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Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
I've been around plenty long enough to have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to umpires. Last night took the whole bakery (not just the cake)
It was painfully obvious. He squeezed our zone smaller than Ive ever seen. If my girls didn't throw it in a 4" window right down the middle, it was called a ball... Parents ready to fight, girls crying.
My pitcher exhaled in disgust after she threw what was a dead center fastball that he called ball on... when she exhaled, he came unglued, walked to the circle to "put her in her place". Yelling and screaming at her to knock off her attitude or take her rear home! Worst guy Ive ever seen, by far. Extremely unprofessional. The coaches for the other team actually apologized for hiring him, and assured me he'd never be called upon again. I hope that's true for the kids sake.
Then when we were up to bat, balls that were chin high were strikes. My DD fouled off several with a 2-2 count, next pitch actually bounced off the plate (DD didn't swing) "STRIKE 3!!!" he yelled
Sorry for the venting rant... Im just beside myself
 
Jan 30, 2018
252
0
SE Michigan
This thread could go on for weeks with what everyone has seen. The worst one I have seen is happened in Ohio at a World series semi-final, in a close game. I was coaching 3rd and our girl slid in and was safe easily and the girl dropped the ball. The old lady umping between 2nd and 3rd called her out. I calmly asked her for help as she might have been blocked from seeing the ball come out of 3rd's glove. She asked for help from plate ump. The old dude from behind the plate ambled out for a discussion with her. He said safe. I said good hustle to our girl standing on 3rd as he moseyed back toward the plate. After a few steps he turned around and said "wait, what did you call" to the other ump. She said "I called her out". He turned back around and said "Then she is out". I thought he was kidding but he wasn't. I lost my mind, which is a rarity. Can't believe I didn't get tossed I did everything but kick dirt on his shoes (but I didn't cuss at him)
 
Jul 2, 2013
381
43
he came unglued, walked to the circle to "put her in her place". Yelling and screaming at her to knock off her attitude or take her rear home!

I've never pulled a team off the field but I would if an ump ever pulled this crap. I would have pulled the girls, had them pack up and leave the dugout, and then he and I would have had an adult conversation about how you talk to kids.
 
Dec 5, 2017
514
63
This may not fall under the bad ump category but it was definitely a head shaker: A buddy of mine sends me a pic of an ump during a tourney his dd is playing in that is in Georgia, we are in KY. Guy is standing on the field, between 1st & 2nd with a big ole plate of nachos in his hand. In the pic he is actually looking at the nachos and not watching the game.
 
Jan 30, 2018
252
0
SE Michigan
This may not fall under the bad ump category but it was definitely a head shaker: A buddy of mine sends me a pic of an ump during a tourney his dd is playing in that is in Georgia, we are in KY. Guy is standing on the field, between 1st & 2nd with a big ole plate of nachos in his hand. In the pic he is actually looking at the nachos and not watching the game.

That is classic, our head coach would go nuts.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
Wow. That sounds exceptionally awful. If some umpire goes off on my kid like that I'm probably getting tossed. I'm mostly pretty good at keeping it relatively contained but I think I'd lose it.

I see a lot about parents and coaches running off umpires with their bad behavior. My theory is most of the good ones have mostly said, screw this. So we're left with more and more umpires with giant egos, power tripping, don't know the rules, etc. Bad calls almost roll off me now, I've seen so much worse. When did it become a challenge to a man's ego to request he ask for help when appropriate? This year we have had several who flat out refused to ask for help even when the other umpire had an undisputed better angle. Once we even had an umpire say if the other guy would've asked for help he had seen something totally different. But they won't do it. They do it in the majors all the time. Swing or held up? What say you, field ump? No big deal. Why do these 10U and 12U umpires act like you're challenging their manhood or value as a human being? It's ridiculous.

And don't get me started on the rules. Just KNOW THEM, or at least be willing to check if you aren't sure. It's your job! I'm just a mom who never played softball in my life. There is no reason in the world I should know more rules than an umpire. Doesn't seem like too much to ask.
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,313
113
Florida
I see a lot about parents and coaches running off umpires with their bad behavior. My theory is most of the good ones have mostly said, screw this.

That certainly hasn't helped. I know lots of umpires who at some point went 'that is enough' and walked away.

So we're left with more and more umpires with giant egos, power tripping, don't know the rules, etc. Bad calls almost roll off me now, I've seen so much worse.

Perhaps fewer than you think with the ego/power trip thing. You have to have a good amount of ego and self-confidence to umpire well. Sometimes you can cross the line into arrogance. Sometimes it can be mistaken for power tripping. There are some where it is 'all about them' or they are living in denial, but honestly there are way easier things to do than umpire any sport if that is the feeling you are looking for.

One of the other things that is really hurting is that there is less training ground opportunities for new umpires - i.e. 'rec'. New umpires are now entering into travel - and mostly in the crazy parent age groups (especially 10U). So you are a new umpire, you are learning where to stand and where to move, you are finding there is a lot more to the rules than you thought and you are in a game with crazy parents and coaches and something weird happens... Not the best scenario to ease someone into umpiring.

My THIRD week as a softball umpire I did a 12U travel championship. I did a high school game in week four.

When did it become a challenge to a man's ego to request he ask for help when appropriate?
Umpire ask a lot more than they used to even a few years ago. Baseball in particular used to NEVER ASK FOR HELP and NEVER EVER CHANGED A CALL even when they did. Some of the older guys in who do both have not changed or adapted.

