Scheduling Software
 

Hi there all you blues (ASA, NFHS), reds (USSSA) and whites (NSA),

Our association, which umpires all the above, is looking into using some kind of scheduling software. Do any of you have any experience with such a program? If so which one and how much do it cost?

Thanks
Bugg

About the best thing going is The Arbiter, an online service. (They used to manufacture software, but decided this was the best way to provide service to their customers...i.e update...etc.) You can find them, and test drive them, at www.thearbiter.net.

By the way, in some parts of the country USSSA are Blues too, since USSSA started offering the powder blue and navy shirts. (Also cream, black and red)

My fed assoc also uses the arbiter - i think its awesome.

IMO, Arbiter is #1 hands down. We have used it for three years; schedule 4,000+ games for 200 H.S. BB and SB umpires in minutes.

Before switching to the on-line version we went back into the market and tested and evaluated several other packages. None come close.

If the majority of your members have computers this system will save you a lot of postage and phone bills. The AD can go on-line and enters a newly scheduled game. The Assignor is aware of it and the system will tell him what level of umpire is needed, who is available, and who is due to get the next assignment. When he assigns that game the system automatically emails the umpire. The umpires gets on-line and sees the game, date, time, location, opponent, and partner. If necessary, he has access to partner's phone and email and the AD or secretarys phone and even a map to the school's field. If he decides to accept the game, he can print out a new schedule with all his games listed.

It is a great tool for a big association with a lot of games, or an assignor that covers a lot of leagues. If you only have a few members or schedule only one league, then a spreadsheet is still probably the best answer.

WMB