Newbie trying to learn as much as possible
 

just started umpiring this past season. Church league, and a myriad of youth leagues, co-ed adult, and open league. mostly slow pitch but a little fastpitch thrown in the mix too. just wanted to throw this out and see what kind of responses i get. Im very new and very young whats INYO the best advice you have

First and foremost, continue caring about learning.
Second, find a good mentor (good knowledge and cares about you)
Third, listen. Try each advice and learn how to tell if it is helping.
Fourth, study, attend clinics, LISTEN and USE.
Fifth, don't overload. Your assortment looks like enough to start, one sanction, two if one is NFHS.
Sixth, study, attend clinics, LISTEN and USE.
Seventh, same as first.

1. Read the rulebook. Don't just know the rules, know how to apply them.

2. Get a mentor. Find an experienced umpire in your area that knows what they are doing and pick their brain, watch them work, ask questions, etc.

3. Work as much as you can, at any level you can.

Slow down--almost all young umpires are way too quick with their calls

All good responses above with just a couple to add.

I will admit I quit doing this, but in the first several years I kept a journal. After your games, write a brief entry into what went on in the game. How you felt your strikezone was, and funny plays you weren't sure about, things you think you may have screwed up or done right.....etc. Also include division and ages (maybe even team names and score....I rarely did that unless something memorable happened). Leave some space underneath to write in rule references and what-not when you have time to look them up.

Do this when you get home while they are fresh on your mind. If you have real stamina and do this for a long time....you will have a history of your umpiring past.

Admit and learn from your mistakes. Don't get defensive when a good umpire corrects (even little things) you or makes suggestions.

Oh.....already said....but get a mentor.

Joel

thanks to all for your advice i will certainly use it.

minnesota how do you "slow down" im a basketball official as well and im used to bang bang calls just now moving up in officiating learning how to let the play "develop" any more advice is greatly appreciated

Best advice is SLOW DOWN.

Secondly, keep the willing-to-learn attitude.

Thirdly, work on one or two things every game that will make you a better umpire.

Fourthly(?), hit this forum regularly. These folks are the tops on line. :cool:

All the above. Plus, dress properly. If you're dressed like an umpire when you walk on the field you've already done one thing right.

Just because a play is bang-bang does not mean that your call has to be.

The only time you can get away with rushing a call is on a safe play at first. If you are really concentrating and you know the runner beat the throw by a whisker......you can go on ahead and make a "sell safe" call. You still have to call it after the runner has touched first though............:D

Everyone here has seen umpires who call balls and strikes before they are in the catcher's mitt. Pause and rethink what you saw and then make your call.

If it is a close out, you might pause for just a bit while rewinding in your head and then make the sell out call. Remember......never guess an out....think it over for just a second. Then make the call.

Joel

5 Must Know "Rules" of Softball
 

1. Fair Ball

2. Foul Ball

3. Infield Fly Rule

4. Interference

5. Obstruction

Know these 5 things backward and forward...know how to recognize each...know how to apply the rule for each...and know how to explain them to a coach/player.

These 5 things occur repeatedly in almost every single softball game whether is slow pitch or fast pitch.

And while "fair" and "foul" might seem to be overly simplistic, I've seen umpires screw these two calls up more times than I'd like to recall.

If you're calling fast pitch you might also want to add Dropped Third Strike and also the Look Back Rule.

Good luck.

Timing, timing, timing.
Work on developing good timing. Good timing is what slows you down. Good timing is what sells the call for you. Good timing helps your judgement. Good timing is what will help make you a good umpire.
Welcome to umpiring and the forum. Good luck.

Great list...I'd add the Illegal Pitch Rule for both FP&SP softball.

Here's a big one. Don't get defensive with players either. You need to have thick skin and selective hearing especially in men's SP. Don't let them get in your head or under your skin. Makes for a very long evening or day of softball.

The only other thing I have to add is "HAVE FUN". It's just a game.

I agree with what has been posted. The biggest thing I get from players is a comment on how well I hustle to cover a play. Way too many umpires in the SP league I work in make almost every call from behind the plate. Anticipate where the play will be and get there as quick as you can. You may kick a call every now and then but trust me, you will get much less argument if you are out there in position to make the call.

The post on the 5 topics above is very good as well. Those are the calls you will make 95% of the time. The rest will come as you review the rule book and by doing games. If you make a mistake, take the time to learn from it. Don't beat yourself up if you do. Just keep it in your memory bank for future reference.

I enjoy umpiring very much and as a fellow 3 year newbie I almost always learn something, both good or bad, from the people I work with almost every game.

Have a great time.

