One umpire system

[MD Longhorn]

1-man games are rare in my area, and usually the result of someone not showing or it being one of those weekends where all the umps are out of town or unavailable. Rarely is it 1-man by design of the league.

That said ... 1-umpire is not a "system".

[Skahtboi]

The last time I worked as one umpire on a field was probably a decade ago, and that was because my partner failed to show. It was at a tournament. I did three games by myself before a replacement was found.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

That said ... 1-umpire is not a "system".

Well, it does come under the heading of umpire systems in the Umpire Manual. Page 254?

It may not be the preferred, but it is recognized with appropriate mechanics.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

Well, it does come under the heading of umpire systems in the Umpire Manual. Page 254?

It may not be the preferred, but it is recognized with appropriate mechanics.

Oh, I'm not questioning that. Just remarking that despite it's moniker as a "system", it's really just a mechanism for barely getting by, at best.

[Rachel]

I decided to help out and work a one umpire system for a day. After an umpire didn't show up I ended up with 5 games in 7 hours. My back hasn't been the same since.

People wonder why it's hard to get new people in. The reason is we put inexperienced people on the diamond with idiot coaches that abuse them. Vets like me don't get rattled but new people need to have someone on their side to help them and to diffuse the game playing that goes on.

[Andy]

Almost all of the FP rec leagues here in the Phoenix area are one umpire, as far as I know. All of our tournament games are two umpire, with three umpire games later in the tournament.

I don't know of any slowpitch leagues or tournaments that use two umpires routinely around here, but there are some other areas of the state where two umpires for slowpitch are the norm.

What is going to be interesting is our national slowpitch tournament here later this summer, Women's C and D. Several of our umpires are from the local area and have rarely worked a slowpitch game on the bases, let alone three umpire.....

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Andy

What is going to be interesting is our national slowpitch tournament here later this summer, Women's C and D. Several of our umpires are from the local area and have rarely worked a slowpitch game on the bases, let alone three umpire.....

Then they shouldn't be there.

[MNBlue]

Originally Posted by Andy

Several of our umpires are from the local area and have rarely worked a slowpitch game on the bases, let alone three umpire.....

Sounds like an opportunity for a local UIC, or a state UIC to do some training if they intend on recommending umpires for a tournament they aren't prepared to work.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

Sounds like an opportunity for a local UIC, or a state UIC to do some training if they intend on recommending umpires for a tournament they aren't prepared to work.

I couldn't agree more. Have them scheduled to work 3 man together on league games (no matter how many umpires the league to paying for) with trainers (yes, plural) available to correct and adjust them.