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The Umpire's Call |  |
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Greetings Fellow Umpires and Coaches!
Welcome to the Umpire's Call,
a
monthly (January - May) eNewsletter for amateur
baseball umpires, coaches, and those interested in
becoming baseball umpires. New this month are several Quick Links to web pages of umpire interest - scroll to the bottom and enjoy! Baseball is the greatest game ever created. No game clock, no shot clock, no instant replay, we can play two games in one day, the defense can't score, and we are smart enough to come in out of the rain.
Our Mission:
Why an eNewsletter for baseball umpires?
As one gets older, the body gets wider, the legs get heavier and working the bases becomes a bit harder. With a recent knee replacement the ability to outrun a high school batter runner and get to the infield to take a pivot has become increasingly difficult and in some cases not possible. Trying to outrun a college batter runner has become impossible. Right now you are thinking, Scott, it is time to get out, and you may be right, yet I have a lot of games left in this body and quite enjoy working the plate far more than the bases. With the shortage of new and younger umpires older umpires are going to have to stay around for a while, and in some parts of the country, a long while. Let's make it easier for the not-so-mobile base umpire to continue to be effective by allowing him/her to be in the "B" position with no one on base. This avoids a sloppy pivot or even no pivot as some challenged umpires will actually turn their back to the batter runner and never see them touch or miss 1st base. As quite a bit of the game is already administered in this fashion the advantage a two-person crew gains with the base umpire in the "A" position is minimal and with this new mechanic maybe able to keep some older less mobile guys around for a while. Your thoughts?
Expanding your umpiring schedule is selling yourself and your service. Marketing your product effectively includes contacting the correct people, communicating accurate information, and creating a positive impression.
Here are some suggestions: Email is the most effective method of initial contact as it is inexpensive, easily personalized, and the receiver does not have to shuffle any paper or create a file. Again, be brief, do not stretch the truth, and follow up. Game assignors appreciate having as many qualified names as possible and keeping your name in the forefront will produce results.
Watch a college baseball game and you will see players sprinting out to their positions following their offensive half inning. Watch a high school game and you may not even see a slight jog. As the spring season wears on I am seeing little done by high school coaches to assist umpires in moving the game along. There is a specific way to respect and play the game and many are not showing that respect. Fed rules allow 1 minute for the defense to get on the field and be ready for the next half inning. This minute begins with the final out of their previous offensive half inning, and yes, it is up to the umpires to enforce this rule. Players are needing that entire minute just to find their gloves, first base coaches are standing at the mound talking to the pitcher and delaying warm-up pitches, warm-up catchers needing to be prodded to come out and catch while the regular catcher leisurely dresses, and my favorite: players huddling in front of the dugout for that last minute defensive motivation - do they need to be motivated to get outs! Umpires - please mention in the pre-game meeting that assistance in adhering to this rule is needed and appreciated, and when the minute is up, the half inning will start. I am not advocating a stopwatch, yet the game needs to keep a continuous rhythm and umpires are the conductors. Coaches - Please insist that your team hustles, insist that players know where their gear is located, insist that the pitcher and catcher are the first out of the dugout and onto the field. Players - Sprint out, sprint in!
Situations will occur and tempers may flare, perceived unjust decisions rendered, parents and grand parents resort to acting like spoiled children, and tantrums erupt. Umpires must be good at delicately keeping the game under control. Although every situation is unique, umpires can only control what happens on the field unless fans become vulgar and/or violent. In the days of old umpires earned their stripes by who could yell the loudest and the number of ejections. That way of thinking has turned 180 degrees and now coaches and umpires are far more likely to remain a bit civil and even tempered. Should a volcanic temper erupt here are a few thoughts: Do remain: calm, professional, firm, tactful, and willingness to be fair Don't be: confrontational, timid, overly aggressive, or short-tempered. Easy for me to say! (The don'ts appear to be my first ten years of work and some say I still act that way!) An umpire's job and goal is to defuse the situation, nothing gets accomplished when two people are yelling, just reflect back to the last family tiff! If there is a disagreement, be willing to listen to the plea, sort out the details, and respond with what you saw and why you ruled as you did. If it is an error in enforcing a rule and it can be corrected - correct it! If it is judgment that is in question, the manager or coach has one chance to plead his/her case and then it is over, and you walk away. If they follow, turn and tell them to stop and return to the dugout or you will take further action, if they keep on, you will most likely have to eject them. Ejecting players, coaches, and managers is not the goal. For an ejection to occur, someone had to cross the line, work hard to make sure it wasn't YOU!
