Higher umpire pay, higher tournament cost and higher fees

[default]

You know I got Doug over here on Sunday watching his DD in 14u. And you know I'm going to do my darnest to put a little bug in his ear about Goshen...lol

I think in 2010, I'm doing one tournament in the Fall (Uniform Blowout) because I like the idea of giving back and get this Savannah over the Christmas break going on strong (as I want a winter break from the Ohio winter) .

I found a few southern websites... anyone notice that I had over 300 new hits in the past 36 hours on the Savannah thread.

For what teams pay for two indoor events and motels.. they could be in Savannah having fun outside and a mini vacation. My umpires and myself rented an oceanfront home (off season there) for a week for $73.00 dollars a piece.

 

[default]

You know I got Doug over here on Sunday watching his DD in 14u. And you know I'm going to do my darnest to put a little bug in his ear about Goshen...lol

I think in 2010, I'm doing one tournament in the Fall (Uniform Blowout) because I like the idea of giving back and get this Savannah over the Christmas break going on strong (as I want a winter break from the Ohio winter) .

I found a few southern websites... anyone notice that I had over 300 new hits in the past 36 hours on the Savannah thread.

For what teams pay for two indoor events and motels.. they could be in Savannah having fun outside and a mini vacation. My umpires and myself rented an oceanfront home (off season there) for a week for $73.00 dollars a piece.

Doug and I have discussed the Goshen thing and it sounds very appealing.

The Savannah tournament also sounds very appealing as well. I wish we could make it but we have other plans. We will definitely look for it next year.

 

[default]

Well, I do hope you think about it. I really do. They are proud of the fact that only 7 rec leagues were cancelled all year. 7 . For the Lady Lasers event , It rained on Thursday all day, Friday until 11:00 a.m. and 34 overnight and the games were on time on Sat at 9:30 am (except two fields (8 and 12 minutes) and that was because there wasn't enough Indians to nail down bags) . Total amount of diamond dry = 4 bags and all four bags in one spot.

Now, that is a major saving to ANY tournament director.

 

[default]

Higher umpire fees for what! These guys basicly call balls and strikes, make simple calls at first and occasionally have to make a tough judgement call. In the end its no different than when you designated that unlucky kid in the play ground do be the umpire at that Saturday morning game in the local park as a kid. In the end its one of the biggest scam's going today, $45.00 to call a girls softball game......;&

It is evident that you are not an Umpire. Take into consideration what the expense is to become an Ump! To officiate at the High School level, first you have to take an approved OHSAA Class enroll and complete the officiating class. Class fees will vary and include the instructor's fee, application fee, rule books and testing. $75.00 is what I paid several years ago plus a $20.00 Association dues required each year. Renewal Permit $55.00 thereafter.

Officiating Apparel which must be OHSAA The approved uniform for interscholastic baseball umpires is the Fechheimer gray color
pants $55.00 ea. Black Leather Belt $20.00 ea. MLU navy shirt with the OHSAA embroidered logo on the right breast $30.00 ea. Undershirts or t-shirts shall be red $8.00 ea. When needed, a navy blue jacket or coat shall be worn $65.00 ea. Official OHSAA logo umpire apparel shall be purchased at one of the authorized dealers.
All umpires on a crew must be dressed alike. Navy caps with OHSAA printed in block letters on the crown must be worn and shall be purchased from one of the authorized dealers $15.00 ea. Protective Gear: Plate Shoes $119.00 and Field Shoes $50.00. Chest Protector $$$$ FaceMask $$$$ Shinguards $$$$ Cold Weather Gear $$$$

Before a "New" Umpire has even called their first game they can have several Hundred $$$$ dollars in their Classes and Umpiring Gear. And this is not counting the travel expense. It takes several $50.00 games for a "Blue" to get their money back for what they have invested in Classes and Gear along with being a Rookie Ump don't look for an overwhelming amount of High School games to umpire your first season out, you will be Lucky to get one. It not a job where the money is Great and Everyone Loves you, most "Blues" do it for the love of the game.

