can't get games

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by BornToReferee

Do you suppose the association (not saying what that is) I'm currently registered with would be open to having two associations in the same area...somewhat competing against each other?

What about carving up the city into sections whereby I would do the assigning for some small area, while the existing group does the rest? You suppose that would fly?

Generally, it doesn't work that way.

[BornToReferee]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Generally, it doesn't work that way.

...but has it ever been done before...and I don't necessarily mean in softball only?

I would think if they truly need volunteers at least the offer for man-power would be desirable. The key here is when they start to ask the question, "why I would want to do it?"

By the way, since we are on the subject of assigning games, are those volunteer positions or is there a little pay involved with that too?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by BornToReferee

...but has it ever been done before...and I don't necessarily mean in softball only?

I would think if they truly need volunteers at least the offer for man-power would be desirable. The key here is when they start to ask the question, "why I would want to do it?"

It doesn't work that way because you have the whole equation backward.

That said --- how do you really think it's going to look when you approach the higher ups, saying, "Hi ... I'm a rookie that the other assignor has blackballed. I have no experience whatsoever umpiring and I've been to exactly one clinic - that one held locally. I'm completely ill-equipped to hold any clinics of my own and won't be for several years. I know about 6 umpires each of whom I've worked with once. I'd like to start up a new association and schedule some of the local leagues." At what point do you think they stop listening or start laughing.

No offense... but take a step back and ask yourself honestly if this is a realistic proposal that anyone would take seriously.

[BornToReferee]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

It doesn't work that way because you have the whole equation backward.

That said --- how do you really think it's going to look when you approach the higher ups, saying, "Hi ... I'm a rookie that the other assignor has blackballed. I have no experience whatsoever umpiring and I've been to exactly one clinic - that one held locally. I'm completely ill-equipped to hold any clinics of my own and won't be for several years. I know about 6 umpires each of whom I've worked with once. I'd like to start up a new association and schedule some of the local leagues." At what point do you think they stop listening or start laughing.

No offense... but take a step back and ask yourself honestly if this is a realistic proposal that anyone would take seriously.

Not sure how to respond to this, if at all.

I'm highly educated. I got transferable skills and comparable experiences.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by BornToReferee

Not sure how to respond to this, if at all.

I'm highly educated. I got transferable skills and comparable experiences.

Wow. Rich is right.

Nothing worse than a cocky rookie. You have NO IDEA how difficult it is to assign games, and if you think you can run a softball clinic and teach umpires how to be umpires after just a few games ... well - there are no words.

Based on this conversation alone, I wouldn't work with you. Do you think this attitude of yours has not filtered it's way to your assignor? I'm sure it has. People talk. You act like this with your partners, I GUARANTEE your attitude is known by your assignor. Now we can see the reason why he was seemingly overly harsh in his reaction to you canceling on him. Whether what he is doing is right or wrong regarding unsanctioned games - I can completely understand him looking for a reason to part ways with you.

[BornToReferee]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Wow. Rich is right.

Nothing worse than a cocky rookie. You have NO IDEA how difficult it is to assign games, and if you think you can run a softball clinic and teach umpires how to be umpires after just a few games ... well - there are no words.

Based on this conversation alone, I wouldn't work with you. Do you think this attitude of yours has not filtered it's way to your assignor? I'm sure it has. People talk. You act like this with your partners, I GUARANTEE your attitude is known by your assignor. Now we can see the reason why he was seemingly overly harsh in his reaction to you canceling on him. Whether what he is doing is right or wrong regarding unsanctioned games - I can completely understand him looking for a reason to part ways with you.

He knows nothing about me other than my polite and level-headed emails. LOL

I didn't bring up the subject with my fellow umpires.

Again, jumping to conclusions ...could this be because you too are taking some heat for something you did? LOL

Don't bother replying back. I got some quality advice mixed in with the smack to run with it....

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by BornToReferee

He knows nothing about me other than my polite and level-headed emails. LOL

I didn't bring up the subject with my fellow umpires.

