Quitting already?

[El Oso]

Fine.. lets go there.... Lets compare to other jobs.. Lets even let the fans have zero responsibility for their actions and assume they are going to continue to be allowed to behave as they do today.

It is a HIGHLY skilled job that is both physically and mentally demanding. It requires specialty skills and equipment, extensive knowledge and is performed under extreme pressure while being constantly judged (mostly by a crowd of unqualified people who are 100% not willing to do it) while receiving very little support. A very, very small number of people are willing and able to do it, and the the number who are actually experienced or very good at it is extremely small.

That describes a $100-200+/hr job all day long. Probably more.

Plus NFHS are as much of an issue as any other sanctions in not providing real support or training so what their CEO says... Well they are part of the issue.

So now that we agree that it is a job, I will say that I agree with most of what you said, though not on board with valuing it at $100-200 an hour. That's overvaluing the skillset required. I would love to see umps get paid $100/game. That would make the talent pool larger and enable UIC's to get rid of the bad ones but keep the financial part manageable for most teams.

 

[El Oso]

So if you are thinking about it, try it, and bring that cat El Oso with you too, he needs to learn what he's talking about.

Another one that completely missed my point. Not sure why I even try here. lol..............

 

[Dabears17]

So if you are thinking about it, try it, and bring that cat El Oso with you too, he needs to learn what he's talking about.

I'm willing to do a game with El Oso whenever he is available!

Our league has a youth umpire program since around 2008 and I'm hoping some of those girls get enough confidence to continue umpiring when in college and try doing travel tournaments as one of their summer jobs.

I've been doing 4-8 12u and under rec games a year for almost 10 years. Only did 4 games total in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid and conflicts with my DD's games.

My plan is to do a couple games next spring with a friend who does HS games Feb-May 1st when they don't interfere with my DD's games. If I do a decent job, start doing a bunch of games Spring 2024.

I want to do several more 12u and under games to get my sea legs before I do 14u and above. Being around softball since 2005 I know a lot of umpires.

 

[El Oso]

I'm willing to do a game with El Oso whenever he is available!

Our league has a youth umpire program since around 2008 and I'm hoping some of those girls get enough confidence to continue umpiring when in college and try doing travel tournaments as one of their summer jobs.

I've been doing 4-8 12u and under rec games a year for almost 10 years. Only did 4 games total in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid and conflicts with my DD's games.

My plan is to do a couple games next spring with a friend who does HS games Feb-May 1st when they don't interfere with my DD's games. If I do a decent job, start doing a bunch of games Spring 2024.

I want to do several more 12u and under games to get my sea legs before I do 14u and above. Being around softball since 2005 I know a lot of umpires.

I promise you this, if we're umping and someone in the stands says "terrible call blue", I will not care one bit. Now if someone throws a bag of 3 year old frozen peas at me, that's a different story!! But umpires don't have to deal with that, grocery store managers do. So we should be safe from flying peas! lol........

Anyone have the URL for the "Grocery store managers complaining about customers" Facebook page?

 

[marriard]

So now that we agree that it is a job, I will say that I agree with most of what you said, though not on board with valuing it at $100-200 an hour. That's overvaluing the skillset required. I would love to see umps get paid $100/game. That would make the talent pool larger and enable UIC's to get rid of the bad ones but keep the financial part manageable for most teams.

It is becoming clear that somehow you think officiating is easy in some way or that the umpires are just complaining without any real reason?

There is certainly a lack of understanding of what officiating well really requires. To be good at the actual calling of a contest AND being good at the game management and being good at all the other things they require from officials. Rules knowledge and the application of rules is just a small component of what it takes.

Honestly I am massively under valuing the skillset required to be a solid official. I am off to do a district HS playoff game today. It is going to be at least 3-4 hours for less than $100.

If I was doing it for money, I would just do MS and JV Volleyball. That is inside, cool, starts on time, pays the same and the contests are quciker.

 

[GunnerShotgun]

One solution is making players umpire games (that they aren't playing in). I have seen tournaments like this before...

Not sure why I even try here. lol..............

You need thicker skin!

 

[daywalkerdad]

It is becoming clear that somehow you think officiating is easy in some way or that the umpires are just complaining without any real reason?

There is certainly a lack of understanding of what officiating well really requires. To be good at the actual calling of a contest AND being good at the game management and being good at all the other things they require from officials. Rules knowledge and the application of rules is just a small component of what it takes.

Honestly I am massively under valuing the skillset required to be a solid official. I am off to do a district HS playoff game today. It is going to be at least 3-4 hours for less than $100.

If I was doing it for money, I would just do MS and JV Volleyball. That is inside, cool, starts on time, pays the same and the contests are quciker.

Thank you for upping. Games are being canceled do yo lack of umpires.

 

[Dabears17]

If I was doing it for money, I would just do MS and JV Volleyball. That is inside, cool, starts on time, pays the same and the contests are quciker.

A friend of mine switched to doing almost 100pct Volleyball a year ago. His assigner begged him a few weeks ago to do a few softball games and he is doing a few only after the assigner promised to not give him any games with teams/coaches/fans known to be difficult. He's been umpiring for almost 20 years.

 

[flash277]

It is becoming clear that somehow you think officiating is easy in some way or that the umpires are just complaining without any real reason?

There is certainly a lack of understanding of what officiating well really requires. To be good at the actual calling of a contest AND being good at the game management and being good at all the other things they require from officials. Rules knowledge and the application of rules is just a small component of what it takes.

Honestly I am massively under valuing the skillset required to be a solid official. I am off to do a district HS playoff game today. It is going to be at least 3-4 hours for less than $100.

If I was doing it for money, I would just do MS and JV Volleyball. That is inside, cool, starts on time, pays the same and the contests are quciker.

You right about that brother! Softball and baseball are really the only sports without a time limit. I did a jv game this years went over 3 hours and I ended it because it got too dark, final score 34-22

 

[Greatdaytobeawildcat]

Thank you for upping. Games are being canceled do yo lack of umpires.

My DD's middle school game is currently being umped by one of the assistant coaches...