Level of Play vs Level of Pay

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by CelticNHBlue

Where I am, every league negotiates their own contract and umpire fees.

Same here.

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

Same here.

All of our two man fees are the same, fast pitch or what little slow pitch is around here - 38/ump - fee X 1.5 if your partner does not show up, whatever.

tournaments (two man) are 40/ump

for our youth games, which are generally worked alone we get 50 - one league has Saturday triple headers - NICE

compare to our hs fees of

59 modified (7/8th grade)

68 jv

91 varsity

again, any game worked alone is X 1.5

late start - game starts 30 min or more due to late arrival, late fees are
20 modified
25 jv
30

if we show up and have to cancel we get a 'travel/appearence fee' of 30 for all levels/all sports

in all games, hs and league, one pitch = full fee

we never get travel pay, as this is a pretty compact area we serve - the farthest I have to travel for ANY game is around 40 miles each way...about $8 worth of gas at $3 a gallon for me......even at te worst of last years prices, I never used more than $10 worth of gas.....

[IRISHMAFIA]

Just to add a point of irritation, at least for me.

Umpires who register, barely attempt to obtain a minimal amount of training, skimp on uniforms and equipment, only make themselves available for the highest pay-level of games, refuse to help younger umpires, refuse to help their association unless receiving top dollar.

However, many of these putzes will be some of the first to declare they only work the higher level (NFHS/NCAA) of games as if that is a badge of honor.

Then there are the braggarts that don't work SP because that is a "beer league" situation. Those folks should visit OKC during the Battle of the Borders and see how those players feel about that opinion.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Just to add a point of irritation, at least for me.

Umpires who register, barely attempt to obtain a minimal amount of training, skimp on uniforms and equipment, only make themselves available for the highest pay-level of games, refuse to help younger umpires, refuse to help their association unless receiving top dollar.

However, many of these putzes will be some of the first to declare they only work the higher level (NFHS/NCAA) of games as if that is a badge of honor.

Then there are the braggarts that don't work SP because that is a "beer league" situation. Those folks should visit OKC during the Battle of the Borders and see how those players feel about that opinion.

On the other hand, in this area at least, with the difficulty covering all of the NJCAA, NAIA, NCAA, and NFHS games, I cannot see anyone committing to work rec leagues until after the College/HS season is over. MY first commitment is to those organizations, and I do not want to inconvenience the local rec leagues by having to cancel out of their games to work a game that was originally scheduled for one day, but because of a rain-out or some other problem had to be rescheduled to another day. That isn't fair to them, nor is it fair to my Collegiate/HS organization to cancel out on a game that I was originally scheduled to work. Therefore, I, for one, do not accept a rec league schedule until the collegiate/HS season is over. By then, many spring rec leagues are already winding down.

Now, do I help out with rec league games from time to time? Sure...if my schedule, both on the field and off of it, will allow me to.

Also, I don't know about the others on here, but for me, umpiring is a hobby. A very serious hobby, but a hobby nonetheless. If I don't have fun working the games, then I am less likely to want to work them. Hence, a 10U paying $35.00 a game is going to be less appealing to me than an 18U paying $20.00. If the two are scheduled on the same day, you can bet that I will take the $20.00 over the $35.00. That's just human nature. Same goes for SP. I am not as likely to see the Battle of the Borders as an umpire as I am the local foundry workers playing the local textile mill workers. The whining, crying, drinking...etc. that goes on locally tends to make the game not as fun to me, and therefore not appealing to umpire. (Besides, I am just not wild about the pace of the "local" game.)

I am sure my local ASA/USSSA/Dixie assignors write me off as someone who sees my umpiring certain groups or levels as a "badge of honor," but it just isn't so. I want to work the level of ball that I find challenging and fun. Is this all that I will work? No. I often find myself working at least a day of a two day 10U tournament because the UIC was having trouble finding enough people who wanted to work that level.

As for working with newbies go, give me a newbie any day of the week. I was working with one on Saturday during a rather important (one team wins and they are in the playoffs...they didn't win) cross town rivalry. We had a good pregame, I made her aware that I wouldn't say anything during the game unless it was extremely important, then we had a very lengthy postgame (about three hours at a local bar/restaurant), where another experienced umpire who was at the game joined us with his feedback (on both of us.)

Of course, I have more uniforms than I really need (10 pairs of pants, I have no clue how many shirts total with ASA, USSSA, HS...etc., three pairs plate shoes, two pair field, at least 4 hats for each organization, at least 4, though usually 6, ball bags for every organization and so on.) I attend all the requisite training and some that isn't required. I study the rules/mechanics/philosophy of umpiring almost daily.

Makes me wonder, though, if assignors/UIC's make the distinction between the "greens" (umpires who just work for money), and those of us who do this as a hobby, and not a way of life.

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Just to add a point of irritation, at least for me.

Umpires who register, barely attempt to obtain a minimal amount of training, skimp on uniforms and equipment, only make themselves available for the highest pay-level of games, refuse to help younger umpires, refuse to help their association unless receiving top dollar.

However, many of these putzes will be some of the first to declare they only work the higher level (NFHS/NCAA) of games as if that is a badge of honor.

Then there are the braggarts that don't work SP because that is a "beer league" situation. Those folks should visit OKC during the Battle of the Borders and see how those players feel about that opinion.