Again, jumping to conclusions ...could this be because you too are taking some heat for something you did? LOL

Don't bother replying back. I got some quality advice mixed in with the smack to run with it....

Again ... trying very hard not to pile on... but it's getting more and more difficult.

You've completely missed my point. I was not saying you had THIS conversation with your fellow umpires. However, it is clear there are a great many things you don't know and don't understand. Normally, rookies are expected not to know these things --- but the issue here is that you don't seem to understand what you don't understand. That is the attitude that would come through loud and clear to your partners ... and that is the attitude that would get filtered in to your assignor.

His seemingly harsh response seems obviously to be more than just to the one incident. It's clear that was not a single problem, but a final straw.

If you really do want to work in this business, find some humility, realize that you are not smarter than everyone else in the room, admit when you are wrong and learn from those you can learn from. You're currently on the opposite road on all of these.

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by BornToReferee

Not sure how to respond to this, if at all.

I'm highly educated. I got transferable skills and comparable experiences.

From reading the posts, I'm not sure your education extends to how the officiating racket works.

[BornToReferee]

Originally Posted by HugoTafurst

From reading the posts, I'm not sure your education extends to how the officiating racket works.

Therein lies the problem -- racket.

[APG]

Originally Posted by BornToReferee

Not sure how to respond to this, if at all.

I'm highly educated. I got transferable skills and comparable experiences.

What would you provide to those in your area that the current association would not or is not able to provide? If they haven't had any issues with the current association, what incentive would anyone have to pick your new association? Who would you have to even follow you into your new association. You're a rookie...why is anyone going to follow a rookie who's barely worked any amount of games? Why would they join your new association when you'd almost certainly have no games to assign?

You only have a couple of realistic options. Talk with the assignor, claim some sort of miscommunication and getting off on the wrong foot, and that you'd like to start over again. The other option is expanding where you're willing to work and work in another area. The other option is to be "right" and not work any games.

The option to start a new association would only be feasible if you were able to get a decent amount of officials to cross over to your new board. And unless there are some other outside factors, this probably won't happen. Otherwise, your transferable skills and comparable experiences aren't going to mean jack **** to anyone.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by BornToReferee

By the way, since we are on the subject of assigning games, are those volunteer positions or is there a little pay involved with that too?

In our area, assignors get paid. They have to; nobody would do what they do for free.

I have no idea how much they get, but the game fees that our association negotiates with the various schools, leagues, and other organizations we provide our services to are docked a certain percentage to pay the assignor. For example, we may sign a contract with the XYZ Softball League that says each umpire gets $60 a game. But the umpire actually gets $55, with $2.50 going to the association and the other $2.50 going to the assignor.

[Rich]

You're a rookie and your biggest concern is liability insurance?

Get an umbrella policy or join NASO.

BTW, If I was the assignor I would probably (immediately) recognize you as a pain in the ass and wouldn't use you either.

[BornToReferee]

Originally Posted by Rich

You're a rookie and your biggest concern is liability insurance?

Get an umbrella policy or join NASO.

BTW, If I was the assignor I would probably (immediately) recognize you as a pain in the ass and wouldn't use you either.

Nice comments. You are jumping to conclusions.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by BornToReferee

Nice comments. You are jumping to conclusions.

No, he's expressing an opinion based upon his observation of you and your comments here. He's not alone. If we can read your comments, your own justifications, your own opinions, and come to a conclusion that you might be the type of person that makes things difficult ... isn't it possible that your assignor had already done the same, even before the final incident?

Just from this thread... you asked for advice and then argued with it... you were given options to solve your problem, dismissed those options as something you weren't willing to do out of pride, and then complained about having no options... you espoused such disdain for the job of an assignor to assume that you, a self-professed rookie, could assume these duties easily... Ditto the task of mentoring and training umpires...

Are Rich's "conclusions" really a jump?

[BornToReferee]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Are Rich's "conclusions" really a jump?

Yep. I wasn't born yesterday. LOL