GRRRrrrrrrrrrr... HS umps!!!!

[DanMaz]

is it me or anyone else seeing an extreme amount of old timers they must be bringing out of retirement to help catch up all these early season cancelled games?
Umps that don't even know or remember the rules like drop 3rd strikes, runner interference..... strike zones that are so inconsistent that the batters don't even know what to swing at anymore. Getting called out looking at 3rd strikes that are not strikes... horrible calls at 1st when runners beat the throw by 2 or 3 steps...... VERY FRUSTRATED!!!!!! cant wait for summer ball!!!!!! ok. sorry had to rant. lol

 

[Captain_Thunder]

School ball usually pays better than summer tournaments....LMAO
What, do you think they are going to all of a sudden going to get better in a few weeks???

 

[Dawgsdad]

Seen some really wide strike zones that would qualify as ridiculous

 

[DanMaz]

pay has nothing to do with it captain... i have been in both summer and HS for many years... this year is the worst i have seen in HS ball and i assume because they are short on umps from the horrible early season weather. We have had 1 ump at 3 games in the last week. and many are 70 plus yrs old... old slow blind and look like they havent umped a game in 20 yrs.

 

[tschromm3]

This is my first coaching High School ball. And overall the umpiring has been less than stellar. I shouldn't have to say, "That's infield fly blue, no?" and he says, "Oh ya you're right! Come on off first honey you're out...." Or last night I had to write my subs in his lineup card for him because he can't hold it and write at the same time. Lots of face palm moments so far this year! Summer ball doesn't get much better, but we can hope!

 

[jimhamrick]

As someone who is an 2nd year HS ump (not allowed to do varsity games until 2 years at JV and middle school) - I can tell you there is a huge need for umpires. I also think that the state needs to waive the 2 year "undergrad" system and allow for the promotion to varsity after a year or even a waiver process.

 

[Long Baller]

Nobody wants to be an umpire anymore, and I don't blame them. I wouldn't want to do it. My HS age daughter tells me all the time "When I am done playing, I want to come back and umpire". Every time she says that, I look at her and say "OH NO YOU DON'T!"

There are way to many <expletive> parents and coaches out there to put up with it. It's not worth it.

 

[City Slicker]

At least you're getting umpires to your games.

Of our 11 games played so far we've had:

- 3 games with complete no-shows (neither ump showed)
- 1 game where the umpire showed up 45 minutes late
- 3 games where we've had both umpires

When asking people what the problem is this year, the answer is... these guys are sick of dealing with the parents in the stands.

 

[allcorners]

Absolutely HORRIBLE!!! And the thing of it is, I probably wouldn't have as much of a problem with it, if it was CONSISTANTLY HORRIBLE.

 

[Spartandad]

Here's the deal from what I was told. These games are assigned early on. When they get rained out, snowed out, etc., they go back in the pool to be rebid by anyone looking for games. The old gents are the ones grabbing these games. We've had some real gems where they couldn't/wouldn't move to be in position to make a call on the bases. Instead, they stand to the RF side of 2nd base at the infield cut and make calls on plays at 3rd. Don't bother moving now. It's 10-12 weeks folks...or at least that's what I keep telling myself.

 

[Captain_Thunder]

Here's the deal from what I was told. These games are assigned early on. When they get rained out, snowed out, etc., they go back in the pool to be rebid by anyone looking for games. The old gents are the ones grabbing these games. We've had some real gems where they couldn't/wouldn't move to be in position to make a call on the bases. Instead, they stand to the RF side of 2nd base at the infield cut and make calls on plays at 3rd. Don't bother moving now. It's 10-12 weeks folks...or at least that's what I keep telling myself.

And Summer season is only about 10 weeks also......and Fall ball is about 8 weeks........not sure why anyone would think Umpiring would suddenly improve.
But everyone is going to complain no matter what. I have seen the best 2 Umps working the same field at an event & heard parents complaining about how bad they are. This will be one guy who worked the HS finals & another working Oklahoma City that Summer. No one is ever happy. But there is a big shortage, as has been mentioned previously - We need more Umpires!!! Then maybe the one's who should not be doing it any more can be weeded out........

 

[tschromm3]

Just throwing this out there... Maybe the issue isn't not enough quality umpires. Maybe the issue is too many teams? Every dad that can't get his kid on a team goes and starts his own "organization".
Travel softball and baseball have become so watered down. I can't help but think that the game, and the pool of quality umpires would be better if it weren't stretched so thin.

