There's been quite a bit of umpire bashing here lately, so I'd just like to say something to all the coaches here who take their personal time, just like umpires do, to make softball a great game for the girls who want to play.
Everyone knows, the #1 reason for umpires to quit is the abuse, it's as simple as that. And parents will be parents, hard to control them, so it's up to the coaches to set the tone. So here are a few tips for coaches:
1-Don't comment on balls and strikes!...First off it's in the rule book, and secondly, if you keep commenting about them (I'm not one to throw anyone out, haven't done it yet), and a close border pitch comes by, you're not getting it from me. Mind you I'll never compromise my integrity to screw a coach, but like I said, if it's close, you're not getting it from me.
2-Know when you can challenge a call! Judgement calls are not arguable, (force plays, tags, fair/foul). If you think your runner was safe and she was called out, don't argue it. And unless you really feel the 1st baseman came off the bag or something, don't come out and make it up "She was off the base, get help, she missed the tag, get help" when you know that didn't happen. And if the umpire is by themselves, NEVER argue these calls, since there really is no one to get help from, The umpire may very well have missed the call, but that's part of the game. Instead of yelling at the umpire, go yell at your orgainization "we want to pay more fees!....Get a 2nd Umpire!"
3-If you feel the need to argue (discuss, more like it) a rule call, wait until the the play is dead. Call time from the dugout and walk to the foul line, the umpire should come to you. CALMLY explain your position, hopefully the umpire will explain his situation, and get help if needed. Once again, if no 2nd umpire, right or wrong, accept his ruling and walk back to the dugout, do not make a big scene.
4-Control your parents!......It's you managing the game, not them, if they get on the umpires, tell them very loudly to shut the hell up! (we'd appreciate it )
5-Know the situation to argue!....First off if you are a rec coach for 10U, DON'T ARGUE ANYTHING!....Please, just look at the play on the field, I hate those games, but I do them because I feel those girls need a competent umpire, but that's the worst thing to see a coach going crazy because of a blown call like that. Same goes for bracket games, middle school games, games that really have no "meaning", (other than the love of playing it) Mind you, if you see a bad call, come out and we'll talk about it. But if you play alot of local stuff, you are most likely going to see the same umpires, so go easy on them or else you won't see them anymore (or anyone else, for that matter).
These are somethings off the top of my head that would make the coach/umpire relationship better. Certainly I'm not excusing any bad umpiring, but instead of giving the umpires the business, get in contact with the organizations and ask what they can do better to train their umpires. I may be a rare one, but I do not mind being told if I did a bad job if in fact I did, (and I have) and I'd like to try and do better. I'm no MLB Umpire, this is not my full time job (I got one of them, also a family and other commitments)and yes I do get paid, I do not do it for the money, I do it for the love of the sport. So coaches, if you want to keep the good umpires (yeah, I'll call myself good, but I'm no Marriard mind you) help them out and go somewhat easy on them, because one day I may reach my breaking point and quit, and then the softball world will be down one more good umpire, and that's not good for anyone.
Oh and if any coaches would like to make a list of what umpires could do better (besides KNOW THE RULES!, yeah we get that), I'm all ears.
Everyone knows, the #1 reason for umpires to quit is the abuse, it's as simple as that. And parents will be parents, hard to control them, so it's up to the coaches to set the tone. So here are a few tips for coaches:
1-Don't comment on balls and strikes!...First off it's in the rule book, and secondly, if you keep commenting about them (I'm not one to throw anyone out, haven't done it yet), and a close border pitch comes by, you're not getting it from me. Mind you I'll never compromise my integrity to screw a coach, but like I said, if it's close, you're not getting it from me.
2-Know when you can challenge a call! Judgement calls are not arguable, (force plays, tags, fair/foul). If you think your runner was safe and she was called out, don't argue it. And unless you really feel the 1st baseman came off the bag or something, don't come out and make it up "She was off the base, get help, she missed the tag, get help" when you know that didn't happen. And if the umpire is by themselves, NEVER argue these calls, since there really is no one to get help from, The umpire may very well have missed the call, but that's part of the game. Instead of yelling at the umpire, go yell at your orgainization "we want to pay more fees!....Get a 2nd Umpire!"
3-If you feel the need to argue (discuss, more like it) a rule call, wait until the the play is dead. Call time from the dugout and walk to the foul line, the umpire should come to you. CALMLY explain your position, hopefully the umpire will explain his situation, and get help if needed. Once again, if no 2nd umpire, right or wrong, accept his ruling and walk back to the dugout, do not make a big scene.
4-Control your parents!......It's you managing the game, not them, if they get on the umpires, tell them very loudly to shut the hell up! (we'd appreciate it )
5-Know the situation to argue!....First off if you are a rec coach for 10U, DON'T ARGUE ANYTHING!....Please, just look at the play on the field, I hate those games, but I do them because I feel those girls need a competent umpire, but that's the worst thing to see a coach going crazy because of a blown call like that. Same goes for bracket games, middle school games, games that really have no "meaning", (other than the love of playing it) Mind you, if you see a bad call, come out and we'll talk about it. But if you play alot of local stuff, you are most likely going to see the same umpires, so go easy on them or else you won't see them anymore (or anyone else, for that matter).
These are somethings off the top of my head that would make the coach/umpire relationship better. Certainly I'm not excusing any bad umpiring, but instead of giving the umpires the business, get in contact with the organizations and ask what they can do better to train their umpires. I may be a rare one, but I do not mind being told if I did a bad job if in fact I did, (and I have) and I'd like to try and do better. I'm no MLB Umpire, this is not my full time job (I got one of them, also a family and other commitments)and yes I do get paid, I do not do it for the money, I do it for the love of the sport. So coaches, if you want to keep the good umpires (yeah, I'll call myself good, but I'm no Marriard mind you) help them out and go somewhat easy on them, because one day I may reach my breaking point and quit, and then the softball world will be down one more good umpire, and that's not good for anyone.
Oh and if any coaches would like to make a list of what umpires could do better (besides KNOW THE RULES!, yeah we get that), I'm all ears.