This year we have had several who flat out refused to ask for help even when the other umpire had an undisputed better angle.
Probably because the coach didn't approach this properly or it wasn't an appealable call - better angle is not justification to ask for help. You can't come up and say "I think your partner had a better angle, can you ask?" - that is not correct. It is not a fishing expedition and a judgement call is NOT AN APPEALABLE PLAY. There has to be conflict with the rules... You are going to have to come out with something about the call other than my judgement "Hey, I really thought the fielder was off the bag, I thought your view was obscured by the fielder, she dropped/bobble the ball, I think she missed the tag, etc, etc,etc - can you go see if X saw this" or something similar... If you come out and just say my judgement was wrong then nothing is going to happen. I am absolutely not going to my partner to discuss anything.

This is baseball-ish but it it is pretty on point on appealable v unappealable calls and how your are generally taught to handle it (there are a few minor differences in how I was taught, but they are minor):
https://www.eteamz.com/portercountygirlssoftballassociation/files/AppealablevNon-appealableCalls.pdf

Also remember a lot of time the umpire not making the call is not looking at the ball & play because he has other responsibilities (players touching bags correctly, possible obstruction, hustling for position for the 'next play', etc, etc) so they wont be able to add much any way.

Once we even had an umpire say if the other guy would've asked for help he had seen something totally different.

This is unacceptable for an umpire to say. I would no longer work with this person. This is a massive no-no among umpire teams in any sport. You do not throw your partner under the bus under any circumstances. That is actually in the document I referenced.

But they won't do it. They do it in the majors all the time. Swing or held up? What say you, field ump? No big deal. Why do these 10U and 12U umpires act like you're challenging their manhood or value as a human being? It's ridiculous.

Swing/No Swing I have seen very few issues - it is standard for umpires to ask for this from the field umpire if there is uncertainty - but it is also OK to not ask if you are sure. I will ask before a catcher asks if I believe I need the assist. That is not the same as asking for help on a call on a ball in play.

Majors umpires asking for help is a new thing. Things have changed - as I said - a few years ago they would NEVER ask for help and many were taught that way. The ability to go to replay has made this change happen rapidly - now it is in their best interest to 'get it right' on an obvious bad call before having some camera prove them wrong. Also remember the majors features 4 umpire crews - that is a lot of coverage of a play especially if there is no one on base.

And don't get me started on the rules. Just KNOW THEM, or at least be willing to check if you aren't sure. It's your job! I'm just a mom who never played softball in my life. There is no reason in the world I should know more rules than an umpire. Doesn't seem like too much to ask.

Of course there is a reason you know more rules than some umpires. You hang out here. There are some great rules discussions here and the knowledge shared by Comp and MTR and others means you are exposed to some really good and detailed discussions that most people are not exposed to.

At best I can ask my partner for help on a rules ruling on a play. Not going to bring a rule book onto the field nor would I look at one if a coach brought one out. Once we have made a call if the coach wants to pay his protest fee to get a UIC ruling, they are welcome to do so. I do have a few cheat sheets in my pockets to remind myself on changes between rule sets, dead ball situations and so on, but i am not bringing them out on a call.

While it is unacceptable to not know the rules for the core rule set and 90% of plays - and I am always disappointed when they get something simple and obvious wrong, I will say that the rules are complicated (especially since there are multiple sets of rules) and weird stuff happens. And it happens more in 12U and below because the players are more likely to do something unexpected. Also because the umpires are expected to see multiple places at the same time, the two man mechanics system doesn't give you 100% coverage or in some cases the best angles. Three man is better, but there is still gaps - and rule #1 of umpiring is you DON'T MAKE UP A CALL - IF YOU DIDN'T SEE IT, YOU DIDN'T SEE IT.


BTW - and this is good to know - the 'bang-bang' play is about 50% vision and 50% hearing. At the end of the play I am focusing on the runners foot and listening for the ball hitting the glove with peripheral vision helping. If I am in good position I can see both but you can only focus fully on one. I have done the blindfold training they discuss in this article before.

https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/11/...base-umpires-call-them-as-they-hear-them.html
 
Last edited:
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
Great perspective, marriard. I will tell you that I almost never get upset about close plays. I might groan or "aw man!" But even when I'm pretty sure I know what I saw, I know I don't really know. I don't have an eye for the fast plays. My husband's got a GREAT eye for it. He may umpire once the kiddo's grown. He'll see something and I'll see the exact opposite. He slows it down to slow motion and he's right and I'm wrong. Every time. Sometimes he'll show me something that he can see clear as day and even in slow motion I can't tell. My eye for the action is really awful. And that's with the benefit of looking at it on a screen in my house. So if an umpire calls a girl safe I thought was out, or vice versa...whatever. I know I'm as likely wrong as right and I'm behind the fence.
 
Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
rule #1 of umpiring is you DON'T MAKE UP A CALL - IF YOU DIDN'T SEE IT, YOU DIDN'T SEE IT.

After not knowing basic rules (I've posted before and won't rehash), this is my #1 gripe. I see umpires just guessing/making things up ALL THE TIME. It's frustrating. It's frustrating when they say a thing did/did not happen that everybody in the park saw. And maybe I'm different from most coaches, but if I'm talking to an umpire about a play and they say they didn't see it or were obscured by a player or something, I immediately just end the discussion. Can't see everything, stuff happens, and I accept "I didn't see it" as a response pretty much 100% of the time.
 

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