What makes a good umpire?

[robbie]

I think you all tried to be too un-clinical (un-clinical.......... is that a word??)
Bottom line - Get the calls correct. We are paid (or volunteer??) to do a job. That job is to make judgement calls and to apply appropriate rules for the given situation. Our job is to do these 2 things with the highest level of accuracy that is possible.

[socalumps]

Learn ...or develop.... the ability to judge with decernment, wisdom, and fairness.

And.....if assignments are important...the proper affiliation mechanics would be very helpful!!

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by robbie

I think you all tried to be too un-clinical (un-clinical.......... is that a word??)
Bottom line - Get the calls correct. We are paid (or volunteer??) to do a job. That job is to make judgement calls and to apply appropriate rules for the given situation. Our job is to do these 2 things with the highest level of accuracy that is possible.

Perhaps, but just because an umpire gets the calls right doesn't mean they're doing their job right. I'm sure we all know umpires who have great mechanics, judgment and rule knowledge, but screw everything else up on the field.

I think the heart of this conversation is finding out what separates the wheat from the chaff.

[NCASAUmp]

I'm going to throw a couple more things out there...

Don't yell out every call. It looks like you're trying to overcompensate for something else, and if every call is yelled out, what do you have left in your bag for when you need to sell the really close calls?

Honor your commitments at all costs. If you don't want to call on a night you scheduled yourself, then don't accept the assignment to begin with (yeah, we had a no-show last night, leaving an ump by himself).

Remain calm and polite throughout the game, but don't let the players run you. You look more in control if you're cool and calm as opposed to heated.

Remain consistent throughout the game. If you make any changes in how you call, don't do it mid-game, do it the next game. Your strike zone should be the same from the first pitch to the last. Think of it this way. If someone videotaped your game, then chopped it into different segments, someone watching those segments in random order shouldn't be able to pick out the start of the game, middle of the game or end of the game.

[DaveASA/FED]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Don't yell out every call.

Honor your commitments at all costs.

Remain calm and polite throughout the game, but don't let the players run you. You look more in control if you're cool and calm as opposed to heated.

I like these 3 points. I think #1 is very valid only sell what you have to, routine out call should almost be signal only, very little verbal needed again we don't need to be noticed all the time!

#2 is also a very big thing that can get you into trouble...if you CAN'T be somewhere you promised to be....and I have been sent out of country for emergency work things so it does happen.....FIND A REPLACEMENT....I worked my butt off (ok not all of it) to find people to cover my games the week I got forced to leave town, but all my games were covered before I left. But I know people that will take games then try to get out of them if a "better" game comes along on that date. Thats BS take what you agreed to do.....ok I am getting into bi*ching instead of the intent of the OP, I'll stop now

#3 I think this is paramount in officiating you have to be able to stay calm, listen to an idiot that does not know the rules and let it slide off your back and go back to work. Like I was told years ago, Never argue with an idiot they will just bring you down to their level and then beat you with experience! Yet I see umpires that want to prove to the other guy they are right, and will get elevated in tone, demeaner and attitude...the old guy thing I have to prove mine is bigger than yours. That's stupid, and gets you know where in this game, or alot of times in life! Great thing about officiating is you have the final say, you and your partner are the only ones that are guarenteed to be there at the end of the game. If the coach or player gets past your line, you can releave them of their stress by letting them go home early! So theirs might be bigger but it's not allowed back on the field!!