How is your onsite umpire scheduling done?
 

I was curious as to the systems used for your onsite scheduling for regular tournaments (not championships, just regular friendlies/showcases/tournaments.)

IE
FOr our area the scheduling is usually as follows:

1:30 between games
3 Umpires to a field.
Rotating as

Plate Umpire
Base Umpire
Off


So a typical field schedule would look like

Game 1
PU: Able
BU: Brian (Charlie is off)

Game 2
PU: Charlie
BU: Able (brian is off)

Game 3
PU: Brian
BU: Charlie (able is off)

and so on throughout the day.. usually on Saturdays that rotation would go on from 8 am to 8 pm.

How is it done in your area?

Pretty much the same way. There are some around here who use nothing but a one on one off system of scheduling, which really helps to keep you from wearing yourself out, though. A sample of this system would be like this:

1st game:

PU - Andy
BU - Bob

2nd game:

PU - Cindy
BU - Dan

3rd game:

PU - Bob
BU - Andy

4th game:

PU - Dan
BU - Cindy

That is what we do here. It allows Brian and Charlie to start gme 2 while giving Able a bit more time to come out of the plate mode if needed.

The only thing I don't like is Able never gets to work bases with Charlie as the PU. Would be nice to see and learn from all, but the three man works OK.

In Indiana NSA for tournament ball we use the 3 man - Plate, Base, Off as stated above. Games are 1:15 and usually scheduled 1:30 apart. To help keep things going, it is common for the Base to stay on field with the new Plate to start the next game while Old plate changes and returms for his Base game.
We require he be back by end of 1st inning, but typically he's back in top of 1st.
Personally, I try (and usually suceed) to be there by the start of the game.
NEVER had an issue with coaches about the switch on the fly.

Interesting.. I wasnt sure how common it was.

I dislike the 3 man rotation if only for the fact that you are on the same fields.. with the same partner.. lots of times seeing the same coaches (especially in pool play).

On the good side, if the crew screws up and puts the field behind, then another ump doesnt have to bear that burden (until sunday when said lagging crew screws up everybody!)

We go two on and one off in Pittsburgh NSA tournaments and we typically show up 45 minutes to an hour ahead of the first game to go over anything new (AKA: BS around) unless we're scheduled to start the second game. Games are 1:20 no new inning and drop dead... er... stop play at 1:30. Games are scheduled in 1:30 increments.

Game 1: Ump starting on bases goes off after one game, sits one, and comes on for two plates.

PU: John
BU: Ray

Game 2: Guy scheduled to start late usually starts on the bases. Jim is on for two bases. Ray is off.

PU: John
BU: Jim

Game 3: Ray comes on for two plates. John is off.

PU: Ray
BU: Jim

Game 4: John comes back on for the bases.

PU: Ray
BU: John

It gets a lot of games in and the opportunity to have a different crew for most of the games on the field. With this rotation I've done as many as 7 games in one day and as a few as 4.

I see a lot of the Plate-Base-Off rotation, and that's OK. We'll generally have game 1's BU stay for the start of game 2 so the PU can change.

I find that I really prefer the 1-on, 1-off rotation. You don't do as many games and are fresh for every game.

Four games a day is plenty for me - I don't feel the need or desire to do six or more in a day anymore.

Huh??? Able IS the BU for Charlie's plate game. Did you look at the rotation carefully?? Or did you mean that Able never works the bases when Brian is PU?

Yeah, I have gotten to where I prefer the one on, one off rotation as well for the reason you stated. However, there are times in Texas where you just can't cool off enough, so even you off time takes a little out of you.

WOW!!! I am impressed at all of the areas that use three (3) umpire rotations for fastptich tournaments. Here in the Toledo area, whether the tournament is ASA or USSSA, only two (2) umpires are used for three (3) game sets. That is correct three (3) game sets. The time limit for the games are usually 1:25 with only five (5) minuters between games and coaches get very upset if the umpires change equipment after the second game because it usually takes about fifteen (15) minutes to change gear. And of course the game time is still the scheduled game time.

MTD, Sr.

You mean you work more than one-umpire games? :confused:

What a novel idea!! :p

If (and that's a REALLY big if) we have 2 umpires on the field, the schedulers (I hate to say UIC, since they are SO not) do whatever they have to to cover games. I have worked six in a row :mad: with the same partner this year. I have worked every other game with different partners for all the games.

I will do what I am asked to do, or I won't work. But my choice is 2 on, 1 off. Having the 'exiting' BU stay to start the game to keep the field on time is a bonus.

Yeah, something like that!

What I meant was you will work with each, but only see them (and they you) at one position.

We generally use the 2 on, 1 off system here. Our assignor would like to not have to give anyone more than four games a day, but that is not always possible if there are not enough umpires available.

A lot of tournaments here go with a 1:20 no new inning game time with games scheduled 1:30 apart. You are almost guaranteed to get behind with that schedule unless there are some games shortened by the run rule.

Like Steve, I really don't want to do more than four games in a day anymore.

Once you work a tournament where you work three in a 12-hour day, you never want to go back to more than that. :cool: Talk about staying fresh!

Wow, three games in twelve hours! If you're lucky enough to be getting $30 per game, you've averaged a whopping $7.50 per game and you're fresh as a daisy.:D