New Umpire Blues

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

I like to talk to them just about every inning or I will forget whatever it is they are goofing up.

My experience is that they don't remember the situation you want to talk about after the game; strike while the memory is fresh.

Whenever I've worked with a rookie, I'll get with them each half-inning and ask "any questions?" only if I don't have something for them. Some of the rookies I've worked with will actually high-tail towards me during a half-inning break for feedback, only because they know they need some feedback on something that occurred and want immediate feedback.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

My experience is that they don't remember the situation you want to talk about after the game; strike while the memory is fresh.

Absolutely! Meet every half inning even if there was nothing wrong. Do not hold back, but do not expect instant adjustments. Prioritize the issues and let them know if something needs to be changed immediately. Otherwise, just throw stuff at them, do not talk down to them, relate stories that make umpires seem human, not supermen making every call correctly.

I will often start the pregame with, "I'm going to throw a lot of stuff at you on the run. Just think about it store that info away in the back of your brain. If you have a question, make that the first thing out of your mouth when we get together."

I will take an extra minute to address something this must be handled immediately. I'd rather tick off a team rather than place an umpire in a position where doing the wrong thing has some idiot in his/her face and I never see them again.

And don't ever, EVER makes excuses to the players or coach. BB, that 16 yo rookie probably got more out of you standing with and for her with that coach than she would have if you tried to talk her out of the call. Good job.

[wadeintothem]

Agree with the above 100%. The only time I dont meet with them or talk with them are when duties like subs take me away or those few mutual "I'll be standing over hear drinking water" between innings breaks.

Other than that, i like to talk with my partners. I dont during nationals or whatever so i dont get dinged but for my own opinion, I have no use for hanging around in the outfield counting clouds between innings. umps should talk, especially with the noobs for training. You only got one friend out there.. talk with em... when allowed.

[SethPDX]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

Other than that, i like to talk with my partners. I dont during nationals or whatever so i dont get dinged but for my own opinion, I have no use for hanging around in the outfield counting clouds between innings. umps should talk, especially with the noobs for training. You only got one friend out there.. talk with em... when allowed.

Absolutely. During the regular season if my partner feels like talking, I'll talk between innings. Heck, if I'm working with one of my really good friends I know we're going start in with the jokes and stories so we have to be careful to remember to keep the time between innings short.

During tournaments or when we're being evaluated, yeah, I go to the proper position. Like they don't know we change things when we're being watched.

[vcblue]

Originally Posted by SethPDX

Absolutely. During the regular season if my partner feels like talking, I'll talk between innings. Heck, if I'm working with one of my really good friends I know we're going start in with the jokes and stories so we have to be careful to remember to keep the time between innings short.

During tournaments or when we're being evaluated, yeah, I go to the proper position. Like they don't know we change things when we're being watched.

... at that point I just start talking to myself

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by vcblue

... at that point I just start talking to myself

Hey, we cant help it. We're people people!


You know, its better than BS'ing with the SS, then they hit her the ball and and she goofs it up cuz shes distracted.

Not that I've ever done that, of course...

[Tru_in_Blu]

I'm relatively new to umpiring myself, currently in my 4th year. I've attended clinics, got the ASA DVD on mechanics, and attended a NUS at the beginning of last season. So I've tried to learn and practice the correct mechanics.

This year we took on 3 new umpires. All are middle aged guys who are new to umpiring. A couple have played the game some and one is still playing. The guy that's still playing also pitches in a slow pitch league. I worked a SP DH women's league set with him a couple of weeks ago. He wants to be a sponge and soak up as much knowledge as he can. He's got a lot of bad habits from watching some of our other umps, and maybe from some of the mentoring he's already received. Calling SP strikes is one of the goofier things I do as an umpire. But I had to work with him a lot on his calls, and hand signals. He'd indicate if a ball was outside or inside with a hand wave, that the ball hit the plate with a fist to palm, or that a ballwas "deep" w/ fingertips to shoulders. Occasionally he'd verbalize: "Just a bit outside", or some such. When he called a pitch, he'd rush into it instead of processing the pitch waiting a second, verbalizing and then the hammer for a strike. His calls were everything all at once. So I tried slowing him down there.

I also needed to explain working the slot to him. He'd actually work a "reverse slot" if you know what I mean. That's a situation where he's more likely to take a foul in the kisser.

We spoke a lot between innings, a bit in between games, a more after the games were finished. I think he'll eventually be a great umpire, but like a lot of folks needs to learn where he's supposed to be, how to get the position for a call, a slow down a bit.

One thing that helped me slow down is I call a lot of 12-14 yo JO games, and some men's rec SP, and I've convinced myself that on a force play, the player receiving the ball will always drop it. When they don't, it's like a surprise, and then I can call the out.

I agree that it's difficult to have teens working games at their own age group or even adult ball. Unless someone is a prodigy and umpire savant, it probably isn't going to work out well.