I wish it was as simple as the spectators and coaches make it out to be, But unless you have set the dish you haven't a Clue!



FASTPITCH! Anything else, And you're playing to SLOW!

 

[default]

Here is an idea for tourny good or bad. Charge 100.00 for entry fee just using as example an make the teams pay umps.
I will explain: you have 2 teams both play there 3 pool games. Day 2 team 1 is 1 an done team 2 plays 4 more games. So team 1 played 4 games 100 for entry an 160 for umps for total of 260 an team 2 played 7 games 100 for entry an 280 for umps for total of 380 it is still less then the 4 an 500 dollar entry fees for the other tourny's.Plus i think more teams would come to something like this or at least more less compeditive teams. The td still makes money for there org. For a field of 50 teams you make 5000.00 plus concession an what ever else you offer less fees you have to pay. This is all just rambling of a bored madman.

 

[default]

I ran one like that last Fall. I like the idea as teams don't have to worry about refunds if it rains.. because they paid the umpires on the fields. I took the $100.00 per team and applied it to the prizes and softballs. Worked very good for me actually... But, I wished I made the money you are talking about from it...lol

 

[default]

My question would be; are Td's increasing profit and placing the blame at umpires. Most tournament games are 75 minutes. If the going rate is truly $45, then umpires are making a killing and I need to get my certification! That amounts to $33.75 an hour.

 

[default]

It is evident that you are not an Umpire. Take into consideration what the expense is to become an Ump! To officiate at the High School level, first you have to take an approved OHSAA Class enroll and complete the officiating class. Class fees will vary and include the instructor's fee, application fee, rule books and testing. $75.00 is what I paid several years ago plus a $20.00 Association dues required each year. Renewal Permit $55.00 thereafter.

Officiating Apparel which must be OHSAA The approved uniform for interscholastic baseball umpires is the Fechheimer gray color
pants $55.00 ea. Black Leather Belt $20.00 ea. MLU navy shirt with the OHSAA embroidered logo on the right breast $30.00 ea. Undershirts or t-shirts shall be red $8.00 ea. When needed, a navy blue jacket or coat shall be worn $65.00 ea. Official OHSAA logo umpire apparel shall be purchased at one of the authorized dealers.
All umpires on a crew must be dressed alike. Navy caps with OHSAA printed in block letters on the crown must be worn and shall be purchased from one of the authorized dealers $15.00 ea. Protective Gear: Plate Shoes $119.00 and Field Shoes $50.00. Chest Protector $$$$ FaceMask $$$$ Shinguards $$$$ Cold Weather Gear $$$$

Before a "New" Umpire has even called their first game they can have several Hundred $$$$ dollars in their Classes and Umpiring Gear. And this is not counting the travel expense. It takes several $50.00 games for a "Blue" to get their money back for what they have invested in Classes and Gear along with being a Rookie Ump don't look for an overwhelming amount of High School games to umpire your first season out, you will be Lucky to get one. It not a job where the money is Great and Everyone Loves you, most "Blues" do it for the love of the game.

I wish it was as simple as the spectators and coaches make it out to be, But unless you have set the dish you haven't a Clue!



FASTPITCH! Anything else, And you're playing to SLOW!

Sounds to me like the biggest scam going is the associations making a bunch of money off the umps.

 

[default]

are the uniforms and gear tax deductible when you do your federal?

 

[default]

Hit the nail on the head ringer! Most umpires (99%) will only ask for what you can give them. My next question is; what do you normally make a game? I have never had one tell me $45-$50. Hmmm, what is going on here? Just be honest TD's/orgs, it will go a long way and also continue to develop respect/integrity for umpires! BTW, I am not an umpire!

