both coaches, all game long. If you constantly ask for help, you might as well leave the field, because your partner doesn't need you if he has to do your job also. Don't let the coach push you around, tell him or her that "I saw the play, I don't need any help, this is my call and the call stands" Whether your decision(judgement) was right or wrong, stick with it, if you change one call, the coaches will want you to change every call that they don't like. Also, when you change a call you have to deal with the other coach who now also has an argument with you.

Remember, you can change your own call in certain situations, but you must do it immediately. For example, if you make an out call, and your timing was to quick after the call you see the ball loose on the ground - change your own call immediately, get the play right. This is never going to look good, but you'll get the call right. Never, never make a call, think about for a while and then change it, you will loose all your credibility.