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The Umpire's Call |  |
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Greetings Fellow Umpires and Coaches! Welcome to the 2007 season of The Umpire's Call, a monthly (January - May) eNewsletter for amateur baseball umpires, coaches, and those interested in becoming baseball umpires. This is the beginning of our 4th year of publication and it is a credit to amateur umpires, coaches, and baseball enthusiasts who read, question, and suggest topics for our eNewsletter. Our goal was one year; we underestimated the need and your interest, and have proudly overachieved! I have added an additional item to our mission list and I hope you can help - assist new umpires in obtaining quality used and donated equipment. More on this in my column below. The Umpire's Call is a light look at all levels of baseball umpiring, youth league through college, placing emphasis on recruitment of new umpires, early preparation for the upcoming season, and education and training for all.
Our Mission:
Why an eNewsletter for baseball umpires?
Best wishes for a great 2007 season.
Welcome back to all our veteran readers and a hearty hello to new subscribers. Our regular readers know that I have great passion for getting young people interested in umpiring, and providing training that will make umpiring a positive experience. In the past I have asked that umpires find a young person who may have interest and mentor them during their first year(s). I have challenged high school athletic associations to provide more training opportunities for not only umpires, but all officials. I think it is prudent for state baseball coaches associations to take an avid interest in umpire training to assure that there are qualified umpires that can move up to varsity level and beyond. It may not take an entire village to raise an umpire, but it takes effort from all factions that have a vested interest in this great game. As a baseball coach spring practice was a welcome change - winter was leaving and more daylight was on the way. Still weeks of indoor work loomed ahead, and practices turned to drudgery only after a few weeks. One item that motivated players was competition involving knowledge of the rules and administration of the game. Nothing too deep, yet maybe we could manufacture a run, take an extra base, cause a balk, impress an umpire, or even win a game by being just a little better prepared than our competition. I encourage college and high school coaches to call upon umpires in your area to meet with and speak to your teams about baseball and the game. Umpires I encourage you to make yourselves available to local schools and programs for such a presentation. Topics could include rule changes, equipment, strike zones, base running, pick-offs, sliding, balks, interference, obstruction, infield fly rule, batting out of order, developing a game relationship with umpires, the list is never-ending, but if you do run out of topics, give me a call! What a great way to get to know the players (and they you), promote sportsmanship, cooperation, and prepare for the upcoming season. As we open a new year of amateur baseball we again see rules changed and editorialized for positive purposes. The NCAA rule changes focus intently on safety and sportsmanship and their rules committee should be congratulated. The FED rule changes acknowledge most of the same safety and sportsmanship issues, yet have once again trod where they do not need to go. Here is an example:
Rule 3-2-1 was revised to
state that one player
or
coach may occupy each coach's box while his team is
at bat. A coach or player occupying the coach's box
shall remain in the box from the time the batter
enters the batter's box until the release of the ball by
the pitcher. If the coach or player steps out of the
box during this time, regardless of who violates the
rule, the head coach will be restricted to the
bench/dugout.
"A player or coach standing outside the box gains
an
unfair advantage as to where the opposing pitcher
intends to pitch the ball," said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS
assistant director and liaison to the Baseball Rules
Committee.. "The box-bound player or coach does
not have the same angle or disadvantage. This rule
seeks to correct these unfair advantages and
prevent distractions the pitcher may experience
during his delivery." Does this mean that the 18th player on the varsity team, who in the bottom of the 1st inning while coaching 1st base, wanders out of the coaching box while his teammate is in the batter’s box and now I must restrict his head coach to the dugout for the remainder of the contest? I can see less than sportsmanlike teams with an assistant coach dressed and in the dugout with his sole purpose being to watch both opposing base coaches to see if he can get the opposing head coach restricted to his dugout.
Note to NFHS Baseball Rules Committee: Let the
umpires do their job between the lines and
leave the petty housekeeping issues alone. Read and post comments at the Umpire's Call Blog.
Rules as are players, are constantly in motion. Here
are 2007 rules changes. Both NCAA and FED changes
are available for
download as are the NCAA 2007 Baseball Rules.
Good for you and I encourage you to do it no matter your age or extent of your baseball experience. Umpiring can be taught and most times the less experience you have the better it is as you arrive with no bad habits.
New umpires are highly encouraged to register with
their state high school association. Even if one's
intention is not to umpire interscholastic contests
this is the best place to begin. Each state charges a
varying registration fee which gives one access to
rule books, rules meetings and in some cases, ever
important liability insurance.
Reprint from January 2006 issue: The Christmas cookies are gone and nobody can eat just one, the sweater you got as a gift is an XL and a bit tight, and the channel buttons on the remote control are crying for relief! Your umpire schedule is beginning to take shape, open dates are bad, filled dates are good, consecutive filled dates are even better, and you are very proud of that 20 game stretch in April over a 12 day period. It all looks good now, it feels great to be wanted, but are you, or will you be in shape to be wanted back? As with rule study, the time to begin getting into umpire shape is now. Yes, some of you are winter sport officials and are active, but all of us need to begin preparing our lower body for the upcoming season. Brisk walking with a spouse or colleague is a good beginning. After a few weeks, let it turn into a combination of walking and 20 yard jogs to simulate getting into the infield from the base umpire A position. Let the walk progress to an intermittent 25 yard hard jog ending with a taking a pivot as the base umpire would from the A position on a base hit. Concentrate on getting your legs in shape for plate work, begin with a warm up and then simple squats – go slowly please. Picture yourself in a game and get into your stance. If you can get into a weight room, ask for specific direction on the leg machines and squat exercises. Make sure to go slowly so there is not an injury which will delay you from getting ready for the season opener.
Camps, clinics, newsletters, and umpire associations are welcome to post their news in The Umpire's Call.
Our online readership has grown to over 7,000
worldwide addresses including the
U.S., Canada, Mexico, the U.K., Ireland, Germany,
the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Sweden, Japan, and Australia. Please contact me to have your information listed here. 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)
Umpires, coaches, families, and friends - join us for play on four outstanding Florida golf courses, attend a prestigious PGA golf tournament, and get a close-up look at MLB players preparing for the 2007 season!
Golf and Major League
Baseball Spring Training
Program
8 Days - 4 Championship Golf Courses - Admission to
Arnold Palmer Invitational - 5 Major League Spring
Training Baseball Games - 9 Teams - 5 Spring Training
Stadiums
Fri. March 16, 7:05PM - St. Louis Cardinals vs
Atlanta Braves at Disney World
Sat. March 17, 12:30PM - Golf at Southern Dunes
Golf and Country Club - Haines City
Sun. March 18, 8:00AM - Arnold Palmer
Invitational
at Bay Hill Golf Club - Orlando
Mon. March 19, 1:05PM - Pittsburgh Pirates vs
Philadelphia Phillies at Clearwater
Tue. March 20, 8:00AM - Golf at ChampionsGate
Golf Club - ChampionsGate
Wed. March 21, 9:00AM - Golf at Orange County
National Golf Club - Winter Garden
Thu. March 22, 11:00AM - Golf at Timacuan Golf
Club - Lake Mary
More information and pricing available at USJT Golf
Travel
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. Please click here for info.
Thanks for reading our 2007 opening 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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