Should Umpires / Coaches be graded?

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I apologize in advance if there is an other thread or forum where this question should be asked.

After 34 years of being exposed to organized sports, it is safe to say there will always be the controversial call or no call when it comes to officiating sports. In fast pitch, everyone of us knows there are those umps we like to see and those we absolutely cringe when we see them enter the diamond our team is playing on.

It is hard to complain when an umpire makes a decision on a bang/bang play. It is also hard to complain when an umpire is consistent with his or her strike zone calls. Whether the strike zone be like pitching into a coffee can or a 6x6 box, we all tend to accept it as long as it is consistent.

For all of the other controversial calls .... short of whipping out the NSA / USSSA / ASA Umpire Voodoo doll the only (legal) recourse we have is our not so flattering comments and maybe an official complaint which goes in one ear and out the other or gets thrown into the trash can if filed in writing.

Does anyone know of any tournaments which have such a thing as an umpire grading system? The system I would have in mind would actualy have a form where each team can evaluate the ump. The ump would then have to sign off on the evaluation after each game. The ump could also rate the team and their fans? It would be nice to have a system in place where good umps are rewarded and bad umps are simply not invited back. This goes for problem teams as well.

The umpire topic has become a hot item for me after a tournament in Akron my DDs played in over Memorial Day Weekend. One particular ump (who stands about 6'4 and wears Harry Caray sized glasses) was one of the worst umpires I have seen in my lifetime. EVERY team we came across had something to say about this particular guy. The reason this particular guy is on my radar is because after three days of bad calls, he completely missed a call which would have been a third out. The very next pitch my daughter takes a line drive back to the pitchers circle which ended her day and thankfully nothing worse. This particular tournament was an NSA tournament. Knowing we would not be playing in any other NSA tournaments, I had assumed we would not see this guy again.

A week later, we enter an ASA tournament in Massillon. Who the heck shows up at our first game on Saturday? The same guy! Let's just say, the guy was not having a "bad day" in Akron ..... this guy is plain horrible!

Our second game on Saturday brought us an entirely new umpire crew. The guy umping the bases was one of the best I have EVER seen. Good or bad call, this guy hustled his butt off to get into a position to make a call. Whether is was play at a base or outfield or with runners on base, this guy put himself into a position to make the call.

The only thing I was able to do was to track this guy down after the game and thank him for doing a nice job.

I have heard people say "this guy should be umping rec games" ...... I say sending them to rec leagues would be unfair to those kids trying to learn at that level. I say don't hire them period.

For the record: Yes, it is only a game. It is a game where all of us have made some sort of commitment both financially and through blood sweat and tears. The (amature) umpire gets paid to do his/her job. It would be nice to see a system in place which rewards the good and does not invite back the bad.

Good Luck this season!

 

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Denny rose is the td for u trip tourns in nw ohio. For the shootout in july, when i fill out my pool play results slip im asked to give the umpires a letter grade. Thats the only 'official' system ive seen. I would guess those grades r determined to see who is asked back next year.

 

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Bill Beckham has a grading slip for his tournaments, at least at the Midwest All Sanctions and I have no reason to think it is different for his Showdown events.

 

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I know exactly who you're referring to.

Not only wrong in many cases, but unabashedly so. Almost pre-emptive when it comes to inciting a little controversy. Can't say that I don't make my own share of mistakes, but will have to live with the fact that I can't change who gets to call a game for us.

Just thought I would chime in with a "Hey...that rings a bell".

 

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I think each tournament should have a grading system on the score sheets you turn in. Those umpires with bad scores do not get asked back for elimination day on Sunday. Same with coaches, if they get bad scores they are not welcome back the next year.

 

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For the most part this year, we have had pretty friendly umps and ones who hustled and got in a good position to make calls. A few plate umps have been inconsistent calling strikes especially on shorter hitters (for both teams) but I don't think that's been any worse than normal.

