State and/or National Tournaments

[wmblue]

I was invited to do 2 games at a JO state tournament last year which would have meant about 3 1/2 hours driving round trip. This is when the price of gas was around $4/gal. I also had a commitment to another game the same day, and decided to honor that commitment rather than bolt for the limelight.

I hope your association is really understanding of your not taking a state tournament.

If they chose you one it means you evaluated well and are worthy of doing one. Unless the game you were doing was of higher importance, skipping out on a state tournament is highly frowned upon and unless there are no umpires wanting to work them in the future, good luck getting another one for awhile.

If that's harsh, I apologize, I've been walked out on by umpires I've given assignments to and don't enjoy dealing with it when it happens.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by wmblue

I hope your association is really understanding of your not taking a state tournament.

If they chose you one it means you evaluated well and are worthy of doing one. Unless the game you were doing was of higher importance, skipping out on a state tournament is highly frowned upon and unless there are no umpires wanting to work them in the future, good luck getting another one for awhile.

If that's harsh, I apologize, I've been walked out on by umpires I've given assignments to and don't enjoy dealing with it when it happens.

And that's a bit of a catch-22. The book says to honor all commitments, regardless of convenience or monetary factors. But you run the risk of being told "screw you" if you don't skip out on a commitment so you can call their tourney.

I think most reasonable people will understand that an umpire's word is everything. If s/he says they will be there, they WILL be there. If I were running a tourney, I'd be frustrated, but I wouldn't fault the umpire who tells me he's already committed to another game or tourney.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

And that's a bit of a catch-22. The book says to honor all commitments, regardless of convenience or monetary factors. But you run the risk of being told "screw you" if you don't skip out on a commitment so you can call their tourney.

What "book" would that be?

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

What "book" would that be?

Didn't you read his post??? He said Catch 22.

[Tru_in_Blu]

From my original post:

I was invited to do 2 games at a JO state tournament last year which would have meant about 3 1/2 hours driving round trip. This is when the price of gas was around $4/gal. I also had a commitment to another game the same day, and decided to honor that commitment rather than bolt for the limelight.

This was a situation where the tournament was short coverage for some games a couple of days before the start of the tournament. My original game was scheduled weeks before. When I was asked about doing the tournament games, I declined because I already had committed to the other game. Now to be honest, had the tournament been in my back yard instead of hours away, and I had a chance to do 3 or 4 games, I might have asked my assignor about it. If he said that would put him in a bind, that would have been the end of the discussion. If he said, "You have a chance to do a state? Go for it. I can cover that game." I would have gone with his blessing.

Ted

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

What "book" would that be?

The ASA Rule Book. It's the very first line in the Code of Ethics that we should honor all contracts. If I've committed myself to a game, that's a commitment that I will uphold.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

The ASA Rule Book. It's the very first line in the Code of Ethics that we should honor all contracts. If I've committed myself to a game, that's a commitment that I will uphold.

Which is written for what? ASA Championship Play?

[Dakota]

So, Mike, are you saying that with the exception of ASA Championship Play, you expect your umpires to bolt to the highest bidder / best game whenever they get a better offer?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Dakota

So, Mike, are you saying that with the exception of ASA Championship Play, you expect your umpires to bolt to the highest bidder / best game whenever they get a better offer?

That isn't what I typed, is it?

I gave my annual speech last night to the new umpires. I told them the same thing I have stated here before. I will never tell any umpire they cannot work another association's games. I have come to find out that there are folks from other sanctioning bodies who have openly told umpires that I would ban them from doing ASA if they worked any other type of softball. That is just an outright lie.

I believe the local ASA staff deserves the same loyalty and support from the umpire who takes advantage of the free and continuous training and support the umpire expects from the staff.

When tentative dates for tournaments are posted 6 months in advance, an umpire has every opportunity to set a schedule around certain dates well in advance to allow a return of the loyalty afforded them. There is an association-sponsored one-pitch that is on the same Saturday every year. I can tell you today when this tournament will take place for the next few years and there will still be an umpire shortage for that tournament.

BTW, though I am ASA, I would expect an umpire of any association to treat them the same regardless of the sanctioning body with which that association is aligned.

Of course, I can only speak for my experience in this area. What others may consider fair or right for their area is probably different.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

What "book" would that be?

The Umpire Code of Ethics, for one (page 218, this year).

Here's a more "real world" way of doing that. This is the perspective of a local association scheduler/assignor, who also deals with the hierarchy (and wants all his local umpires to progress).

If you have scheduled local assignments first, I expect you to call me, and tell me that you have been offered tournament games. You don't TELL me you are cancleing, you ask me if I can cover you. If I can, I will; and I owe both you and the tournament UIC to make every reasonable effort to do that. If I absolutely cannot, I need to tell you as soon as possible, to allow the tournament UIC enough time to look elsewhere.

If you simply tell the UIC you cannot, he can fairly assume you turned him down, not me jerking your chain (he knows I will try). If you tell me you are canceling no matter what, then I can safely assume I cannot count on you honoring your commitments in the future.

[NCASAUmp]

Before I go on, I'll keep the air clear before I say what I'm about to say. I only call ASA SP. Period. No U-trip, no NSA, nothing. Just ASA. I enjoy calling ASA, and I have no intentions of calling anything else in the near future. I'm 100% loyal to my assignor. He's good to me, and I try to return the favor by showing up to my assignments early, ready to go. I honor all of my commitments to him without canceling. Well, there was that one time I was in the ER for a day, but I think after calling for him for over 8 years, he'll let that one and only time slide.

But let's get one thing straight. I never signed any contract or commitment with ASA to only do ASA games and to make ASA my #1 priority. Nothing stated, implied, or even remotely hinted at. If an umpire were to sign such a commitment to ASA or any other org, I would suggest they get their head checked. Just because I've become an ASA umpire does not mean I signed a contract with them. The only contract I've signed is with my local association, and it mentions nothing of my abilities to call other organizations.

My loyalty is my choice. A good one, I believe, but mine nonetheless.

[first2third]

I enjoy umpiring FP softball. I umpire American Legion, High School baseball and non conference college baseball. In the past I have officiated high school basketball and wrestling. All this being said Softball rules. Games are shorter, there are more tournaments, the game moves quicker but as an official you have the ability to be in the right place and make the right call 98% of the time.

I call NASP, ASA, Tripple Crown, High School, SWAC, and D-1 Softball. The D-1 pays the best and is the most enjoyable as you always work three man. ASA is the best organization to start out in, as they train you well. Tripple Crown is the highest paying tournament group. If you work hard, listen, have good judgment and mechanics, you get noticed an move up the ranks quickly.

In my experience for my area, Softball is the least political and have the best people to work with. Some organizations get bent if you work for others but just do what you accept and don't back out of commitments and most people will understand. Most important have fun.

[Welpe]

As an umpire that's called only local tournaments and rec league, this has been an informative thread. Thank you folks.