Camps, clinics, newsletters, and umpire associations are welcome to post their news in The Umpire's Call. Please contact me to have your information listed here. Gregg Erickson, head baseball coach at La Crosse, WI Central High School is in need of umpires (all levels) for summer 2007 non-school games, please email: gerickso@sdlax.k12.wi.us or contact at 608-789-7900, great opportunity for young umpires to get experience. Mile High Advanced Umpire Clinic - Sumer Intensive Camp in conjunction with The Randy Campbell memorial baseball Tournament, June 14-17, 2007 in Denver Colorado, www.milehighumpclinic.com for more information. Jason Knueven has equipment for sale, Gerry Davis shin guards: $40 Gerry Davis chest protector: $40, Phone: (816)-513- 6133, E-Mail: Jason_Knueven@kcmo.org Jerry Van de Vyver, Executive Director, World Baseball Umpire Alliance announces a new web site www.wbua.org, their mission is to develop training seminars and sessions for aspiring umpires, especially tailored for teens, membership is free - worth a look Bob Delzer, Fox Cities Officials Association (Wisconsin) announces the final meeting for baseball will be held May 16, 2007 at Menasha High School and will start at 7:00. BDELZ@aol.com A nice note in appreciation for TUC from John Calvin Mukete, Secretary General, Cameroon Baseball and Softball Federation, 1069, Avenue Charles de Gaulle, Email fecabaseball @yahoo.com. Dave Mekelburg produces UmpNews.com a huge collection of information and articles covering all levels of baseball umpiring - a must see. Mark Wehrwein invites umpires to sign up for Fed Play of the Day sponsored by the Greater Huntsville, AL Umpire Association The Toughest Fair/Foul Quiz in the World! - with acknowledgements to Richard Siegel
Earlier I mentioned that I am adding an additional item to our mission list - assist new umpires in obtaining quality used and donated equipment. A main reason for new umpires not sticking with umpiring is the cost of equipment. More often than not, beginning umpires are working low level games and working behind a youth catcher who doesn't want to catch and/or has little skills. This is a situation where a new umpire should be well protected and confident in his/her equipment. I am asking veteran umpires who have extra or unused equipment and clothing to donate these items to a beginning umpire in their area. Use your local association as a starting point. Should this not be possible The Umpire's Call will be happy to act as a clearinghouse for donated equipment and clothing. Either we will put generous umpires in contact with those in need of equipment or umpires may send their donated equipment to my office and I will forward it, at our expense, to umpires, leagues, programs, and associations that indicate such a need.
Umpires/youth programs/amateur leagues/associations that wish to buy, sell, donate, or are in need of equipment are welcome and encouraged to contact our office. Please include item description (a picture would be great), size, color, condition, price, and your contact information and I will be happy to post it in this section. This is for private individuals only and NO DEALERS PLEASE! (unless you wish to donate)
Only three feet wide and forty-five feet long, this small area can loom large in the batter-runner's last few steps to first base. The first and most important determination involves whether the batter-runner is inside or outside the running lane. The lines are part of the lane and one foot in the lane and either foot touching either line = in the lane. One or both feet outside the lines = outside the lane and interference possibilities. A throw must be made for running lane interference to occur - the batter-runner running outside the lane only is not sufficient for interference. When there may be an interference situation the plate umpire needs to:
· Determine fair/foul, if fair - continue When running lane interference occurs, the plate umpire signals that the ball is dead, declares the interference and calls the batter-runner out. All other base runners return to the bases they occupied at the time of pitch. Hustle and knowing the situation will always give you a chance to get this one right!
Only 8 seats remaining 2007 British Open Week in St. Andrews, Scotland July 17-26 Includes Airfare from Newark, NJ Liberty Airport non-stop service to Edinburgh, Scotland and return
5-Rounds of Golf on these fabulous courses
- Single Room Accommodations in St. Andrews
Total package offered at $3,390.00
Please call now for booking information. Balloting for the Old Course (daily lottery for tee times) can be arranged and added to the itinerary. Over 50% of daily ballots are successful, and there is no charge for balloting. Green fees £125.00 - approx. $250.00 Please visit the USJT Golf Travel website for more information, and contact our office to book the golf trip of a lifetime.
Does your umpire association or local youth baseball
league experience any of the following problems? Designed for young umpires as well as veterans, Youth Baseball Umpire Clinics, a division of USJT Sports Education, has just completed its 6th year of educating baseball umpires with a comprehensive "HANDS ON" format. NOT "sit and listen, take notes, watch a video" instruction - YBUC participants come dressed for activity and take an active part in learning pre-game responsibilities, consistent umpiring techniques, on field positioning, and proper game administration. Host a YBUC at your site. Now accepting bookings for 2007 season.
May 19, 2007 - Mayville, WI
Thanks for reading our 2007 March issue, I hope you have enjoyed it! Good news needs to be shared and I invite and encourage you to forward The Umpire's Call to all who may have interest. It's easy, just click here. If they wish to continue, have them contact me to be added to the subscription list. Great ideas, constructive criticism, differing thoughts, and varying opinions are most welcome.
All 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 issues of
The Umpire's
Call
are available at My best regards, Scott
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