My one complaint (and some of the parents on the team I help coach will probably chuckle about me talking about this here because it's starting to become a standing joke) is that a few of the base umps seem to like to hear themselves make the big "out" call. I am coaching first this year, after quite a few years of coaching third. Fellow coaches I've been with over the years would tell you that I'm one of those coaches who will be very honest when I go back to our bench about whether one of our runners was out or safe ... sometimes others will complain, and I will say that no, the umps got it right, or that it was a bang-bang play and that I thought it could have gone either way. But in the last 2 weeks, I have had 4 baserunners called out who have all made basically one entire step past first base when the ball arrived, and the ump called them out ... twice in one game ... I am telling you NOT EVEN CLOSE!! I just can't help but think they are either trying to be the show themselves, or just trying to get the game over with.

If it ever gets to the point of grading umps, it would have to be broken down into different categories ... like knowledge of the game/rules, politeness/civility, control/tempo (i.e., keep it moving but not to the point of making everyone tense) of the game, hustle/positioning, and overall judgment/consistency. Believe it or not, if they did everything else well other than judgment/consistency, I could live with that.

 

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Should parents.........(be graded)???


The best grading system I have ever seen in action occured in our 3rd and 4th tournaments. The UIC's both years (NSA and ASA) were actively watching umpires. In both years the UIC's removed umpires DURING A GAME. No report card needed!!

Same situation with the TD - coaches thrown out and not invited back. Again no report card needed.

Folks have to remember that the Tournament Directors are the Customer (for umpires and fields) and the Services Provider (to the teams). They are the ones that should be in control.

 

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Look people, the guys and women that call the games are not making a living doing this. Most do it for a variety of reasons but getting rich is not one of them. You raise the bar high enough, you'd better get ready to pay. We do not have an over abundance of umpires anywhere around this area. While I believe it is great that their brotherhood has taken measures to be more professional with rules classes and umpire schools, most attend these things on their own dime-------and on their own time. The rule book can be confusing and for most you won't memorize the thing in 1 sitting in your private library. (that's a joke but true) While I believe the chief umpires would love to weed a few bad eggs out, the demand for ump's just won't allow this to happen right now-----not till you get involved. Sign up to be an umpire. Go thru what they go thru. Give up you evenings and weekends to travel to/from parks that probably are not in your backyard, and make a difference. Don't tell us your too busy.

While I have had many "conversations" with umpires over the years, I've never forgot they are simply working men and women that are giving up their time for little money so we can enjoy the game all of us are attracted to. I respect their opinion and some times disagree. The real benchmark of an umpire is when they will admit they may not understand every rule and if possible they will change a call to get it right for everyone. It's only fair to the girls and the game. I can work with this mentality.

I had an old coach tell me years ago the best umpires you'll ever have are the ones you don't remember. I believe this is true as the great ones don't make the game out to be about them and leave the focus on the girls and the game.

 

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Coaches get graded every year at tryouts. If no one wants to play for you = F.

 

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I'd be willing to pay more if it puts a better ump on the field.

The "pay scale" or "reason for being an ump" excuse does not matter to me.

The bad umps should find another way of earning their beer money of that's the case.

All I'm asking for is a way to eliminate or reduce those umps who have no business being on the field. An occasional blown call is part of the game .... lets face it, we all know the umps who have no business being out there!

 

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I'm not advocating umpire grading really because many people would grade based on whether the calls went their way and/or if they won the game, but I have come to appreciate more and more over the years the really good umpires, and what a pleasure they can make the game vs. the bad ones. And it's not about agreeing with their every call ... that never happens at any level. Its about being friendly and respectful, knowing the rules, being in the right position, controlling the tempo of the game (not too slow or too fast), etc. And yes, if there was some way to actually do it, I'd be willing to throw down more money to go to tournaments where I knew we were going to have those kinds of umpires.

 

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I do think there should be a continuing education requirement for umpires to maintain certification.

Had an umpire tell me this weekend that my pitcher needed to pause with the ball / glove over her head. I told her this and she said, "yea but I'm not supposed to stop once I start my motion".

Smart kid - I knew this but got momentarily thrown for a loop. So I go back to the umpire and remind him of this and he responded with "it states in the rules that she has to present the ball." Oh boy....

