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Then they shouldn't be tournament director.
The Grand Poobah earns his or her position with experience. A person shouldn't be tournament director simply because his uncle knows someone who once cut the outfield grass on Field 3...
Then they shouldn't be tournament director.
The Grand Poobah earns his or her position with experience. A person shouldn't be tournament director simply because his uncle knows someone who once cut the outfield grass on Field 3...
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Assignors and UIC's (Umpire in Chief) are usually your best evaluators, most if not all are current or former umpires themselves and can assist with what an umpire may be doing that needs improved / changed.
They also have a bit more long term power of change if an umpire is not good or unwilling to conform. As a tournament director, you can only effect what that weekends schedule is...but an assignor may use that individual for multiple events. If the umpire is doing a poor job, eventually that assignor will use him less and hits them in the pocketbook/less game assignments.
Typically, your tournament directors are heads of Organizations, coaches, or an individual for profit. More often than not none of these have spent time behind the plate...and won't receive the same respect when telling someone how to do "their job".
They also have a bit more long term power of change if an umpire is not good or unwilling to conform. As a tournament director, you can only effect what that weekends schedule is...but an assignor may use that individual for multiple events. If the umpire is doing a poor job, eventually that assignor will use him less and hits them in the pocketbook/less game assignments.
Typically, your tournament directors are heads of Organizations, coaches, or an individual for profit. More often than not none of these have spent time behind the plate...and won't receive the same respect when telling someone how to do "their job".
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SoCal ASA evaluates umpires at its events, which is just qualifiers and 2-4 other tourneys. It actually draws the better umpires because they forego better paying gigs to get the feedback for themselves and the evaluation/rating to work higher events (e.g. qualifiers and nationals). The evaluators even video the umpires at some events so they can show the umpire what they saw. I was sitting behind them at a qualifier and they were struggling to find even nitpicks to criticize.
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In Pa the USSSA works at training and evaluating umpires at all of their tournaments. They will put less experienced umps with more experienced to speed that training. I have seen that State UIC evaluating and working with umpires at all of their tournaments. The ones that get it and get on board will work more tournaments and get more games. The poor ones are sent packing while the ones that show promise are assigned games appropriate to their level of expertise. (I assume that all of the organization do this). When selecting tournaments, the historic quality of the umpire should be major factor. If you stop going to tournaments with poor umpiring those tournaments will just fade away. By the way, a TD has no business evaluating umpires while trying to run a tournament.
The NCAA takes the better travel/high school umpires, trains them and allows them to do a few D3, a few D2 and then some marginal D1's; this to is a process. Nobody learns on the job in the Big 10. These are good to great umpires. These men and women typically work hard to be the best and it shows.
Like coaching there is a learning curve to umpiring. I bet even Bretman started out in rec ball blowing calls, granted he was 4 at the time and couldn't read, but even he got better.
The NCAA takes the better travel/high school umpires, trains them and allows them to do a few D3, a few D2 and then some marginal D1's; this to is a process. Nobody learns on the job in the Big 10. These are good to great umpires. These men and women typically work hard to be the best and it shows.
Like coaching there is a learning curve to umpiring. I bet even Bretman started out in rec ball blowing calls, granted he was 4 at the time and couldn't read, but even he got better.
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IS THERE SUCH A THING AS A BAD UMPIRE?? I think not..........Just ask them (I did) ; they will tell you there's not...
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It is helpful to hear about thoughts on handling inexperienced or just not that good umpires but I think would be fun and helpful to discuss umpires that fall outside of this. There are some umpires that learn to deal with their shortcomings by being very argumentative, abrasive and very vindictive. Basically they are out there looking for a confrontation. These are few but they exist and I think we have all seen a usually mild mannered coach go crazy and usually these type of umpires are involved. It is one thing to bite your tongue when you think they aren't doing well but another when you ask about something and are treated like dirt completely disrespected. These types are really difficult to deal with because they abuse their authority and prey on your passion for your players. What would you do if your team that has worked so hard, in a critical game ,you asked the umpire a question, treated like dirt and then he intentionally starts calling things against your girls? You may laugh but I think we have all seen this many times. Recipe for a blowup
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ThompsonUSSSA - I am sorry but as a former TD I have to call shenanigans. As a TD it was my, and my Organizations, reputation that was on the line when anything out of kilter happened at an event. The UIC and Assignor works for the TD. If the TD doesn't like how an umpire acts, treats the customers or his/her competency it is the TD's responsibility to handle it. A TD should not care if anyone that works for them "respects" their opinion on how they do their job. The TD's job is to assure that the event is professional and seamless. So in that respect I am at odds with your opinion. Now, that said, in all the years I ran a pretty decent event I only had one - yes one - umpire situation. And when I brought the UIC to the field she immediately removed the umpire and finished the game herself. So I guess that even though I hadn't logged 200 games as an umpire I had a very good idea on what the professionals would consider proper umpiring. And I was just a lowly parent that thought it might be a good idea to hold a tournament.
