Post by crash23 on May 13, 2007 20:00:22 GMT -8
I've been around this game a long time and I've experienced all kinds of umps. Having a great ump makes the game all the more enjoyable for everyone - players, coaches and even fans... So it got me to thinking, "What Makes a Great Ump?"
1. Mild mannered
2. Approachable.
3. Willing to listen (that is as long as the coach approaches him in a professional manner) and re-think the play... sometimes coaches do have a point and the important thing is to get the call right.
4. Non-confrontational
5. Shows respect to the players, coaches and fans.
6. Does not have a holier than thou attitude. The Golden Rule works for the Man, it's good enough for the Blue
7. Controls the game (without being an authoritarian/dictator)
8. Willingness to be flexible (for example give a kid more than 8 warm-up pitches if he needs to, after all safety should come first)
9. Willing to admit he may have missed it - or willing to admit he did. I greatly respect an ump that will come to me at the end of an inning and say, 'ya know that pitch you asked about, that probably was a ball/strike."
10. Hustles/gets in proper position
11. Acts cool, calm and collected - not agitated. Even a smile or laugh now and then. Umps like that keep everyone at ease!
12. Realizes it's the players that should be drawing the attention (not him).
13. Remembers what it's like to be a player and calls a strike zone that he would want called if he were the one swinging the bat.
14. Willing to over-turn his partners call or better yet willing to call time and go to his partner and say, "you may want to ask me for help on this play." Great umps realize the important thing is to make the right call, not the call that makes them look right.
I may have over-looked something, but these are things I greatly respect in an ump. I can honestly say we have several great umps in town. I won't mention names b/c I don't want anyone thinking I'm sucking up But these kind of guys make the game fun to play and are part of the memories these kids will take with them. The way they handle themselves teaches the kids something - and they should be commended.
1. Mild mannered
2. Approachable.
3. Willing to listen (that is as long as the coach approaches him in a professional manner) and re-think the play... sometimes coaches do have a point and the important thing is to get the call right.
4. Non-confrontational
5. Shows respect to the players, coaches and fans.
6. Does not have a holier than thou attitude. The Golden Rule works for the Man, it's good enough for the Blue
7. Controls the game (without being an authoritarian/dictator)
8. Willingness to be flexible (for example give a kid more than 8 warm-up pitches if he needs to, after all safety should come first)
9. Willing to admit he may have missed it - or willing to admit he did. I greatly respect an ump that will come to me at the end of an inning and say, 'ya know that pitch you asked about, that probably was a ball/strike."
10. Hustles/gets in proper position
11. Acts cool, calm and collected - not agitated. Even a smile or laugh now and then. Umps like that keep everyone at ease!
12. Realizes it's the players that should be drawing the attention (not him).
13. Remembers what it's like to be a player and calls a strike zone that he would want called if he were the one swinging the bat.
14. Willing to over-turn his partners call or better yet willing to call time and go to his partner and say, "you may want to ask me for help on this play." Great umps realize the important thing is to make the right call, not the call that makes them look right.
I may have over-looked something, but these are things I greatly respect in an ump. I can honestly say we have several great umps in town. I won't mention names b/c I don't want anyone thinking I'm sucking up But these kind of guys make the game fun to play and are part of the memories these kids will take with them. The way they handle themselves teaches the kids something - and they should be commended.