Old Timers...aka Knowledge
 

I just finished a 10 game tournament this weekend. I worked with two gentlemen that I have never worked with before. They goth have been doing this 20+ years. I am still a newbie at just 5 years. Over the games they would every now and then drop me some hints on some mechanice or other such things. At first I thought who the heck are these guys that are telling me things about my game.

The darndest thing is that over the two days I started to use some of their suggextions and I admit that it sure made my games easier and I felt more professional.

The reason I say this is that there is always something to learn each and every game. Those that have been doing it for a long time, at least in my experiences, semm very genuine on wanting to help out their fellow umpires. So for us newbies sometime critisizim may sting for a second but if the recommendations do not interfere with the rules or go against them you hust may be able to grow and become a better official.

Just my two cents.

please see my signature line......:)

Get ready for suggestions. And if you have a good group.......get ready for evaluations.

It is the only way you will get better.

And if you ever get the honor to umpire a State, Regional, or National.......get ready for some detailed evaluations.

Take them to heart and you will truly get better.

Joel

Always be open minded and willing to learn. But the flipside of that is just because someone has been around a long time it doesn't necessarily mean that they know what they're talking about! Longevity doesn't automatically equate to knowledge or ability.

Like Reagan's old line- "Trust, but verify". If something doesn't seem right with the information you're being given, do some checking for yourself to clear it up.

A few examples of "expert advice" I've been given in recent years by seasoned officials:

- In the two-man system, a base umpire should NEVER go out on a fly ball. It's not one of our mechanics and it's not allowed. This bit of wisdom came to me from an umpire that was proud to tell me before the game that he'd been doing this for over forty years.

- In ASA softball, if the first play by an infielder is thrown out of play the award is two bases from the time of the pitch. I actually had two different umpires with over twenty years experience each argue this point with me in two different games.

- When in "A" position and "walking the line" it is never permissible to take more than one step. This came from a clinician at an ASA National Umpire School. He was dismissive with me when I told him that our umpire manual specifically says to take "one or two steps".

1. "NEVER" is a big word, but certainly a good plan (to "Never" go out in 2 man")

2. I don't do ASA. Is ASA different than the "norm" where the above is, in fact true?

3. PotAto - Potato

What softball do you do? In EVERY form of softball that I do, all such awards are based on the time of the throw; first play, fourth play, infield or outfield. That includes ASA, NCAA, NFHS and ISF.

Perhaps your "norm" is baseball? Or your group erroneously teaches that?

If I understand all your comments, I disagree with them.

re: Going out with 2 umpire fastpitch girls softball... I personally believe it should be unusual (but not never). With the relatively shallow outfield (compared with a slowpitch or baseball outfield) the gain is usually not high enough to offset the loss (reverting to 1 umpire on the bases), especially with runners on base. JMO.

There are some out there. Without digging through other books...USSSA uses the "first throw by an infielder"- at least for their slow pitch rules. I think that NSA might, too.

None of the associations I normally work do...unless I'm working high school baseball!

Yes, NSA is time of pitch for that sit, and I think (thought USSSA) was too. Guess I just assumed that ASA was also. Cant believe after 3 years of reading posts here, this is the first time I caught that difference, but I guess it is.. - Sorry.