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Been on all ends of this. Been a Tournament Director, Umpire, UIC, and coach. Currently the latter (coach) eats my time up... 
I agree that the end result, is on the Tourny Director. But I'm not much of being a micro manager, and would have a UIC floating around keeping "eyes" on the umps. That's his job, his expertise, and strictly what his involvement is. As tourny director, you have the entire scope to manage...scheduling, field maintenance, etc you name it...("Sir, their are kids stuffing things in the restrooms and the water is overflowing!!!" lol).
A well run tournament takes multiple people to put on correctly, and as TD best served to divide the responsibilities, and keep tabs on each and "manage" if any of the aspects of the tournament are not up to par.
While "managing" the tournament, the UIC can concentrate and keep better tabs on who's doing what as far as the umpires. If complaints come in, he's free to go to the spot and see if Joe Smuckatelly is doing his job incorrectly, or Team A is having a bad day and it's gotta be some else's fault.
MAJOR ISSUES??? Let me know immediately...otherwise I'll be finding where the plunger is for the bathrooms... (see bathroom issue above! )
When a MAJOR issue comes up, as tourny director I become the "Fireman"...yes, I should (and do!) know enough on the umpiring end to make basic decisions if umpiring was doing something flagrantly wrong.
Involve the expert (UIC) in what is right and wrong, get the story and situation from both sides...I can discuss with the team while the UIC is working through the umpire. Don't promise any remedy till you know the full story and have your plan.
I would then work THROUGH the assignor to make best decision to remedy the situation. (Depending on situation which steps may be needed: A) Discuss after game how to improve B) In between innings discuss issue and how to remedy C) If misapplied rules IMMEDIATE fix if possible? D) Reassignment during tournament E) Removal during tournament
If I don't agree with what the UIC wants to do, yes, I have the power to fix as needed. But usually, between the 2 of us will come up with what's best. As with business, I'm managing the company...but the "Supervisor" (UIC) hires and "fires" if necessary. Fortunately, the latter hasn't happened much...!
Simply, I let other people do their jobs, and step in when more action is needed.
I agree that the end result, is on the Tourny Director. But I'm not much of being a micro manager, and would have a UIC floating around keeping "eyes" on the umps. That's his job, his expertise, and strictly what his involvement is. As tourny director, you have the entire scope to manage...scheduling, field maintenance, etc you name it...("Sir, their are kids stuffing things in the restrooms and the water is overflowing!!!" lol).
A well run tournament takes multiple people to put on correctly, and as TD best served to divide the responsibilities, and keep tabs on each and "manage" if any of the aspects of the tournament are not up to par.
While "managing" the tournament, the UIC can concentrate and keep better tabs on who's doing what as far as the umpires. If complaints come in, he's free to go to the spot and see if Joe Smuckatelly is doing his job incorrectly, or Team A is having a bad day and it's gotta be some else's fault.
MAJOR ISSUES??? Let me know immediately...otherwise I'll be finding where the plunger is for the bathrooms... (see bathroom issue above!
)When a MAJOR issue comes up, as tourny director I become the "Fireman"...yes, I should (and do!) know enough on the umpiring end to make basic decisions if umpiring was doing something flagrantly wrong.
Involve the expert (UIC) in what is right and wrong, get the story and situation from both sides...I can discuss with the team while the UIC is working through the umpire. Don't promise any remedy till you know the full story and have your plan.
I would then work THROUGH the assignor to make best decision to remedy the situation. (Depending on situation which steps may be needed: A) Discuss after game how to improve B) In between innings discuss issue and how to remedy C) If misapplied rules IMMEDIATE fix if possible? D) Reassignment during tournament E) Removal during tournament
If I don't agree with what the UIC wants to do, yes, I have the power to fix as needed. But usually, between the 2 of us will come up with what's best. As with business, I'm managing the company...but the "Supervisor" (UIC) hires and "fires" if necessary. Fortunately, the latter hasn't happened much...!
Simply, I let other people do their jobs, and step in when more action is needed.
