Gaining 3 person mechanics experience

[argodad]

We do a similar thing in our HS association. We encourage all of our post-season recommended umpires to work in some 3-person games before we get to district playoffs. It requires some sacrifices [especially with the gas prices I paid this morning ] but it pays off in comfort when the playoffs arrive.

[BretMan]

Dave,

You saw the three-man demonstration in the gym at the NUS. It lasted a good fifteen minutes.

You should be an expert by now!

[azbigdawg]

Go find a fairly decent Mens SP game... or double or triple header...and work it 3-man....LOTS of Rotations, etc....

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by azbigdawg

Go find a fairly decent Mens SP game... or double or triple header...and work it 3-man....LOTS of Rotations, etc....

At first, work them WITHOUT going out on fly balls, since you already know how to work a two-umpire game.

[Skahtboi]

Different areas seem to provide different opportunities. For example, the Lone Star conference (NCAA DII) use nothing but three person crews now. I know that there are some others, as well.

Also, here, HS use primarily three man, and in some cases four man, crews for their playoffs. There are some who are happy with two man crews, but they are far and away the minority. Also, every weekend tournament in this area uses three person crews for the consolation game and the championship. So, if you lived in north Texas, those would be your opportunities to get experience in three man mechanics.

Sometimes, during scrimmages at the first season, where we don't get paid, some of us will work 3 man just for fun.

[argodad]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

Different areas seem to provide different opportunities. For example, the Lone Star conference (NCAA DII) use nothing but three person crews now. I know that there are some others, as well.

Also, here, HS use primarily three man, and in some cases four man, crews for their playoffs. There are some who are happy with two man crews, but they are far and away the minority. Also, every weekend tournament in this area uses three person crews for the consolation game and the championship. So, if you lived in north Texas, those would be your opportunities to get experience in three man mechanics.

It's definitely area-dependent ... and umpire numbers and program budgets certainly are factors. My partner last night had worked the Florida-Florida State doubleheader the night before. I asked her who else was on the crew and she told me that they worked two-person! FSU only pays for two umpires for non-conference games ... even for a rivalry game like Gators-Seminoles!

[SRW]

We basically say to our crew that if they want post-season playoffs, state tournaments, ASA nationals, etc, then part of the reward of attaining those goals is the sacrifice made during the season working 3-man for free or reduced game fees. We actually have 1 or 2 weekend tournaments each year where it's expected that anyone who wants to be considered for post-season has to come work for free. The game fees then go to our overall hospitality fund and for paying our evaluators to sit all day and write up evaluations (they get one third of a game fee for each game evaluated), and we put on a big feed for the tournament. In 2006, we had about $1,200 from one of our "evaluation tournaments" from the game fees that went towards umpire hospitality for the ASA/USA 16-A FP National.

Personally I like it. I jump on a 3-man game whenever I can.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by SRW

We basically say to our crew that if they want post-season playoffs, state tournaments, ASA nationals, etc, then part of the reward of attaining those goals is the sacrifice made during the season working 3-man for free or reduced game fees. We actually have 1 or 2 weekend tournaments each year where it's expected that anyone who wants to be considered for post-season has to come work for free. The game fees then go to our overall hospitality fund and for paying our evaluators to sit all day and write up evaluations (they get one third of a game fee for each game evaluated), and we put on a big feed for the tournament. In 2006, we had about $1,200 from one of our "evaluation tournaments" from the game fees that went towards umpire hospitality for the ASA/USA 16-A FP National.

Personally I like it. I jump on a 3-man game whenever I can.

1/3 of a game fee for each person evaluated? Wow. Here we just get $25.00 per day/night. No matter how many you evals you do.

I do like the idea of a three man tournament required to work playoffs. I wonder if my board will accept that idea. Currently we are required to attend a 3 man mechanics clinic to be eligible for play-offs. I like the idea of rt work better.