Best piece of umpiring advice ever given
 

Saw this question on another board (volleyball) and it made me wonder about the answers in the Softball world.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever gotten about officiating? What is something that you have taken to heart and has helped you along the way? Also since a lot of you have been mentors of younger umpires, what is some advice you have given that you have see make a huge impact on up and coming umpires?

The single best piece of advice regarding officiating any sport is in my signature line.

When I started as an official (basketball) 20-some years ago, I thought that I was the man after about two to three years. I knew the rules, I knew the mechanics, I knew the signals, I always made sure my uniform looked sharp.

An older official told me that every good official did those things - what seperates them from that point on is the little things you learn that help you look better and see things on the court better.

Since then, I have always strived to keep learning and trying to get better.

Slow down. Work on your timing. It makes all the difference int he world.

Know the rules.

People play the game. Treat them with respect even when the don't do it to you. You feel better, almost everyone else will see you as the better person and it will reap dividends the longer you umpire. They remember you down the road for your good acts.

in addition....know how to apply the rules

Dont take abuse, but also dont take complaints personal. Its the uniform, not you....
Keep emotions out of it, make calls/rulings with proper mechanics, deal with the situation with professionism....

Two things from my first mentor:

"If you aren't enjoying yourself, you're doing something wrong."

"First base coaches always signal SAFE." :cool:

Early in the game, assert your authority and prove that you know what you're doing by throwing some seldom-called technicality at somebody, especially some violation that nobody in the park sees but you. Examples:

1. "Coach, you have to have both feet in the box."
2. "Illegal pitch. The foot was slightly off the ground."
3. "Batter, you stepped out of the box. That's strike 3. You're out."
4. "Runner, in repositioning your foot, you momentarily lost contact with the bag. You're out on the look-back rule."

This always works for me.

On bases, hustle to get the right angle, see the play develop, and take your time making the call.

On the dish, YOU set the tempo of the game, so don't rush your calls.

And, of course, know the rules!!!!

It's nothing until you make the call.

Therefore implying that you need to replay everything you see in your mind before making said call...

When I moved over to softball, the first words out of the instructors mouth were, "No matter what happens or what you hear, don't ever lend money to B.... ........." (name omitted to protect......ME, from a lawsuit).

However, best advice in the world!

All great ways of looking for trouble. Why not just bait a coach or player early in the game and then give them the 'ol heave ho. Everyone will see your "authority".

Brother, I believe it's called "sarcasm"...

:D

Slow down. During my first national tournament I had a play at 2nd base. I hesitated, pointed to the tag and was just about ready to call the runner out when I saw the ball on the ground, then I came up with the safe sign. The UIC commented to me about how well I looked on that play; never told him I was going to call him out, but it did reenforced the concept of slowing down and seeing the whole play.

Look out... I don't think it was the coach that was baited! :eek: ;)

I know, I'm looking for the bait and switcherooooo.;)

Always remember, you get paid by the out and never, ever forget, tie base goes to the umpire.

*awaits response by MichaelVA2000*

:D

Excellent switcherooooo.

THANKS!!

I mean I've never been a MiLB scab or anything, but I do my best to keep up with you pros.

:cool:
:D

You're welcome!!

Do what you need to do.

You donate your time to umpiring?:confused:

I agree whole heartedly on the timing of your calls. When I began doing this as a college kid in 1957, calling intramural ball, I thought you had to be quick and decisive. After a few "out/safe" calls and other messes I got myself in--I began to learn slow it down.

well actually.. much time is in fact donated (although no I dont work games for free).. umpiring is like the Army jody... "give you a 100 dollars and take back 99"

Jody Calls (http://www.geocities.com/mcleanjrotc...20The%20Mornin)

When I Get To Heaven
When I get to heaven,
Saint Peter's gonna say,
How'd you earn your money,
How'd you earn your way?
How'd you get to heaven,
How'd you get your wings?
With a little bit of anger,
This is what I'll say.
Earned my way as an
Airborne Ranger.
Livin' a life of Guts and Danger,
Blood, Sweat, Guts, and Danger.
That's the way, of an
Airborne Ranger.

When I began doing this as a college kid in 1957, calling intramural ball, I thought you had to be quick and decisive.

I did too, but we didn't simply make up such mechanics. Before some point in mid/late-1960s, MLB umpires called strikes before they hit the mitt, and made out calls practically instantaneously. Films from those days show umpire mechanics quite different from today's. They made many calls at 1B, for example, from just on the foul side of the running lane, a foot or two past the bag.

After many years and zillions of games, I still have to remind myself to wait.

The whole business of actually S-L-O-W-I-N-G D-O-W-N your calls can be directly traced to Doug Harvey sometime in the mid 60's - a fact most of the idiots on the baseball HOF Vets Committee do NOT understand...I seriously think a letter writing campaign by ALL sports officials is necessary...

On what would have been the last out of the 1963 World Series, with the Yankees trailing the Dodgers 2-1 in the 9th, Tom Gorman, with one of those immediate calls, banged Bobby Richardson out on a force at 2B, even though Richardson's slide had beaten Maury Wills's in-the-dirt throw and Dick Tracewski had never come up with the ball in the first place.

After Gorman saw the ball rolling away from 2B, he reversed his call to safe.

Though the highlight narrator ignored the issue, it's interesting to see Richardson clearly hold his palms out toward Gorman as if to say, "What in the world are you calling?"