 

[Captain_Thunder]

Just throwing this out there... Maybe the issue isn't not enough quality umpires. Maybe the issue is too many teams? Every dad that can't get his kid on a team goes and starts his own "organization".
Travel softball and baseball have become so watered down. I can't help but think that the game, and the pool of quality umpires would be better if it weren't stretched so thin.

And this has to do with High School Umpiring how?????
I love how people will throw up about new organizations starting up. I can name as many organizations that are no longer in existence today as I can those who have started up!
Many once the leaders DD's go through have no one to take the reigns and they die out. If there was not someone starting a new one, there would be very few teams left. My personal opinion is there is not as many teams now as say 5-6 years ago.
The reason there is a shortage because those doing this thankless job get tired of listening to parents with this type of attitude!

 

[kate07]

is it me or anyone else seeing an extreme amount of old timers they must be bringing out of retirement to help catch up all these early season cancelled games?
Umps that don't even know or remember the rules like drop 3rd strikes, runner interference..... strike zones that are so inconsistent that the batters don't even know what to swing at anymore. Getting called out looking at 3rd strikes that are not strikes... horrible calls at 1st when runners beat the throw by 2 or 3 steps...... VERY FRUSTRATED!!!!!! cant wait for summer ball!!!!!! ok. sorry had to rant. lol

Haha it's super frustrating, but I remember thinking the same thing when I played in HS. I remember umps that literally stood at home plate the whole time and made calls based on what parents and players said! The worst was one ump who, at the change of every inning when I went to pitch, would come out to talk to me about the weirdest things. I swear he was like 80. And then he would talk to my catcher and she wanted to tell him to leave her alone and quit talking lol. Not sure where they are pulling these guys from (nursing homes??) but HS umps are definitely sucky sometimes.

 

[josie]

There's a shortage of good quality umpires. Let's face it, people treat them like crap. And it is hard for umps who have "real jobs" to get to games on weeknights, which is why you see a lot of retired umpires. OHSAA needs to make this job a little more appealing IMO.

It's your right to complain about it here but no one is reading all this bashing and negativity and thinking, "wow I would LOVE to be an umpire someday..."

 

[okiedad1961]

There's a shortage of good quality umpires. Let's face it, people treat them like crap. And it is hard for umps who have "real jobs" to get to games on weeknights, which is why you see a lot of retired umpires. OHSAA needs to make this job a little more appealing IMO.

It's your right to complain about it here but no one is reading all this bashing and negativity and thinking, "wow I would LOVE to be an umpire someday..."

As a parent with child that's moving on to the collegiate level and now getting into the umpiring part of the game ,I've gotten a greater appreciation for what they do.Yes judgment calls on plays is what we do.We are to interpret rules immediately and correctly and be in proper position on the feild to see the calls we make.Be sure to thank a ump that you think called a good game,not because you thought the calls went your way,but because they cared about doing there job a accurately as possible for both teams.

 

[thestuff142]

There is a shortage of quality officials in all sports...and at all levels Rec, Club, and High School. Alot of new officials leave after a ew seasons. The reason is different for many, but most fall into....

Money
Parent/Coach abuse
Inability to "move up the ranks" because of political structure within officials organizations

 

[Jose_canusee]

I will say this , over the years I have watched many older umpires show up at my daughters game and we all cringe. We had 1 tho who hustled , did a great job, he had been doing it for a long time and enjoyed it. Then we had one who I swear grabbed our games only and would be late , 2-3 inning arrival, never moved, but it was hisn4 th year and he was only there for the check .
Older men see other older men and think hey I’ll do it , not realizing the hustle that needs to be there.
Like any other job, you really have to enjoy it

 

[Coach Tony]

I have had the pleasure of being a high school and club sports official in a number of sports. I actually enjoyed my experiences. I had very few run-ins with angry coaches and parents. Believe it or not, I find that high school (and travel) softball coaches and parents are among the best behaved. Basketball coaches and parents are certainly the worst. Overall, I think the coach/parent abuse talk is a little over blown. If you truly hustle and try to do your best, you will generally be treated humanely and given the benefit of the doubt.

 

[sftball follower]

The best comment was do you think it's going to get better for summer ball.......everything mentioned above I have seen in every travel tournament since I have been in it the last 9 years. Maybe overall slightly better, but a far cry from where people think it should be. I also know some of the posters on this thread have umpired...for the others who think it stink and have never ump'd.........go get your card and make it better if it's that simple!!!!!