A couple of things come to mind:

1 - I always assume the fielder WILL drop the ball, and it's up to them to prove to me they have it. This keeps me from rushing my "out!" calls.

2 - In slow pitch, wait until the catcher has the ball before you call "ball" or "strike." Once it hits the ground beyond the plate, wait 1 second and then make your call. Get into a rhythm.

For part of your game management skills watch a few episodes of Dog Whisperer. When you watch Felix in action with a bad dog, imagine the dog as a coach. Dog Whisperer becomes Coach Whisperer:cool:.

You mean Cesar. ;)

And actually, yes... I have tried a few of these techniques on both coaches and school principals.

Read this:

http://forum.officiating.com/softbal...1-edition.html

It only covers the NFHS softball rules set, (not ASA or USSSA) but does have enough information for anyone new to officiating the sport to get you thinking.

His last name is Millan.
I flashed back to Felix Millan - NY Mets

On the basketball court, we teach to not anticipate a play or a call, but to get in position, SEE THE PLAY, then put air in your whistle, or not, as needed.

Same philosophy in softball...get in position, SEE THE PLAY, make the call.

Going along with the SLOW DOWN and the Fair/Foul...

The ball's not foul until it's foul. A moving ball that has not struck anyone (player, coach, ump) or anything (fence, net) or gone out of play is just a moving ball.

Yeah... it looks foul ... and it's gonna stay foul... OH NO!

Most foul balls don't need to be "called" anyway.

Agree with that. The first year I umped, I had a bang-bang play at third, called the runner safe, the third baseman looked up, saw that I was on top of the play and says, "It's a good thing you are standing right there blue or we'd be arguing right now." Then he tossed the ball back to the pitcher and didn't say another word.

One thing I forgot to mention...
 

Don't take your eyes off the ball. Nothing can happen with out it...See Bernie Profato school of umpiring...

I learned how to do an over hand out at NUS when he was an instructor.

And that is over simplified...but its true. "nothing can happen without the ball"

Well, obstruction almost always happens without the ball, because with the ball it's not usually obstruction. :rolleyes:

It is nice to get your nose in their once you have seen the play, but don't get in too close too early. Bad things can happen if you are too close to the play.

There are a few times you just have to take your eyes off the ball though. Case in point, summer womens game (mostly college kids)......nobody on and outs don't matter. I am in A.....shallow fly ball towards RF......I bust inside while watching the ball over my right shoulder. Apparently, F3 thought she might also have had a shot at the fly ball and we collide. Damn near knocked both of us off our feet.

In that situation a quick peek at the ball and then watching where I was going would have been the right thing to do.

Joel

Also remember, that even with proper mechanics from all umpires in a game, there are certain situations, where there are spots on the field where a pair of eyes wasn't available. And even after a private meeting with your partner(s), if it wasn't seen, it can't be called.

Except for maybe obstruction.........:cool:

for me the toughest part of officiating in those crazy 1 in 500,00 instances when two umpires or 3 basketball officials miss what ever the fans or gym is screaming about and theres nothing you can do except play on

For the most part though.....fans have no idea what they saw.....they just know they "saw something"......:cool:

Joel

...or UC, or INT or a missed base or an injury or .......well, a load of things can happen without the ball.

While it is true that the umpire needs to find the ball and be aware of where it is, I disagree with the comment of always watch the ball. As noted, "over simplified", but it is a too simplistic a comment which too many take to heart, including some UICs. I once received a phone call from an umpire at a NC who was told by the UIC to not worry about watching the BR touch 1B instead of watching the ball which was at the fence in left field.

When on the field, we all have specific assignments and a good portion of those jobs do not involve watching the ball. You learn to find the ball and adjust, if necessary.

:-(
 

Unfortunately, my attempt at humor in remembering the "drills" Bernie Profato made us do at NUS wasn't quite so humorous...sorry.

I remember doing the three man drill with Bernie where he gives you a hand signal and you all three have to make the same call. If you do not, they you get to do over hand outs from 1st base all the way to the outfield fence. And finally, when the three of you get it right and you're high fiving each other, Bernie will throw his hand up and everyone is supposed to yell "Dead Ball!!!". And if you're not paying attention, guess what you get to do...yep. Over hand outs.

Great learning tool to get umpires to hesitate that split second but that the ball is quite important.

No, it is humorous for anyone who has experienced Bernie. Though he could be mean at times :rolleyes: Saw him rip up a blank certificate that was supposed to be that of a kid who happened to have nodded off during a lecture by Bernie. When awarding the certificates and it came time for this 14 yo kid to receive his, Bernie put on a show ripping up the certificate. Poor kid damn near came to tears. Felt bad for him.

I am laughing.

I would have to agree!
 

Bernie was an experience!