He actually called a good game and that wasn't a major issue, but it was clear to me he hadn't consulted a rule book since he got certified umpteen years ago.

 

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I really don't think that most coaches have sufficient knowledge of the rules, positioning and movements to evaluate umpires on other than a superficial level. There should be a group of officials assigned to each region to randomly evaluate blue and handout remedial training when necessary.

On the other hand, ASA needs to do a better job ensuring that the rule books are in sync. Every year I sit down with our UIC and we compare the Blue rule book with the Coaches rule book and we continue to find discrepancies.

 

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Reading this thread, I can't help but think about one tournament last year. In back-to-back games I had one coach tell me that my partner and I were the two best umpires they'd had in the tourney, then in the next game another coach said we were the worst umpires he'd ever seen.

Any guess on which one was the losing coach and which one was a winner?

 

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I only know of one place that has the teams rate the umpires...Expressway Park does this. Sometimes it does seem like there could be more follow up after they are certified to make sure they
are keeping up with all the rule changes from year to year. But as also stated most do this with their own money......so I guess for me it is a question of: if your doing this just to make extra money then
maybe you should look at staying more local and doing your hometown games. I know alot of these umpires do just as much travelling as we do as parents/players of the game, and for the most part I really believe these are the ones who try to do their best at all times. But everyone has to remember something on these hot weekends.......umpires are only human like the rest of us!! They are going to make mistakes and miss things. But like has been said if they are willing to let the coach/coaches talk to them and ask questions about calls it goes a long way to keeping everyone calm. Rather than just blowing the coaches off by believing they are the only ones who know the rules and have it right no matter what. Maybe the coach/coaches you are umpiring for are newer to the game, pass on your experience and maybe teach them a bit about the rules in the process.
Really hope everyone has a great summer of ball......let the young ladies play the game the all love, and sit back and enjoy the time with them while you have it!!!

 

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Reading this thread, I can't help but think about one tournament last year. In back-to-back games I had one coach tell me that my partner and I were the two best umpires they'd had in the tourney, then in the next game another coach said we were the worst umpires he'd ever seen.

Any guess on which one was the losing coach and which one was a winner?

I am sure that happens often.

The guy who sparked my interest to write something had both sets of coaches and parents scratching their heads. One coach saying "That must have been payback .... we still owe you two calls".

We won one and lost one that this guys was umping ....... he was horrible at both.

 

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Capital City Bat Wars had umpire grading cards incorporated with the game scoresheets. I'm very glad they did. We had the misfortune of having the same crew for four of our seven games. EVERY team that came off that diamond complained. Too many issues to list here but my biggest problem was the way he talked to (reprimanded) the players. Yelling at them if they didn't keep one foot in the box between pitches. Yeah yeah, they need to do it but he sounded like he was yelling at a dog. Once, when our catcher was first to bat, as soon as the opposing team catcher threw the ball down, he says, "I need a batter." She was trotting out of the dugout toward the box. "I NEED A BATTER!" She's two steps from the box and looking at the sign from our base coach. "III NNEEEED AAAA BATTTTTTTTTER!!!!!!!!" I'd post the name that I have for him in my head but I'm sure it'd be censored. It was very clear that it was all about him and the power and NOT about the girls!

Other than that pair, we had respectable umps. BTW, we won games against them so I'm not being a sore loser.

 

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Yea, our 6'4 Harry Carey glasses wearing ump was very arrogant ...... wanted to push him down in the mud.

 

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Bill Beckham has a grading slip for his tournaments, at least at the Midwest All Sanctions and I have no reason to think it is different for his Showdown events.

I believe they grade the umpires at all Bill's tourneys. I don't know if they just throw away the slips or not, but either way - It feels nice to give them a grade after your games. Nice move Bill.

 

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The one thing I notice is when you get guys who are used to working together you tend to get a better game. If you are at a big tournament and umpires are just randomly thrown together I don't think they can anticipate and cover each other and that leads to being out of position.

There is a father/son team from up near marion and another around columbus who I see a lot around Central Ohio and I may not always like their calls but they know the rules, mechanics, and if you don't try to show them up you will get a fair game.