Patrick

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

wrt "I just wish ASA would pick one uniform and stick with it."
That would be great if all sanctions could agree on one uniform and more importantly, stop changing it every time they get a chance. Even if some NCAA umpires make enough to pay for extra uniforms, most have more useful purposes for it and some actually need the income. I really don't care what color or what uniform we wear and I'm certainly not concerned about what color shirt looks more fashionable with what color pants. The point is it being uniform and "uniform" means same. If we all wore the same, then the uniformity would be apparent and the players and coaches would accept not only our appearance, but our consistency as well. We are on the field to work, not model. I'm really tired of buying and maintaining multiple "sets of clothes"; then having to replace them all every time some manufacturer takes a bigwig out to lunch in Oklahoma City or Indianapolis.
BTW, anyone who thinks the MLB umps look cool, with their white swoop shoes and non-matching jackets, should not have a say in what we wear.

Also, it is the fabric and not the color that makes the most difference.

Personally, as an ASA umpire, I don't give a damn what you wear for other sanctioning bodies. It is not my responsibility, nor should it be at my expense, to carry additional uniforms because YOU want to work other games sanctioned by other associations.

Just recently, as a UIC, I set a uniform for a tournament. In spite of my personal opinion, I allowed for powder over navy and navy over gray. I made this known to all selected umpires and specifically asked all to inform me if they did not have any part of the optional uniforms.

The only response was from one umpire who did not have a navy shirt and asked if he should buy one. I strongly suggested he contact other umpires to borrow a shirt. He did not know any umpires with a navy shirt, so he purchased one.

Come the tournament when asked about uniform availability, two or three informed me they did not have gray pants. I had no choice, but to discount the use of anything other than powder over gray. I was not impressed that those umpires did not just answer my question so I could inform the others. Meanwhile, this umpire purchase a shirt for which he has no use.

Again, I'm referring to ASA softball. I don't give a damn what other associations do. ASA umpires should not be responsible to adjust to benefit others who choose to work the games of another sanctioning body.

[Dakota]

While the principle of your point is well taken, you are looking at this at the wrong level. The motivation is driven by local leagues, etc., needing to attract umpires.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Dakota

While the principle of your point is well taken, you are looking at this at the wrong level. The motivation is driven by local leagues, etc., needing to attract umpires.

Actually, I'm referring to all facets. The incident to which I referred was a national, not a local friendly. Then again, the HS & college games in this area pay good enough to afford whatever uniform is necessary.

Speaking of motivation, would not the expense of multiple uniforms actually make it more difficult to get umpires to register and/or attempt to move up the ladder?

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Actually, I'm referring to all facets. The incident to which I referred was a national, not a local friendly. Then again, the HS & college games in this area pay good enough to afford whatever uniform is necessary.

Speaking of motivation, would not the expense of multiple uniforms actually make it more difficult to get umpires to register and/or attempt to move up the ladder?

In my view, there is no excuse, other than laziness, for an umpire to show up at any game assignment (let alone an ASA national fer cryin' out loud) without the required uniform(s). If they can't afford the proper and required uniform parts (ALL of them), then they should decline the assignment. The very least would be to communicate the problem in advance; your umpires did not even do that (even though you asked). I assume this was properly reflected in their evaluations.

I agree with you that there is no need for ASA to allow multiple uniform combinations as full-fledged ASA National Championship Finals to accomodate the uniforms the possible umpire pool owns. ASA should set the uniform standard for those tournaments based on the image they want to put forward for their umpires, and require umpires to obtain the proper uniform, or go home.

However, for the so-called "regional nationals", the story is different. The umpire pool for these is (by my experience) almost exclusively local. For those, the tournament UIC needs the flexibility (I would think) to ensure he has the games covered with qualified umpires.

On a personal level, I'm with Steve - I spend the money necessary to have the proper uniforms and to keep them looking professional. AFA in my area allows either black or gray shirts. They prefer black non-logoed hats and black non-logoed ball bags, but they allow navy blue for both hats and bags to accomodate local umpires. So, when I do AFA tournaments locally, I have in my kit all combinations, so I can match whatever my partner shows up with.

[bigsig]

Wow. I’m pretty new at this (4 Years ASA) and didn’t know about all the different uniforms. Here, ASA, NFHS, and PONY all use navy pants and light blue shirts. The only difference is the ASA logo on their light blue shirts. Even with that, I have 4 pants and 3 of each shirt just to make sure.

I’m going to another region’s NUS (ours doesn’t have one scheduled this year). Will I have to buy the gray pants just for a 2 day school?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by bigsig

I’m going to another region’s NUS (ours doesn’t have one scheduled this year). Will I have to buy the gray pants just for a 2 day school?

You might want to give them a call and find out before you mail them a check.

[Steve M]

I'm one of those guys who work multiple sanctioning bodies. I think I'm coming to the opinion that I'd like to see a separate uniform for each. I wear the navy trousers for college and ASA. I wear gray trousers for everyone else - and that includes college, high school, ASA, PONY, and a few baseball groups.
I spend whatever it takes to have good looking uniforms - that's got to be the easiest high mark on any evaluation as I'm in complete control of that.
I did a high school state final one year where one of the umps didn't bother to spend to have a good looking uniform. One of the comments that was made was how could everything else with his appearance look so bad and his shirt look brand new - it's because I loaned him one of my shirts.
My choice be given, I prefer the navy pants. I don't care whether the grays are cooler. When you sweat the way I do, gray pants become two-tone - and that detracts from the appearance. The navy does not show that. Both show dust/dirt equally.
I was at that national Mike uic'd. You should have heard the annoyance (another word for whining) over only having one uniform because not everyone there could meet the standard for two uniforms. I was annoyed - I had taken the time to carry uniforms to the dressing room that I couldn't use - let's call that wasted tiem...... Mike's saying he was not impressed is just a bit of an understatement.

btw Cecil - Folks umpiring NCAA games are making well over $100 per double header, sometimes even over $200. While not well-paid when compared to football or basketball, that's not a bad extra inclome. In my case, I'm taking vacation time, so I get my regular paycheck in addition to the college & high school fees. We can afford different uniforms that used by high school umps - and personally, I want to look different than a high school ump when I'm working a college game.