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-   -   Is this what happens when the economy is in the toilet? (https://forum.officiating.com/softball/52051-what-happens-when-economy-toilet.html)

Stu Clary Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:29pm
Is this what happens when the economy is in the toilet?
 
We had our first slow pitch meeting of the year...LOTS of new faces.

PtotheB Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:32pm
I've been noticing the same thing here.

NCASAUmp Wed Mar 04, 2009 07:30am
I've noticed that when the economy goes down the drain or when gas prices skyrocket, teams drop out. The first thing that people drop are the unnecessary expenses, and softball is sadly towards the top of that list.

IRISHMAFIA Wed Mar 04, 2009 07:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by NCASAUmp (Post 585253)
I've noticed that when the economy goes down the drain or when gas prices skyrocket, teams drop out. The first thing that people drop are the unnecessary expenses, and softball is sadly towards the top of that list.
Compared to other items which involves entertainmant/physical fitness dollars, softball is an inexpensive, long term distraction. Don't see the decline in teams as much as an increase in the umpire community.

The issue for us is to make the umpiring attractive so these new umpires don't just disappear when things get better.

CajunNewBlue Wed Mar 04, 2009 08:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA (Post 585258)
Compared to other items which involves entertainmant/physical fitness dollars, softball is an inexpensive, long term distraction. Don't see the decline in teams as much as an increase in the umpire community.

The issue for us is to make the umpiring attractive so these new umpires don't just disappear when things get better.
Hire bikini models to do clinics? that would make it more attractive for me. :D

NCASAUmp Wed Mar 04, 2009 08:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA (Post 585258)
Compared to other items which involves entertainmant/physical fitness dollars, softball is an inexpensive, long term distraction. Don't see the decline in teams as much as an increase in the umpire community.

The issue for us is to make the umpiring attractive so these new umpires don't just disappear when things get better.
Every time gas prices jump, I see teams not return and tourneys with lower numbers. Softball is not inexpensive when it costs $450-500 per team ($40-50 per player), plus gas to get to and from the fields, plus equipment such as new balls and bats (and we all know how much those bats can run), shoes, maybe a new glove...

Then there are the secondary costs, such as going out with the team to the bars afterwards, finding a babysitter, etc.

This sport isn't cheap, and when families are worried about finances, these entertainment expenses (and that's exactly what they are) are first to go.

NCASAUmp Wed Mar 04, 2009 08:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CajunNewBlue (Post 585263)
Hire bikini models to do clinics? that would make it more attractive for me. :D
As long as Mike isn't the clinician. ;)

CajunNewBlue Wed Mar 04, 2009 08:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by NCASAUmp (Post 585266)
As long as Mike isn't the clinician. ;)
"bikini models" not fat ugly guys in bikinis... well i dont know mike.... but i know guys around here. :p

NCASAUmp Wed Mar 04, 2009 08:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CajunNewBlue (Post 585267)
"bikini models" not fat ugly guys in bikinis... well i dont know mike.... but i know guys around here. :p
Beards and bikinis do not mix. ;)

CajunNewBlue Wed Mar 04, 2009 08:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by NCASAUmp (Post 585269)
Beards and bikinis do not mix. ;)
Word. ;)

SWFLguy Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:50am
same here
 
several new faces---sadly the economy will also result in fewer high school games next season. The FHSAA has reduced varsity schedules from 25 to 20 games for the 2010 season. JV games will be cut to 15.

IRISHMAFIA Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NCASAUmp (Post 585265)
Every time gas prices jump, I see teams not return and tourneys with lower numbers. Softball is not inexpensive when it costs $450-500 per team ($40-50 per player), plus gas to get to and from the fields, plus equipment such as new balls and bats (and we all know how much those bats can run), shoes, maybe a new glove...

Then there are the secondary costs, such as going out with the team to the bars afterwards, finding a babysitter, etc.

This sport isn't cheap, and when families are worried about finances, these entertainment expenses (and that's exactly what they are) are first to go.
#1. Those rates are too high :D
#2. Actually, I was referring to league play where travel is limited and the spouse does the babysitting.

