Umpire Ethics
 

Question about Umpire Ethics.

I umpire for an organization that services three different high school leagues, consisting of 28 different high schools. For the most part each high school has 3 different levels: Frosh, JV and Varsity. This year my son will be playing Frosh ball for one of these high schools.

Here’s my question: Where should I draw the line on the games I umpire?

1. Obviously, I won’t umpire any games my son’s frosh team plays; and

2. I’m convinced I shouldn’t umpire other frosh games in the same league as my son’s team.

But can I do JV and Varsity games for my son’s school? What about JV and Varsity games not involving my son’s school but that are in my son’s school’s league? Any other restrictions that I should self-impose? :confused:

Around here, that would be considered overkill of the highest degree.

I would just tell your assignor the facts and let him give you input. In my case, my son didn't play on the team but my assignors had no problem with me working that school's games at the middle school or JV level. Varsity would be a different story, just for appearance's sake, but it was a non-issue sub-varsity. And if I didn't work the entire league, 3/4th's of my schedule would disappear.

BS....Talk to our assignor as Scrooge has also advised you to do. I had a similar issue last year with my daughter playing and doing sports med. I spoke with the L man about it. You should do the same. He'll probably advise you to block that school at the frosh level but not JV/V and certainly not the whole league.

That's what I would do, too.

Around here I guarantee you'd run into at least one date where you'd be called into duty on the FR game (with your kid playing) because they're short an umpire at the last minute. And the other coach wouldn't care, either. Of course here the game can't start with fewer than 2 umpires, so it's occasionally a problem.

Stay away from the Varsity. The rest shouldn't matter. I wouldn't WANT to officiate a game in which my child is playing. At varsity and above, it would also be unethical.

Our HS school chapter has us sign a Conflict of Interest disclosure. If we have a child attending, playing, employee of, or vested interest in any school that we provide services for, the umpire will not be assigned to any game for that school regardless of level. We have several umpires that are on school boards and they don't do that school's games either.

If you had a child attending or playing, we don't assign that umpire to that school's games for two years after the child has left the school.

Although we don't have a formal disclosure statement, our policy is basically the same.

I spoke to my assigner back when my son was playing ball. I did not do any games that involved his HS. The district is okay but I would stay away from the school itself.

"If you had a child attending or playing, we don't assign that umpire to that school's games for two years after the child has left the school."

Seriously? Wow.

JJ

Sounds like overkill but this might be their solution to a previously perceived problem.

Here in my state the school can be fined if they use an umpire with familial ties to the school. For example, my son is a freshman so I am not permitted to officiate any boys sports that his school is involved in. I can do girls but not boys.

For those wondering why the school gets a fine, it is because the school gets to choose which association they want officiating their games. We have an instance in baseball where one of the schools wants to use a competing association...problem is, that association only has 2 local umpires and one is a brother of the coach. So they can either pay travel for out of town officials or use our organazation...or pay $1600 in fines.

Not to hijack the thread, but it's kind of related. Is it a conflict of interest in your opinions to umpire exclusively for the district you graduated from?

Why would you want to do that? What's wrong with the other districts?

I don't view it so much as a conflict of interest. Rather, it's another example of an umpire making demands on which games he/she works, and I'm not too fond of that. It's one thing to establish limits based upon distances so an official doesn't have to travel so far to do games. But to single out certain schools or districts makes things harder on the assignor and, quite frankly, keeps other umpires from working games they would like to work.

I get games directly from the AD. I started out umpiring summer baseball here. The baseball coach runs the summer rec program. With my work schedule, it's tough for me as is to make it to a 4:45 game reasonably ahead of time.

That's not to say I'd never work for a different district if the opportunity was there and I could do it.

When did you graduate?

And, I wouldn't want to be at the same field more than twice per scholastic season, or see the same team more than three or four times -- so working only for one district is going to really restrict your schedule.

I agree with this advice. If you try to pick and choose which schools and divisions to block on your own, you'll end up limiting your availability at the detriment of your association.

Your assignor has (or should have) a good feel for the lay of the land with respect to athletic directors and coaches, and how amenable they are to accepting umpires. There may be a couple of very anal coaches who will do their homework on scheduled umpires, while there may be others who are happy with any umpire that has a reasonable level of skill, and yet others who are satisfied with two warm bodies in blue. Why take away opportunities to work games where the coaches don't care who is on the field?

What I wouldn't do is make it apparent that you have some affiliation with a school that can be perceived as a problem. You certainly wouldn't want to be quite vocal at your kid's game against Notre Dame Prep School, and then be the plate umpire for NDPS's next game.

Seven years ago.

I would say that is sufficient time so the fact that you graduated is not a conflict.

Working only for one district might be.

If you're doing below varsity it simply doesn't matter. Load up.

Same thinking in my neighboring state. Many schools hire the same two umpires for the entire JV or freshman schedule and those umpires frequently live in town. Nobody bats an eye.

I'm not sure how many different umpires he uses. As of now I only have five Frosh and a JV.

I suggest you block out dates when your son plays and enjoy watching games from the bleachers. Let your assignor know why you have so many block out dates. And then leave it to him to assign your games when you are available.

I doubt he would block you from the same school's JV and Varsity games. Of course this assumes your son's games are not on the same days, and if so you have a choice to make.

IMHO, sub-varsity is irrelevant.

I used to do all the sub-varsity football at a certain HS.

I did so much, I got a 1099 most years.

I also worked a JV football game with the Superintendent of the home school!

Noone batted an eye.

Depends...
 

I would definitely stay clear of the school altogether. In my area, it's almost impossible to avoid the entire conference.
Yet here's a little bit different twist - I went to a catholic school where the team spirit was above average. Generations of families are tied to this school to the point that if I run into someone to this day, in any aspect of life, there's an immediate connection (#brotherhood) that's worthy of brownie points...(discounts, extra pepperoni, keychains, etc).
I stuck around for 2 years after I graduated as a manager/assistant for the basketball team. I began officiating basketball, then eventually softball & baseball because of my coach.
As time went on, things change, politics play their role and coach is no longer at my alma mater. He hasn't been there since about 8 years ago...
I was class of 96... I had NEVER been assigned or worked any sport there until this season, 2013. ALTHOUGH I know I am fully capable of exercising fair discretion. (and I have filled in on games at the last minute... with no issues).
I still to this day remain in contact with my coach and his family.
It's not that I don't have the integrity, it's that the reputation of others' affects what is perceived of me.

Better safe than out.
(Unless you're us, then the faster the outs, the sooner we're done.)