For the record, I don't do slo-pitch (except very occasionally as a favor).
1) I have spent my time and energy learning fast pitch
2) I enjoy fast pitch
3) Slo Pitch is not fast pitch
(I don't do much baseball for the same reasons)

[IRISHMAFIA]

For the record, I expected some push back here, but stand by my comments.

I do not disagree that there are priorities, but I did not state anything about breaking into a season, though there are people who will do NPF, HS, NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, rec FP & SP all during the same season. I am actually referring more to those who take the big money and run after the FP season is completed never to be heard from again until the following season. Meetings, clinics, fund raisers.....what are those?

If you are a member of an association which contracts multiple leagues and games and they need help, the umpire is still a member of that association and should help when possible. If an assignor wants to take care of those who take care of the association with better and more profitable assignments, I have no problem with that, within reason.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

If you are a member of an association which contracts multiple leagues and games and they need help, the umpire is still a member of that association and should help when possible.

I won't argue with that. However, there are varying degrees of "when possible." For example, this week, I will have worked every day or night umpiring or going to an umpire related meeting. This means that at least 5 hours of my day (often more) after work will have been consumed with umpiring. This Saturday, I have already been contacted by my HS assignor and two local ASA assignors about working games. I have declined all of them, because a) I want some time off, and b) I still like to spend time with my family and c) this weekend is Germanfest, and we had to miss it last year because I was umpiring, so I told my wife I would be sure not to schedule any games this year. Now, I am sure that all three of those assignors are probably assuming that I am not there when they need me, or something along those lines, but you know the old saying about when you "assume" something....

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

I won't argue with that. However, there are varying degrees of "when possible." For example, this week, I will have worked every day or night umpiring or going to an umpire related meeting. This means that at least 5 hours of my day (often more) after work will have been consumed with umpiring. This Saturday, I have already been contacted by my HS assignor and two local ASA assignors about working games. I have declined all of them, because a) I want some time off, and b) I still like to spend time with my family and c) this weekend is Germanfest, and we had to miss it last year because I was umpiring, so I told my wife I would be sure not to schedule any games this year. Now, I am sure that all three of those assignors are probably assuming that I am not there when they need me, or something along those lines, but you know the old saying about when you "assume" something....

You know what I have to say about this? Germanfest? What, have the Texas German's missed Oktoberfest by more than the month like the rest of those in this country do?

I am a firm believer in taking time off for family and a life. Of course, I would suggest this is part of a predetermined schedule made known to all assignors in advance instead of waiting for a call to turn them away.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

You know what I have to say about this? Germanfest? What, have the Texas German's missed Oktoberfest by more than the month like the rest of those in this country do?

I am a firm believer in taking time off for family and a life. Of course, I would suggest this is part of a predetermined schedule made known to all assignors in advance instead of waiting for a call to turn them away.

No. This is in in addition to Oktoberfest! You can never have too many adult beverage consuming, good food eating, fests, donchaknow!

As a matter of fact, as a warm up to Oktoberfest, there is a Czech based party on Labor Day Weekend in West, Texas, called WestFest.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I am actually referring more to those who take the big money and run after the FP season is completed never to be heard from again until the following season.

Hold on now, 50 youth FP after the "big money" HS season is not running away, even if ASA has lost those tourneys. By the time they are finished, so is slow pitch, and the overlap would not be as bad if the games were not late at night and the players were under control.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

Hold on now, 50 youth FP after the "big money" HS season is not running away, even if ASA has lost those tourneys. By the time they are finished, so is slow pitch, and the overlap would not be as bad if the games were not late at night and the players were under control.

Guilty conscience? I wasn't referring to you, so if you want to clump yourself in with those of whom I am speaking, you do so voluntarily.

BTW, if the players are not under control, who's fault is that?

[harpdog]

From me this is my first post to this forum and I am in my second year of umping but a long time coach and player. My view on umpires has changed, of course when I became one but I became an umpire out of a need to work and make money. this is my only income as I reach an age of 60. Money is always an issue especially in a poor economy, rising gas prices and and more unemployment than our country cares to mention. However, with this poor economy come fewer resgistrations of younger players and fewer slow pitch tea, no mens fast pitch in my area that used to be a hot bed for it, and schools cutting back means less JV games and in some cases allowing schools to make one team out of 2 schools. Asking for more more only means a deteriation of the games future.
With this being said, anytime I can work a job that allows me to be around good people(ASA ump;s especially) and still get a lot of respect from players an coaches at all levels, and Have Fun, you will not hear me complain no matter how poor I am..
We all want money but there are many umpires that get pensions, and work to pay for their next holiday that complain the most. I find the ones with more complain the most and the ones with less are happy to just make money.
Anyone who complains can go do baseball and get yelled at by everyone.
Lets keep this lifestyle into perspective. I feel honored to be in the ASA association.
Family is always first no matter what the function, I have 10 children and 17 grandkids. I am happy to give up a few dollars for some time with them. If an association does not recruit enough umpires then the membership should help.
In my area the most we get is $55 for HS varsity down to 24 dollars for weekend tournament games where we do upto 5 games a day. The kids and the parents have a lot of respect for that kind of dedication but they cannot afford to pay more either.