- May 27, 2022
- 412
- 63
Just finished 'our' last year in HS SB and ready to be a full time Umpire!
As a student-of-the-game, I've been watching umpires the last couple of seasons (as well as doing weekend TB umpire gigs) to pick up tips/tricks as to how to be the best I can be. Unfortunately, that has left me a little more jaded about the quality of umpires than I otherwise would have been. Some of the pet peeves I've picked up:
- Players wiping out the lines in the box - there are a few girls in our conference that run their foot along the line closest to the plate effectively wiping it out. I know that, eventually, the lines disappear, but in the first or second inning, after playing against them a few times over the years, it is obvious they are erasing the line to their benefit
- Players standing too close to the plate (after the previous point). I have yet to see any umpire ever call/correct this. It's 6 inches from the edge of the plate to the edge of the chalk. My umpiring shoe is 5" wide. It isn't hard to slide my foot along home to get a good estimate of how far the batter should be. I've seen many girls plant their toes 2-3" from the plate with nary a care from any umpire I've ever watched.
- Hit by pitch in the river. Very few girls play the game this way, but there are a few that stand right next to the plate, park their elbow adjacent to the strike zone and wait for the inside pitch to 'earn' that free pass to first.
- Illegal pitches - the only illegal pitch I have ever personally seen called is 'presenting' the ball. Not leaping, replanting, lane violations, or even taking a signal. I've seen one umpire repeatedly warn the pitcher over several innings to simulate a signal, but would not call it.
- Although most girls in HS understand it well, I've seen a few examples of not calling the look back rule
- Not willing to ask their partner. IMO, if a coach comes out and asks if an umpire could ask their partner if they saw anything different (unless they do it a lot), there is no reason that the umpire shouldn't oblige. IMO, pure arrogance to not get a second opinion. If nothing else, asking your partner is respectful to the concerns of the coach and gains respect from both sides of that equation.
- Influence by fans. The vast majority of fans are cool - only cheering for their team. BUT, a couple teams we faced were very flamboyant with their cheers for and against the calls of the umpire. I've seen umpires start a game cool/calm/collected and by the 3rd or 4th inning their strike zone has changed, their body language isn't good, and their ready to just be done with the game. Even in my short umpiring career, I've learned to ignore the fans and assume they are only cheering for their team.
- Some instances of not knowing the rules (batting out of order and lineup card with the wrong jersey number come to mind).
So I'm left with umpires being human. That not only includes actively making mistakes (balls/strikes/out/safe) but passively making mistakes. And, right or wrong, it is just part of the game. I can understand active mistakes - I've done it. But the passive mistakes are frustrating. HS ball is the epitome for most softball players; umpires that don't take it serious or look at it as 'it's just softball' drive me nuts. It's so much easier being half ignorant of what good umpiring is than understanding good technique/calls and watching it not happen. But, I've learned a lot from being involved in the game; patience for other humans being pretty high on the list
As a student-of-the-game, I've been watching umpires the last couple of seasons (as well as doing weekend TB umpire gigs) to pick up tips/tricks as to how to be the best I can be. Unfortunately, that has left me a little more jaded about the quality of umpires than I otherwise would have been. Some of the pet peeves I've picked up:
- Players wiping out the lines in the box - there are a few girls in our conference that run their foot along the line closest to the plate effectively wiping it out. I know that, eventually, the lines disappear, but in the first or second inning, after playing against them a few times over the years, it is obvious they are erasing the line to their benefit
- Players standing too close to the plate (after the previous point). I have yet to see any umpire ever call/correct this. It's 6 inches from the edge of the plate to the edge of the chalk. My umpiring shoe is 5" wide. It isn't hard to slide my foot along home to get a good estimate of how far the batter should be. I've seen many girls plant their toes 2-3" from the plate with nary a care from any umpire I've ever watched.
- Hit by pitch in the river. Very few girls play the game this way, but there are a few that stand right next to the plate, park their elbow adjacent to the strike zone and wait for the inside pitch to 'earn' that free pass to first.
- Illegal pitches - the only illegal pitch I have ever personally seen called is 'presenting' the ball. Not leaping, replanting, lane violations, or even taking a signal. I've seen one umpire repeatedly warn the pitcher over several innings to simulate a signal, but would not call it.
- Although most girls in HS understand it well, I've seen a few examples of not calling the look back rule
- Not willing to ask their partner. IMO, if a coach comes out and asks if an umpire could ask their partner if they saw anything different (unless they do it a lot), there is no reason that the umpire shouldn't oblige. IMO, pure arrogance to not get a second opinion. If nothing else, asking your partner is respectful to the concerns of the coach and gains respect from both sides of that equation.
- Influence by fans. The vast majority of fans are cool - only cheering for their team. BUT, a couple teams we faced were very flamboyant with their cheers for and against the calls of the umpire. I've seen umpires start a game cool/calm/collected and by the 3rd or 4th inning their strike zone has changed, their body language isn't good, and their ready to just be done with the game. Even in my short umpiring career, I've learned to ignore the fans and assume they are only cheering for their team.
- Some instances of not knowing the rules (batting out of order and lineup card with the wrong jersey number come to mind).
So I'm left with umpires being human. That not only includes actively making mistakes (balls/strikes/out/safe) but passively making mistakes. And, right or wrong, it is just part of the game. I can understand active mistakes - I've done it. But the passive mistakes are frustrating. HS ball is the epitome for most softball players; umpires that don't take it serious or look at it as 'it's just softball' drive me nuts. It's so much easier being half ignorant of what good umpiring is than understanding good technique/calls and watching it not happen. But, I've learned a lot from being involved in the game; patience for other humans being pretty high on the list