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Fri Sep 22, 2006, 02:09pm
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How far do you go?
I was wondering how much travel other umpires are willing to make for their assignments. Here in New England, things are pretty close together so, even for college, 100 miles one way is a pretty big, and uncommon trip. For rec ball, I get the blank stare when I tell people I drive 45 miles for an evening double header. How far do you have to go for regular assignments where things are a little more spread out?
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Wade Ireland Softball Umpire 
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Fri Sep 22, 2006, 03:36pm
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I live in central NJ. I just got an e-mail asking whether I want to umpire an October college tournament in Lowell, Massachusetts.
Before I decide, I'm checking to see whether they will reimburse first-class air travel, although with the airport situation today, I'm sure I'd end up in handcuffs for something in my equipment bag. For college games, I routinely travel all over the enormous Garden State. Next year, however, I'm going to take back roads and avoid the turnpike and the parkway. Rumor has it that a certain former governor is trolling the rest stops again.
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greymule More whiskey—and fresh horses for my men! Roll Tide!
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Fri Sep 22, 2006, 07:00pm
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Quote:
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The bat issue in softball is as much about liability, insurance and litigation as it is about competition, inflated egos and softball.
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Fri Sep 22, 2006, 07:39pm
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For high school ball, I'll try to limit trips to 50 miles one way. Last year, I covered a game that was further, but that was filling in for friend who had a sudden problem.
College games are within 130 miles and sometimes I'll get back-to-back dates at a school & they'll put me up in a hotel. Summer tournaments are within 120 miles - if they're taking care of the hotel and throwing in some gas money. If there's no hotel, then the trips need to be less than 50 miles. If I'm going to tie up a weekend, I need to be able to walk away with $240 after my expenses (before taxes are set aside). I do have a couple of summer tournaments that are over 250 miles away, but I'm able to use those for a visit to family or a weekend getaway.
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Steve M
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Fri Sep 22, 2006, 08:32pm
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For HS our board has contracts with high schools in about a 30-40 mile radius. College is a little different. We have some schools that are as much as 4 hours away. Our assigner tries to schedule a double-header on the way up and another on the way back. That way, with three double-headers it's worth the drive.
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Larry Ledbetter NFHS, NCAA, NAIA The best part about beating your head against the wall is it feels so good when you stop.
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Mon Sep 25, 2006, 04:16am
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Here in the Netherlands, we cover the entire country. So my max. driving distance will be about 200 km (one way). For the evening games (mon - fri) I've set a max. distance on 50 km.
I got to go to work at 06:00h, so rise at 05:00h. When my game ends at 22:00h and I've to drive about 200 km back home it will be after midnight... (and have a very short nightrest) I love to umpire, but my work ensures me to feed my family!
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Sander Ik ben niet gek, doe alleen alsof! Gaat me goed af toch?
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Mon Sep 25, 2006, 09:31am
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Scott It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to have to paint it.
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Mon Sep 25, 2006, 11:34am
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Well, I live in a major metropolitan area.
Even though the metro area is very spread out, our assignors do their best to keep us close. For HS ball, we have divided the metro area into six different parts and try to assign umpires either in the area they live and/or work or an adjacent area. For me, most trips from work are between 2-20 miles. We receive a $7.00 mileage fee for any game in the metro area. There are a few schools we cover about 30 miles outside the metro area that pay mileage at a certain amount per mile. I don't remember the exact amount, but it works out to more than the $7.00. I also umpire in a statewide JC league, most of the schools are in the same metro area that I live, the closest school is about 5 miles from home, the farthest is about 50 miles away. These games are always doubleheaders, so I don't worry about the long trips too much. For ASA and other tournament ball, there are facilities all over the valley, anywhere from 2 miles to 50 miles away. If I have to go more than about 20 -25 miles, I ask for more than 2 games that day to make it worth the drive. I have attended the occasional tournaments outside the area, some as close as 100 miles away, some as far as 600 miles away. Sometimes I will take my family or my wife and make a mini-vacation out of it.
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It's what you learn after you think you know it all that's important!
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Mon Sep 25, 2006, 01:25pm
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It's been years since I travelled more than an hour's drive to umpire a game. Obviously if you are chosen for a national or a provincial championship here in Canada, it will likely require significant travel. Most nights I'm home in time to watch Jay Leno's monologue.
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Mon Sep 25, 2006, 02:02pm
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Well, this past Saturday:
11 miles from my house to the first double-header at 8am. $46. (18-Gold) Then 52 miles to the second double header at 1:30pm. Free. (CC Evals) Then 52 miles back to the first site for the 3rd doubleheader at 7pm. Another $46. (18-Gold) Then the 11 miles back to home. 126 miles, 6 games, $92. A softball wh0re. 
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We see with our eyes. Fans and parents see with their hearts.
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Mon Sep 25, 2006, 07:22pm
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Quote:
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Larry Ledbetter NFHS, NCAA, NAIA The best part about beating your head against the wall is it feels so good when you stop.
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Tue Sep 26, 2006, 10:35am
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Quote:
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We see with our eyes. Fans and parents see with their hearts.
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