When Are Umps Supposed to Arrive?

[tcarilli]

NCAA 3-6-a Note: Umpires should arrive at the game site at least 60 minutes before game time and notify the home team. Umpires, and the home team coach, should have a current NCAA rules book available at the game site.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

For college games, the umpires are required to check in with the coaches an hour before the game. Sometimes they want us to rub up a dozen baseballs. Then we have a thorough pre-game, suiting up and some stretching to do. By rule, the plate meeting is conducted ten minutes before game time and since it is never a good idea to park right next to the field, there is usually a five-minute walk to the field. That hour is pretty much used up. If you show up 59 minutes before game time, you are late.

That's an NCAA requirement. MD was talking about an assignor's requirement for, which I assume, games that are not under NCAA. If they were NCAA games, he wouldn't have painted this as an assignor's standard. And, Yes, I do arrive an hour before game time for college (softball) games.

Anything else, I typically show up between 30 to 45 minutes before game start. I've got plenty of time to suit up and stretch while doing a good pre-game with my partner (no need to do these sequentially), walk to the field, check equipment, and conduct my plate conference.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Manny A

What's his rationale for the one-hour requirement? Does he want you to pull out the shoe-shine kit and the travel iron to get your uniform ready? Geez...

For clarification's sake...

I have only worked for this assignor during tournaments... I have no idea if she relaxes this requirement for mid-week league ball games.

Her rationale is so that an hour before the games start she can see who is not there. She'll call you ONCE - if you don't answer, she has time to find someone else and get them there and dressed before game time. Not saying I agree or disagree - it is what it is. When in Rome...

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

I absolutely HATE having to rush to a game and arriving 10 minutes before the game and rushing onto the field. My experience has been that games tend to go bad when that happens.

I agree with this 100%. I hate it more when it's partner that shows up mostly dressed 5 minutes before game time. I know that it's THAT guy who is going to miss something ... or hang out near first base while I'm dealing with both sides of a 3B/HP run-down, etc.