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SRW Wed Apr 08, 2009 11:39am

Umpire Recruitment
 
Some of you probably saw in the ASA April Rules and Clarifications that we had success using Craigslist to recruit for umpires this spring.

We held our first introduction meeting of our second training session last night. Of the 40+ that responded to the adds, we had 16 show up to the training.

Although not a HUGE turnout, we still consider it worth the investment ($25 for the add). Heck, if 10 of them stick with it, then we're up 10 umpires for a grand total of $2.50 per person for recruiting costs.

Any other ideas that are working from around the country?

Dakota Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:08pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SRW (Post 594817)
Some of you probably saw in the ASA April Rules and Clarifications that we had success using Craigslist to recruit for umpires this spring.

We held our first introduction meeting of our second training session last night. Of the 40+ that responded to the adds, we had 16 show up to the training.

Although not a HUGE turnout, we still consider it worth the investment ($25 for the add). Heck, if 10 of them stick with it, then we're up 10 umpires for a grand total of $2.50 per person for recruiting costs.

Any other ideas that are working from around the country?

The economy seems to be doing a pretty good job at umpire recruitment in some areas...

IRISHMAFIA Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:45pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dakota (Post 594826)
The economy seems to be doing a pretty good job at umpire recruitment in some areas...

I will increase my registrations by 35% or more. From what I understand, baseball is about the same.

Of course, the economy helped. Chrysler closed their plant a couple months ago. Sucks that these guys lost their jobs, great for the officiating community, though.

TwoBits Wed Apr 08, 2009 01:18pm

Did the first tournament of the season last week. Several new faces umpiring around the ball park. Some have had their hours cut and are looking to make some extra money. We've lost a few umpires, too, as they are working extra hours on the weekends in second jobs.

The most disturbing thing I saw this weekend was watching an older gentleman drag a rake around the infield all day. In the past, working on the grounds crew has been a job reserved for high school boys.

This economy is terrible.

tcblue13 Wed Apr 08, 2009 11:41pm

We have too many umpires. The schedules are so thin that we don't stay busy and we barely make up our fees and equipment costs.

Ref Ump Welsch Thu Apr 09, 2009 07:43am

Quote:

Originally Posted by SRW (Post 594817)
Although not a HUGE turnout, we still consider it worth the investment ($25 for the add). Heck, if 10 of them stick with it, then we're up 10 umpires for a grand total of $2.50 per person for recruiting costs.

I'm surprised you had to pay for an ad on Craigslist. I thought it was a free advertising board. :confused:

NCASAUmp Thu Apr 09, 2009 08:00am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch (Post 594934)
I'm surprised you had to pay for an ad on Craigslist. I thought it was a free advertising board. :confused:

It is my understanding (from a weekly tech podcast I listen to) that job postings and the "erotic services" are not free. All other postings are free.

Ref Ump Welsch Thu Apr 09, 2009 08:26am

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp (Post 594936)
It is my understanding (from a weekly tech podcast I listen to) that job postings and the "erotic services" are not free. All other postings are free.

That explains why the local police is catching some flack for the entrapment they set up on Craigslist back in February. Unwise use of tax dollars! :p

NCASAUmp Thu Apr 09, 2009 08:39am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch (Post 594941)
That explains why the local police is catching some flack for the entrapment they set up on Craigslist back in February. Unwise use of tax dollars! :p

Hey... $25 ad bringing in hundreds of dollars in fines for soliciting a prostitute? Sounds like a worthy investment to me. Though I must say that I've never understood how it could be illegal to have someone pay for something that's free to give away. An orgasm is not the worst thing you can give a person.

I'll end my part of the discussion there. :)

NCASAUmp Thu Apr 09, 2009 09:08am

But back to the OP, I don't believe our org has seen an increase or a decrease in the number of incoming umpires. Gained a couple, lost a couple, nothing real dramatic.

We've always been fortunate enough to have a decent supply of umpires in our org, and our attrition rate has always been low. Fortunately, the only ones who leave seem to be the ones we would want to leave anyway.

Andy Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:48pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp (Post 594949)
...Fortunately, the only ones who leave seem to be the ones we would want to leave anyway.


Any way you can teach me how to make that happen?????

NCASAUmp Thu Apr 09, 2009 01:14pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy (Post 594993)
Any way you can teach me how to make that happen?????

Give 'em the whiniest teams?

Actually, a lot of the new fellas who won't make the cut will eventually drop out on their own. They'll just get tired of getting yelled at.

It's the ones you DON'T want to lose that you should be concentrating on.

IRISHMAFIA Thu Apr 09, 2009 01:15pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy (Post 594993)
Any way you can teach me how to make that happen?????

That's simple. They supposedly send them to Transylvania County for a "tournament". Most of them don't make their way back. They wander into the Pisgah or become professors at Brevard College.

NCASAUmp Thu Apr 09, 2009 01:22pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA (Post 594997)
That's simple. They supposedly send them to Transylvania County for a "tournament". Most of them don't make their way back. They wander into the Pisgah or become professors at Brevard College.

Which Transylvania County? We have one here in NC, too. :D

Dakota Thu Apr 09, 2009 01:25pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp (Post 594998)
Which Transylvania County? We have one here in NC, too. :D

So's Pisgah (National Forest) and Brevard College... :rolleyes:


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