Why do you umpire?

Skahtboi

Just curious........

Dutch Alex

Scott,

I think you've forgotten an option:
Give the sport something back, it gave to me.

JEL

Can't vote.

The reason I do it is because I enjoy it. That option wasn't given!

>>For the good of the game.<<
The game would be good with or without me! although I do try and help.
>>For "the girls;" players.<<
This could get a maybe, but there are men in the game too!
>>Money. I have a lot of debts.<<
Really have no debts. I will stop umpiring after my first million though!
>>Power. I like the control!<<
Not really. With power comes confrontation at times.
>>Exercise. Have you seen my waistline?<<
I haven't had a waistline in 30 years!
>>Comfort. I like putting on the uni and going through the motions.<<
I could think of more comfortable options.
>>I have absolutely nothing better to do with my time.<<
Nope, just had first grandchild! Nothing better than playing with her!
>>It gets me out of doing all of those "honey do's" on the weekend.<<
Honey calls with me on the weekends!

Actually, if I was forced to choose from the list, it would have to be for the good of the game, but to me it is simply enjoying!

MD Longhorn

Can I just answer ALL BUT D.

Skahtboi

Dutch Alex wrote
Scott,

I think you've forgotten an option:
Give the sport something back, it gave to me.

I see that as "for the game" myself.

Skahtboi

JEL wrote
>>For "the girls;" players.<<
This could get a maybe, but there are men in the game too!

The quote "for the girls" is from another thread on this board, the one that gave me the idea for the poll. (Tongue in cheek though it may be.) I added the word "players" to encompass all who play the game. Sorry that wasn't clearer.

Welpe

mbcrowder wrote
Can I just answer ALL BUT D.

But "D" is the most fun.

Just kidding...put the stones away folks. 😮

7in60

All of the above.

The money is probably the #1 benefit. It pays for everything that falls under the category of summer fun.

I am off every July-Aug so it gives some structure to my days (nights).

Umpiring has become more fun this year (my 6th) as my confidence level and mechanics took a significant jump.

I do give back by working charity tournaments, performing evaluations and instructing.

And who doesn't love working with the girls? A team in a tournament 2 weeks ago announced that they didn't wear underwear. I offered to be their personal umpire.

NCASAUmp

Dutch Alex wrote
Scott,

I think you've forgotten an option:
Give the sport something back, it gave to me.

I agree, Alex! That's exactly why I started umpiring.

Why do I keep umpiring? Good exercise, fun times, gives me a good challenge to keep pushing myself to becoming better at something, good service to the sport... Lots of reasons, really.

But mostly... I'm just friggin' addicted to it. I'm hooked. It's in my blood, and that's just that!

Dutch Alex

Skahtboi wrote
I see that as "for the game" myself.

Scott,

"For the good of the game" means "I love this game so much, I won't stay out of it" to me. I was fortunate as a player to be part of one TOP-team in Holland. So I was able to have some great European Cup-tournaments. Gratefull to the sport and my former club I decided to umpire for a while after I (had to) quit as a player.
So I still think I can't vote...

Rachel

I was an athlete. I loved competition and the intensity of the game. I never got that as a coach (20 years) but I did as an umpire. I am on the field. I make a difference. It seems I spend at least 1/3rd of what I make on training and equipment but it is worth it when I get to point to the pitcher and say "play ball".

NCASAUmp

Rachel wrote
I still am an athlete. I loved competition and the intensity of the game. I never got that as a coach (20 years) but I did as an umpire. I am on the field. I make a difference. It seems I spend at least 1/3rd of what I make on training and equipment but it is worth it when I get to point to the pitcher and say "play ball".

Fixed it for you. 😀

I dare assert that to do our job well, there's still an amount of athleticism involved. Sure, some of us have the pot belly, but we're still hustling on every play of the game, not just half the time like those other people on the field.

Skahtboi

Looks like there is a wide variety of reasons for umpiring represented on this board!

Dutch Alex

Skahtboi wrote
Looks like there is a wide variety of reasons for umpiring represented on this board!

I hope you're sinical; otherwise there's something completely wrong with your capacity in math and statistics...:o

Skahtboi

Dutch Alex wrote
I hope you're sinical; otherwise there's something completely wrong with your capacity in math and statistics...:o

Sadly Sander, and our mutual friend Larry W. will back me up on this, I am frequently, and at the most odd of times, cynical! 😉

Skahtboi

But to clarify, Sander, I was speaking more of the range of the data than of the mean of the data.

NCASAUmp

Skahtboi wrote
Sadly Sander, and our mutual friend Larry W. will back me up on this, I am frequently, and at the most odd of times, cynical! 😉

Skahtboi needs a hug. 😀

gdc25

I read this post when it first appeared and have been thinking about it ever since. (Warning, this is long and probably a little mundane to everybody but me.)

