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  #1 (permalink)  
Old Fri Apr 15, 2011, 10:01am
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Recruiting Officials

Ladies and Gentleman,

I am the local district ASA UIC from my area. Recently I have lost one official for sure and potentially a second official for the upcoming 2011 season.

This has me stressing out because right now with the work schedules and commitments of my other officials I may not have enough officials to cover all nights of League play.

Hence I am trying to recruit new officials for the upcoming season.

I am marketing on Facebook, and locally used websites. I have also e-mailed the contacts I have in both the athletic department and others I know on the campus of the local university trying to recruit students for this paid hobby.

I am looking for other ideas that you all may have. I know flyers are an option and I may have to do that I just do not have the time to go around time hanging them.

Anyway let me know the ideas you have as I am stressing, but luckily I have a month until league and tournaments start so I do have time.

Thanks
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Old Fri Apr 15, 2011, 10:51am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kleeds View Post
Ladies and Gentleman,

I am the local district ASA UIC from my area. Recently I have lost one official for sure and potentially a second official for the upcoming 2011 season.

This has me stressing out because right now with the work schedules and commitments of my other officials I may not have enough officials to cover all nights of League play.

Hence I am trying to recruit new officials for the upcoming season.

I am marketing on Facebook, and locally used websites. I have also e-mailed the contacts I have in both the athletic department and others I know on the campus of the local university trying to recruit students for this paid hobby.

I am looking for other ideas that you all may have. I know flyers are an option and I may have to do that I just do not have the time to go around time hanging them.

Anyway let me know the ideas you have as I am stressing, but luckily I have a month until league and tournaments start so I do have time.

Thanks
First of all, NEVER refer to officiating as a hobby, it is not, it is a business for those who are paid.

How about current or recently retired players of fiends of theirs?
How about friends/relatives of other umpires?
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Old Fri Apr 15, 2011, 11:29am
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Location: Fremont, NH
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CecilOne View Post
First of all, NEVER refer to officiating as a hobby, it is not, it is a business for those who are paid.

How about current or recently retired players of fiends of theirs?
How about friends/relatives of other umpires?
Great! We can't have a hobby because we're paid. But it's OK to recruit fiends? Ghoulish, I say!
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Old Fri Apr 15, 2011, 11:32am
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I think he was probably stressing the importance of approaching umpiring as a professional. It is allowed to enjoy your profession, isn't it?
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Old Fri Apr 15, 2011, 11:37am
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its an advocation, not an occupation. the money is really just tips.

Quote:
Originally Posted by CecilOne View Post
First of all, NEVER refer to officiating as a hobby, it is not, it is a business for those who are paid.

How about current or recently retired players of fiends of theirs?
How about friends/relatives of other umpires?
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  #6 (permalink)  
Old Fri Apr 15, 2011, 11:49am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shagpal View Post
its an advocation, not an occupation. the money is really just tips.
OK, so don't deduct your expenses.
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Officiating takes more than OJT.
It's not our jobs to invent rulings to fit our personal idea of what should and should not be.
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Old Fri Apr 15, 2011, 12:02pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shagpal View Post
its an advocation, not an occupation. the money is really just tips.
Geez - you guys are setting off my spell-check bell today.

"Avocation": it's the proper term.
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Old Fri Apr 15, 2011, 12:04pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu View Post
Geez - you guys are setting off my spell-check bell today.

"Avocation": it's the proper term.
Not necessarily... the thread IS about recruiting, isn't it?
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Old Fri Apr 15, 2011, 12:11pm
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Originally Posted by Dakota View Post
Not necessarily... the thread IS about recruiting, isn't it?
Sorta. I predict it could go down the beer path any moment.
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Old Fri Apr 15, 2011, 12:18pm
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Location: NC
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CecilOne View Post
First of all, NEVER refer to officiating as a hobby, it is not, it is a business for those who are paid.

How about current or recently retired players of fiends of theirs?
How about friends/relatives of other umpires?
Don't worry, I've known kleeds for a little while now, and I can assure you that he does not treat it as a "hobby."
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Dave

I haven't decided if I should call it from the dugout or the outfield. Apparently, both have really great views!

Screw green, it ain't easy being blue!

I won't be coming here that much anymore. I might check in now and again.
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  #11 (permalink)  
Old Fri Apr 15, 2011, 12:19pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu View Post
Sorta. I predict it could go down the beer path any moment.
How about right now?

I've got a nice bottle of Ommegang waiting for me for when I finally get the clearance to go back to umpiring. Hopefully, that'll be VERY soon.
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Dave

I haven't decided if I should call it from the dugout or the outfield. Apparently, both have really great views!

Screw green, it ain't easy being blue!

I won't be coming here that much anymore. I might check in now and again.
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  #12 (permalink)  
Old Fri Apr 15, 2011, 02:08pm
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1. What part of the country are you in?
2. Contact local JUCO coaches & inform them & players of need - and pay rate.
3. Contact local HS coaches & travel ball coaches - to give them a chance to learn the rules from our perspective
4. Contact adult slo-pitch leagues & ask if anyone wants to supplement income

Just some quick thoughts - don't just do flyers - show up in person to make your pitch
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Old Fri Apr 15, 2011, 03:15pm
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: NW Georgia
Posts: 11
Try local softball tournaments. Most umpires in my area work for rec depts as well as various slow or fast pitch sanctions. Many also officiate other sports, ie baseball, basketball, volleyball etc. Check with other sports official groups/assignors.
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  #14 (permalink)  
Old Fri Apr 15, 2011, 07:17pm
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Posts: 937
Try reaching out to officials who officiate other sports (especially young guys), who might be interested in learning to officiate another sport in the off-season of their current sport.
They already have an officiating skill set that can help "jump start" them as a softball umpire.
If you have a need for fast pitch umps, consider approaching some "baseball only" guys to see if they might be interested in learning how to umpire fast pitch. While it might take them a bit to grasp the many differences in the rules, they already know the basics of working the plate and having a consistent and accurate strike zone.
Two other things:
1) Recruit to a specific number and availability. It makes the task a little less overwhelming......"I need new umpires" vs. "I need 10 new umpires who are available a minimum of one weekend day and two nights during the week."
2) Sell the benefits,..."You can make an extra ($$ fill in the blank) a week/month based on your availability. Because as someone said in a previous post, "it is a business."
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