Ref Ump Welsch Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:41pm
You'll know when the economy's bad when the strippers show up at the umpires' meetings! :eek:

tcblue13 Wed Mar 04, 2009 01:02pm
I am about to believe that our association has too many umpires for the games we have. I got my schedule yesterday. Way fewer games than in the past. I used to ave 2-3 games a week and this season I have 5 games (1 DH) for the whole season. I hope I get some fill in work because I need to keep the rust off the mechanics. After the fees to the Assoc and the State, new equipment etc. It almost seems hardly worth it. But, I'll hang in there w/out griping (too much) because I love the old Ball Field.

NCASAUmp Wed Mar 04, 2009 01:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA (Post 585348)
#1. Those rates are too high
Agreed! I'm not 100% certain, but I believe those are the rates.

Quote:
Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA
#2. Actually, I was referring to league play where travel is limited and the spouse does the babysitting.
As was I. We also have a bunch of coed teams in the area, and it's quite common for couples to play on the same team. Couples that play together...

IRISHMAFIA Wed Mar 04, 2009 02:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NCASAUmp (Post 585399)
As was I. We also have a bunch of coed teams in the area, and it's quite common for couples to play on the same team. Couples that play together...
..eventually need a babysitter.

NCASAUmp Wed Mar 04, 2009 02:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA (Post 585425)
..eventually need a babysitter.
...and it's usually someone with a powder blue shirt and navy slacks with the western cut pockets.

CajunNewBlue Wed Mar 04, 2009 04:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NCASAUmp (Post 585430)
...and it's usually someone with a powder blue shirt and navy slacks with the western cut pockets.
now thats the truth. :D

NCASAUmp Wed Mar 04, 2009 04:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CajunNewBlue (Post 585467)
now thats the truth. :D
Actually, most of the time, I have the easiest time in the coed leagues, especially in the higher levels (and we do have some decent coed ballgames around here). The women just play hard, and the fellas don't want to look like jerks in front of the women, so they keep their mouths shut and are on their "better" behavior. :cool:

I get more problems in the church leagues. Anyone ever hear Tim Wilson's "Church League Softball Fistfight?" That's my ringtone for whenever our state UIC calls me. :D

Ref Ump Welsch Wed Mar 04, 2009 06:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NCASAUmp (Post 585468)
Anyone ever hear Tim Wilson's "Church League Softball Fistfight?" That's my ringtone for whenever our state UIC calls me. :D
I need to get that ringtone...and set it for whenever my local assignor calls in any of my sports. :D

NCASAUmp Wed Mar 04, 2009 08:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch (Post 585492)
I need to get that ringtone...and set it for whenever my local assignor calls in any of my sports. :D
What cell provider do you have?

MichaelVA2000 Wed Mar 04, 2009 09:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA (Post 585425)
..eventually need a babysitter.
Unless the couple's names are Adam and Tim.

DeRef Wed Mar 04, 2009 09:30pm
Oh No...
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by CajunNewBlue (Post 585263)
Hire bikini models to do clinics? that would make it more attractive for me. :D
Please tell me that I don't have to see Lil Bit in a bikini... :D

CajunNewBlue Thu Mar 05, 2009 08:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeRef (Post 585529)
Please tell me that I don't have to see Lil Bit in a bikini... :D
awww blue... you know yer blind anyways. ;)

Stu Clary Sun Mar 22, 2009 11:25pm
Back on topic...

Ten new guys here with varying degrees of experience. I worked with one of them tonight. I think he's a keeper. One already quit, one other is a basket case - I can't believe he'll last more than a couple more weeks. A couple of them are already pretty good.

Some of the more veteran (i.e. lazy, too comfortable) guys are getting nervous.

Ref Ump Welsch Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:44am
Had our indoor clinic last week. Quite a few newbies there, a couple good-lookers (ladies), whom some of us slowpitch guys know we'll never see because they appear to be aiming for the fastpitch game. Of course, this was an all-day clinic for those with 3 years or less experience, and the rest of us vets with more than 3 years only had to stay for the morning session. I don't know how many newbies showed up for the night clinics that were required should one miss the all-day clinic.

SRW Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch (Post 590695)
... whom some of us slowpitch guys know we'll never see because they appear to be aiming for the fastpitch game.
Perhaps you could learn the FP game and go do bases in your local tourneys (if you don't want to do the plate)...


Just a thought. :) ;)

Ref Ump Welsch Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SRW (Post 590699)
Perhaps you could learn the FP game and go do bases in your local tourneys (if you don't want to do the plate)...


Just a thought. :) ;)
Some of us do, and it's not all about the money. ;) :D :cool:


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