When I first started umpiring (ASA Slow Pitch) it was to help purchase diapers and food for our then newborn son. After that need was gone, it was to support my then habit of playing every weekend. So at the beginning it was for the money. A little later on, I realized that I was essentially being paid to watch a game that otherwise I would be either sitting in a lawn chair or on bleacher watching anyway and the "seat" was pretty much the best one in the place. Again, still for the money but, I see "love of the game" peeking its head in there as well. However, at this time I was still “that guy” that just paid his ASA sanction fee every year, bought a shirt/hat and went through the motions.

Then I found myself keeping score at a State tournament observing the officials thinking… “I could do that, at least as well they are.” I must have at one point said this out loud because just a year later I received a phone call from an officer in our region (state) saying that they needed somebody to work the Men’s “B” state and was I available. I went, reluctantly, and as they say “the rest is history”. I was hooked.

Although I don’t work the same number of league games that I did back when I was “in it for the money” I do work a regular weekly schedule. The difference is that I now work as many State Championship level games as I can, whether as the tournament UIC or on the umpiring staff. I’m also on our states training staff.

So, after all of that why do I umpire?

Is it for the good of the game? Maybe. Looking at it from a distance I’d say that this guy saw a need for competent umpires and took action.

Is it for the players? Isn’t this and “good of the game” synonymous?

Is it for the money? I’d say that even today, yes. Working games gives me the $$ to go to clinics/schools and keep my uniform up to date which in turn allows me to improve my abilities.

Is it for the power? With the exception of the coach at Nationals this year that, after being asked for the umpteenth time to get his team in the dugout, told me that it was indeed all about me. I’d say that most people that know me would answer no to this one.

Is it for the Exercise? Not singularly, but running a bit during the summer isn’t going to hurt.

Is it for the comfort? I do like the way an ASA uniform feels so yeah, why not?

Nothing better to do with my time? Let’s see… that boy that needed diapers is now a Sr. in High School and is on the High School Tennis, Bowling and Baseball teams as well as being in the Marching Band. So I’d give this one a definitive NO.

Does it get me out of those honey do’s? this one made me laugh just a little.

"Why do I umpire"... sorry for the long reply, but I guess it's just because I friggin' love it...

Skahtboi

gdc25 wrote
I read this post when it first appeared and have been thinking about it ever since. (Warning, this is long and probably a little mundane to everybody but me.)

When I first started umpiring (ASA Slow Pitch) it was to help purchase diapers and food for our then newborn son. After that need was gone, it was to support my then habit of playing every weekend. So at the beginning it was for the money. A little later on, I realized that I was essentially being paid to watch a game that otherwise I would be either sitting in a lawn chair or on bleacher watching anyway and the "seat" was pretty much the best one in the place. Again, still for the money but, I see "love of the game" peeking its head in there as well. However, at this time I was still “that guy” that just paid his ASA sanction fee every year, bought a shirt/hat and went through the motions.

Then I found myself keeping score at a State tournament observing the officials thinking… “I could do that, at least as well they are.” I must have at one point said this out loud because just a year later I received a phone call from an officer in our region (state) saying that they needed somebody to work the Men’s “B” state and was I available. I went, reluctantly, and as they say “the rest is history”. I was hooked.

Although I don’t work the same number of league games that I did back when I was “in it for the money” I do work a regular weekly schedule. The difference is that I now work as many State Championship level games as I can, whether as the tournament UIC or on the umpiring staff. I’m also on our states training staff.

So, after all of that why do I umpire?

Is it for the good of the game? Maybe. Looking at it from a distance I’d say that this guy saw a need for competent umpires and took action.

Is it for the players? Isn’t this and “good of the game” synonymous?

Is it for the money? I’d say that even today, yes. Working games gives me the $$ to go to clinics/schools and keep my uniform up to date which in turn allows me to improve my abilities.

Is it for the power? With the exception of the coach at Nationals this year that, after being asked for the umpteenth time to get his team in the dugout, told me that it was indeed all about me. I’d say that most people that know me would answer no to this one.

Is it for the Exercise? Not singularly, but running a bit during the summer isn’t going to hurt.

Is it for the comfort? I do like the way an ASA uniform feels so yeah, why not?

Nothing better to do with my time? Let’s see… that boy that needed diapers is now a Sr. in High School and is on the High School Tennis, Bowling and Baseball teams as well as being in the Marching Band. So I’d give this one a definitive NO.

Does it get me out of those honey do’s? this one made me laugh just a little.

"Why do I umpire"... sorry for the long reply, but I guess it's just because I friggin' love it...

Nice.