 

[default]

Yes, it is a write off.. but you are putting money out and if you are not getting many games.. then that is where the problem lies for the new guys coming onboard. I can't tell you how many older shirts I have given away to rookies to help them get started.

Other write offs: laundry cost ( Max $5.00 per week) - mileage from real job to go do umpire job (if you was doing weeknight leagues somewhere),

There are many write offs... it just getting started up as an umpire and all your yearly dues... and insurance.

$45.00 a game... please contact me.. my guys want to do THAT tournament.....

 

[default]

I have four games - 2 plates at $40.00 and two bases at $35.00 = $150.00

$150.00 minus gas, motel split with another umpire 35.00

$150.00-$10 (gas) - $35.00 (motel split) = $105.00

$105.00 MINUS 3 meals or even two = umpiring for something more than the money.


PRICELESS ...lol

 

[default]

Sunday: 2 Plates and 2 Bases = $150.00

$150- gas home = $140.00

Live far away and not sharing a ride.. Then gas cost is higher.


Sunday is where you make what you are going to make. If it's late then MINUS Dinner on the way home.

 

[default]

Hit the nail on the head ringer! Most umpires (99%) will only ask for what you can give them. My next question is; what do you normally make a game? I have never had one tell me $45-$50. Hmmm, what is going on here? Just be honest TD's/orgs, it will go a long way and also continue to develop respect/integrity for umpires! BTW, I am not an umpire!

The umpire fees vary all over the state and you can even have a big difference from one city to the next, but $45-$50 isn't the norm for typical weekend tournaments. All the girl's fastpitch summer ball tournies I was involved with this year paid $25-$35 per game.

High school games, which generally have no time limit and play a full seven innings, run from $35-$45 per game for varsity, $30-$40 per game for JV or middle school. Each school district sets its own fees.

Just to throw out some numbers for comparisons sake, high school baseball pays about the same as softball for games that typically take longer to play. Local fastpitch leagues are all over the board. One near me pays $40 for games with a two-hour time limit. A couple of men's fastpitch tournaments I worked paid $50 for single umpire games, $35 for two. Indoor fastpitch leagues usually pay about $25 per game. Our local adult baseball league pays two umpires $70 each for nine inning games that might take 2-1/2 to 3 hours. I've been approached about doing some division II college ball next year and those pay $135 per game!

I've tried to come up with an average for all the games I've worked in the past two years, considering all the different pay rates and length of games. Pretty consistently, it always works out to about $22-$24 per hour.

For those that think that's too high, a couple more random thoughts:

- Try running your next game or tournament without any umpires, or use unpaid, untrained volunteers, then let us know how that works out.

- If you want in on this "scam" to get your paws on some of the "easy money", just drop me a line. I'll be glad to direct you to the contacts in your area where you can start the training and certification process. Expect to invest about 20 hours of classroom time and $500 in equipment, uniforms and fees before you ever set foot on the field, but after that it's all gravy!

 

[default]

Did I hear a tone of sarcasm, Bretman? Wow...25 a game ? I wouldn't step on a diamond for 25 game. I know I wouldn't.

It comes down to supply and demand... in some ways.


Yes, enjoy the experience of umpiring behind the plate in 90 degree weather.. drinking bottle after bottle of water and never having to use the bathroom all day because you sweated it out.

Good way to lose weight, too. I've lost seven pounds one Saturday after doing six games.

Didn't you know Bretman, sitting on the sidelines down first base side and third base side.. we have some wonderful umpires calling balls and strikes....lol They are halfway there to becoming an umpire.
I'm going to get you down this way Bretman this coming year.... I'm running a tournament for someone in Coshocton this coming summer as they are raising money for a police dog. Love to see you at the event. He is setting it up as we speak.

I did a reserve game one time in Harrison...... loved it. Other umpire didn't show... I knew both coaches... we played a double header... I was paid $104.00 for each game.

First game was a run rule in 5 and the second game was 1-0 and took 72 minutes. Now, there are the pay day you like....lol