On The Good Umpire
by Tom Anstett
I'm sure everyone can think of many attributes of a good umpire. There are as many different attributes as there are umpires. I would like to discuss the basic points that are necessary in becoming and remaining, a good umpire. They are broken down into four basic groups: Appearance, Knowledge of the Rules, Good Judgment and Communication. Before you start questioning "why these four groups?" let me say that they are broad topics that cover many finer points of umpiring.
Perception Is Reality
Let's start with Appearance. "Perception is reality and Image is everything". Think about this for a few moments, this is very important. You are, what you appear to be. With that in mind I will break the topic of appearance into two areas for discussion. How you present yourself on the field-your uniform and how you move and act on the field-your mechanics.
Every league and level of baseball has a dress code you must abide by. Take that dress code to the top level. Clean, pressed shirts and slacks with a fitted hat and shined shoes are a must. You will earn the respect of the players and coaches just by walking on the field looking sharp. You will have credibility by just looking like an umpire. Little things make a big difference. A fitted hat with a nice fold, not something that looks like you were sitting on it on the way to the game. A clean, pressed shirt that's not faded with 200 washes. Bring the shirt to the game on a hanger, don't wear it. Slacks that pressed with a nice crease that fit. Plate pants are a must when working the dish. Nothing worse than tight pants riding up the shins guards that scream "rookie". Plain wide black belt with a plain simple buckle. Black socks and shined black shoes. Nothing on an umpire should be white, never a white tee shirt or socks. Remember that image is everything.
Mechanics, they are a reflection of you. Mechanics cover how you move, stand and react. They should be clear, crisp and clean. You should stand tall, never your hands in your pockets. Look alert, not with arms folded across you chest like your not interested. Move quickly and stop with stability. Always assume a position of power and strength. Stand with you feet apart, both feet on the ground with balance. In the set position have your feet wide enough to be stable and strong, not too wide where you will be slow to react or too close together where you look weak and unsure. Your signals should be large and clear, with confidence and a strong voice to match. Remember that "perception is reality", you are what people perceive you to be. Your mechanics and your uniform make up your total appearance and that is what everyone will observe. That is how they will perceive you, that is their reality.
Know The Rules
Knowledge of the rules - You must be a master of the rule book. Any questions, any problems any knotty situations must be solved, straightened out or answered by you the umpire. Your not going to consult with anyone but your partner. All the coaches and players will want to offer their expert advise, but it's your sole responsibility, your job, to make sure the game is played by the rules and that no one team gains an unfair advantage. Read your rule book, know the rules. Just as important as knowing the rules is being able to apply these rules to live situations. Book smart umpires aren't any good if they don't know when and how to apply the rule. You can memorize the definition of obstruction, but you need to recognize it when you see it and know when and how to call it. Having a total grasp of the rules is a must in order to be a good umpire.
Develop Good Judgment
Good judgment - This is not something you are born with and it has nothing to do with intelligence. So what is that illusive quality? Nothing more than three simple(but very important) ingredients put together- Hustle, Positioning and Timing. If you can master these three qualities you will have great judgment.
- Hustle: to accelerate your movement. The single word that should describe how you move around the field. Not just only when the ball is hit and a play is happening but always. From the moment the pregame meeting at home plate is over, to the last out and your leaving the field-you hustle. You must hustle to be in the proper position to make your call.
- Positioning: having the best angle to give yourself the best view of a play. Without the best position, your view and your interpretation of the play will suffer. Without the best position, you loose your ability to see everything that's happening. Without the best position you will have poor judgment. You want to hustle to be in the right place at the right time. Without the right position, you risk being in the play, impeding a runner or blocking a fielder. Positioning, a key ingredient to good judgment.
- With all the hustle and having the best position, if you don't have proper "timing" you can still kick the call. You must wait until the play is over, see it in your mind, process it, then make the call. Timing is the number one problem that umpires have at all levels. Nothing worse than the old "out-safe call", or after the big slide and tag, you punch him out only to find the ball rolling around on the ground, or the "that's a catch" with your fist in the air to have the fielder drop that routine fly ball. These type of situations are all a result of poor timing. Proper timing affords you the opportunity to process all the information, then you can make the call with confidence and authority.
Communicate Effectively
You must be a good communicator, with your partner, coaches and fans. This starts in the locker room or parking lot with a good pre-game. You discuss among other things the signs and signals you will be using to communicate during the game. You communicate with the coaches at the pre-game meeting at home plate, you set the tone for the game. During the entire game you communicate with your partner. The plate man should orchestrate the action between the crew. Communication can and should be verbal but in big game situations you won't hear each other so you must use signals and have visual contact in order to communicate. Your day will be a lot easier with if you are able to communicate with the catcher in front of you. You must communicate with the press box concerning substitutes and yes you communicate with the fans through proper and clear mechanics. A good crew knows how vital communication is.
Challenge Yourself
Put it all together, appearance, good judgment, knowledge of the rules and communication, and you will be a great umpire. Master all the basics so they become automatic, then they require minimum thought. Umpiring is 25% physical and 75% mental. Through game experience, clinics, and training, you master the physical aspects of umpiring. The mental part must be constantly worked on no matter how long you've been umpiring. The ability to stay focused and concentrate for the entire game is very difficult. Challenge yourself to try to keep 100% of your thoughts on the game for the entire game. To have not one thought be about your job or family. On every pitch to be focused, have total awareness of everything that is happening around the field. With this total concentration you will never be surprised or caught unaware. This is not easy, your mind is like the wind, you can't see it but it can be very strong and uncontrollable.
Remember that no matter how good you think you are, there is always something to learn. If you feel you know it all, you're finished growing as an umpire, you might as well have a garage sale and sell your equipment.
Finally. always be humble enough to accept criticism and challenge yourself to be the best that you can be.
Tom Anstett lives in Palm City, Florida and has an extensive background as an umpire and umpire trainer. For more information on Tom click here.
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