How long would it take?

[Bfair]

Originally posted by Rog
...the umpire pays for their own equipment, manuals, rule books, travel expenses, insurance, and let us not forget to claim those game fees on that tax return so Uncle Sam gets his fair share. Most umpire's I know are lucky to break even after all this.

Then Rog states :

Originally posted by Rog
So, are you saying that you are able to make ends meet from what you make just umpiring high school games???
I think not!!!

Rog, first you drown us in tears about barely being able to break even with expenses, and when I take objection to it you then compare it with trying to make a living solely from umpiring income. They are not the same. It seems you switched the music halfway through the dance. I hope that doesn't occur on the field.

Umpiring provides a nice second income and allows the person the ability to vary the amount of time that they wish to dedicate to that endeavor. Still, I find it difficult to believe that many (if any) don't do better than breaking even with expenses. Like most things in life, people put forth different levels of effort to meet THEIR OWN level of pride and satisfaction---not all are the same. Expect to encounter those with both high level and low level expectations of themselves along the road. I suspect the strong will survive while the others are left along the wayside, and new umpires will be in training soon to exhibit which level they wish to attain.

If anyone doesn't feel the effort is worth the reward,
then they need to look at spending their time in a different manner.
The choice is theirs..........


Freix

[Rog]

Well Steve, I believe the issue I initially addressed was this -
"but doesn't it worry you that a varsity high school umpire even needed to ask for help on a play as simple as this."
Now, given the fact that the poster asked about, a varsity high school umpire needing to ask for help on a simple
play, leads one to believe that this poster is under the impression that all varsity high school umpire's are proficient
in the "vocation" of umpiring.
There is every real possibility that this umpire was either - not certified, and /or trained, or experienced enough to
be doing a varsity game.
If you want me to believe that varsity umpire's as a general rule are competent, I am sorry but that is just a bit
too much BS to swallow from what I have experienced up and down the east coast. Along with having had the
displeasure of working with more than a couple of incompetent varsity officials over the years.
I am sure you know of whom I speak - the ones who admit to not having read over a rule book in ten years but still
know the rules, even umpires who show up for those training sessions but run their mouths through the whole thing
while others are trying to listen and learn, or those who do not get good game ratings and subsequently do not get the
quality varsity games but may at the last moment get thrown on games because there just was no one else available
to call the game, or maybe no one wanted to do that game due to certain "team attitutes" so a JV member is pulled
up from the ranks and put on the game. Then again it might just be that person who says I am only going to get "X"
amount of $$$ for my time, expenses and efforts so why shold I put to much effort into all this. Or maybe that umpire
just flatout boned the call. Could it but? Yes I know, none of this $hit ever really happens - - - or does it.....
Then comes the issue of making some money umpiring during the high school baseball season. I can't speak for
anywhere but where I have worked games, but those schedules were only 8 weeks long, i.e. 28 games. Then those
marvelous playoffs which maybe get you another 8 games. Now add it all up, and we are sure talking about some big
money here folks - not! You then can claim that overwhelming wealth on an IRS Schedule C form.
But as someone else mentioned, when you add up your real costs and time you are not making diddly. A nice second income you say, well I guess if you're an assigner.
So, you really better "enjoy the moment".....

[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by harmbu

The correct call was ultimately made and we have to give the umpires credit for getting it right, but doesn't it worry you that a varsity high school umpire even needed to ask for help on a play as simple as this. I guess both teams were lucky to not have anything really confusing happen in the game.

First: This could have just been a "brain fart" on the part of blue. We have all been there no matter how experienced. It happens

Second: IMO in order to make a statement that you made above "but doesn't it worry you that a varsity high school umpire even needed to ask for help on a play as simple as this". you need to observe this umpire for more than just one game. In other words, does he /she forget the rules in ALL their games or was this just one of those games.

How about a HS varsity coach who sends a runner home KNOWING F7 has a gun and ultimately the runner is thrown out by a mile. Would you then say "Doesn't this worry you that a HS varsity coach could make such a mistake"

IMO, coaches, umpires, players etc. need to be viewed over time and not just one game before you can make a statement such as yours.

Pete Booth

[jicecone]

"A nice second income you say, well I guess if you're an assigner."

Excuse me? When you take into consideration the hours you put in assigning games; listening to the leagues cry when you have a bad day; trying to get you on the phone to do a game, even though you have 3 numbers and don't answer any of them; trying to handle the rainouts and canceled games before you arrive at the field and get upset that you weren't called; begging you to do a game when your stuck and you tell me your finger nails have to be trimmed, and I have to be nice because I might need you to do another game.

Oh, and I forgot about the wife and family actually haveing the nerve to ask me to take time to even speak to them.

Lets See, $3.00/hr would probably equal my pay. Hell, I made a lot more officiating the games, that I used to have time to do.

Your enjoying the moment more than you realize.