umpire god complex (I'm gonna get blasted) can o worms? check.

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Jul 8, 2015
7
0
A simple question I have always struggled with in coaching travel ball, and have never gotten an answer to:

Why do a LOT of umpires pull a god complex when you calmly want to discuss rules. ("don't you DARE tell me you have a rule book")

For those of us that memorize the rule book for our associations, yet are routinely burned by umpires that do not have knowledge of the rules.

This is NOT about judgment call items, I'm all for the ever changing conditions of the game and the need for Judgement calls.

This is about hard and fast rules, rules with no interpretation implied and no judgment issues involved.

Background:

We play in midlevel tourneys mainly, but have run into this issue in high end tourneys as well. This is travel ball U trip and ASA.

I have been kicked from ONE, only ONE game, I have lost more than my share of games due to bad calls. The Tourney Director has NEVER made his umpires responsible for lack of knowledge. Is the umpire pool that small everywhere in the country, that their scared of not getting them back?

Why do the associations have no time for recourse or discussion of these matters? (Our state ASA has coaches of a premier program on their payroll)

My thought process is this; "Umpires are paid to do a job correctly, by the teams playing, so why are they granted impunity against poor job performance?"

Any other job performed poorly is subject to to review, why not this one?

I just want a fair game, called both ways.

What are your thoughts?

Flame on.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Your expectations are less than realistic. Yes the umpire pool is that small. Unfortunately many view it as a part time job and most are not that committed and skilled enough to get really good at it. Sure they get paid, but so do the employees at Wal-Mart. How many of them have outstanding customer service skills and deep product knowledge? Umpires are not paid well enough where they are culling their ranks and turning people away. Most TD's are happy to have enough umpires to go around and as they say, beggars cannot be choosers. As to the god complex, that is typically the refuge of the insecure and the incompetent. If they have a god complex they probably are not that good and you are wasting your time arguing the rules. Talking to a brick wall will be just as effective and you will get to hang around and see the end of the game.
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
In addition to quality fastpitch umpires being really scarce, the pay is not enough to lure them in. So as a result, most of the time your stuck with a local guy who has a lot of minor boys experience.

We had an umpire recently say to me "I don't care where the ball is or who has it, I'm calling the play over when the lead runner stops!"
This is after a kid on second waffled back and forth 3 or 4 times towards third, while my pitcher stood in the circle with the ball....
I guess if we didn't have those who are horrible, we'd never appreciate the decent ones
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
I have lost more than my share of games due to bad calls. ... I just want a fair game, called both ways.

You speak of umpires having a god complex. And some umpires (and coaches) probably do have this trait.

Another stereotype is the coach who always thinks his/her team is getting screwed more than the next guy (quote above).

If it's true that you've lost more than your share, and that you're frequently in games where the umpires are not calling it both ways (targeting your team), what explanation do you have for that? Why is your team the victim of poor umpiring more than other teams?

You ask some good questions. I don't take issue to your post. Just curious about this aspect.
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
You would think that $40/hr is good pay? Esp. since it is cash.

I am sure each and every one reports all their umpiring income to the IRS.

your partially right.... $40 per game, each game is on average 90 min., plus the rechalk or wet down time between games equals more like $20 per hour.
High School games are paying about $50 for HP and $30 for the bases, plus its through the week and not on a weekend.
 
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
your partially right.... $40 per game, each game is on average 90 min., plus the rechalk or wet down time between games equals more like $20 per hour.
High School games are paying about $50 for HP and $30 for the bases, plus its through the week and not on a weekend.

Not to mention the half hour drive both ways (gas here is $3/gal and you have to be there early...etc.). so for a guy to go ump a HS game on a weekday is almost a 3 hour commitment so its more like $10-15/hr. An umps only real chance to make decent money is weekend tournaments. I did it for 3 years when my kids were little after work while it was fun and I loved the game it is just not an easy gig as you make it out and yes we almost all come from baseball backgrounds. You want to really struggle do LL where it was (not sure if its still) all volunteers. I've actually come out of the stands to ump when umps did not show just so the kids could play and on that occasion nobody knew me from Adam (probably not even legal, no background checks or anything just one guy form stands from each team, it was a military town and most of us were in the service otherwise probably would not have done it)

The other big thing to realize is usually for an area there is ONE umpire association which means the very last thing a TD wants to do is tick off the guy running that association which might mean next months tournament has no umpires, they have to walk a fine line and usually no matter how bone headed and wrong the ump is they back the umpire and talk to him later if you are lucky.

Is umpire quality poor nationwide...it really depends some areas are better than others but it is usually just luck of the draw.
 
Last edited:
Dec 23, 2009
791
0
San Diego
Random thoughts...

DD played in Vegas this past weekend...had little league baseball umpires for an 18U college showcase...complained to the TD, who said that they didn't realize most of the "good" blues would be in Colorado...said they won't make that mistake next year...

Umpired HS ball this past season...since it was my first year with the HS association (7th for FP including ASA rec and travel), all I got to do was JV ball...but it was $65 a game for 2 hour time limit if I was by myself and $52 if I had a partner...not sure if I'll go back because I'm tired of the political BS, being told to ignore things in the interest of game managements, and watching good ballplayers get screwed on the field by guys who haven't cracked the spine of the rule book in 20 years...and spend most of the umpire meetings talking crap about the coaches...

TDs are at the mercy of the local associations...but the umpire ranks are also not being replenished with new blood...the kids that don't play anymore could make some decent money and give back to the game - but why would they - they remember all the crap the umpires had to take when they were players...

If coaches really want good umpires, help them out...learn the rules yourself, don't piss and moan on every judgment call that doesn't go your way, definitely question any improper rules interpretation (treat it as a learning experience - trust me - the umpires need it too)...and protest when appropriate...

And last but certainly not least...handle your abusive parents and/or spectators promptly...
 

redhotcoach

Out on good behavior
May 8, 2009
4,706
38
You would think that $40/hr is good pay? Esp. since it is cash.

I am sure each and every one reports all their umpiring income to the IRS.

Every weekend I am saying "the only job that gets a 30 minute smoke break for every 75 minutes of work".
 

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