Show Up Fee

If the umpire didn't show up because he checked the radar and felt it was going to rain, how would you react if it didn't rain?

If the umpire didn't show up to some other unforeseen situation (traffic, accident, worse, etc.), how would you react?

I know how I react when I get to a game and find the coaches called each other hours ago to cancel, but neglected to tell me or my assigner.  I know how I react when the game location moved and no one told me...

"Many" umpire groups direct or request their umpires show up 30 minutes prior to game time to get ready for their game (dress, have a pre-game, be on the field at 10 minutes prior to game start). Depending on the distance between the umpire's home and the field that can mean leaving anywhere from 5 to 30 (or longer) minutes in order to be "on time".

So while rain is a mostly unforeseen occurrence, it's also possible to look at the weather forecast prior to the game and make your decisions early. You can also be pre-emptive by calling the umpire(s) or assigner to get the definitive word on the "buffer" needed/required/expected.  You should also be sure to have that written time frame set as policy between your organization and the umpire group.

As for having a cell phone - how many states out there are have a "no cell phone while driving" law?  So if my cell phone does ring, I answer it, and then get pulled over - would your team/league pay my fine?

Perhaps you just build in some "sh* happens" into your umpire budget :-)

I'm going to be honest and say that it was last minute notice to cancel 35 minutes before the start of the game but unless the assigner tells me this guy had a long drive I'm not paying his fee.  I understand that umpires have real jobs and sometimes cannot get there half hour before the game but I always had assigners who told me ahead of time which guys would have problems getting to my games.  This guy comes strolling in 10 minutes before game time and I don't know for a fact he had a long drive or couldn't get out of work I'm not paying him.  If he would have showed up 5 or 10 minutes after I called the assigner (in this situation) I would have paid him.  I wouldn't expect him to get notice that quickly.

As for him not having a cell phone and your concerns about talking / driving are very valid but we live in the 21st century.  We have hands free devices and if you don't want to get that or still illegal in your state we now have phones where you can program ringtones for certain people.  So if you're an umpire then have a ringtone for your assigner and if that ringtone starts ringing then you know to pull over and check messages or call them back to stay out of this situation.

I've had great relationships over the years with umpires and assigners to where we all work together in communication about game scheduling.  I think in 16 years as head coach / AD I've had to pay out umpire fees once and it was my fault because I thought my coach had called the assigner.  Didn't like it but end of the day the responsibility fell on me and I paid them.  Summer ball you're still working with the same guys so it shouldn't be any issues or at least major ones.  But while I've had great relationships there are a very small number of umps who will try to get that fee regardless of what was communicated.  I'm not paying that.

I think the key is relationships and communication as coach2709 aptly points out. Still sh* happens on both sides and both sides need to be amenable to those situations.

I think regarding the OP and the "whenever I get here" response - I can certainly see why it's felt the fee shouldn't be paid. Add to that the 10 minutes before actual game time appearance... Again - it's the policy and relationship developed over time that will help everyone through the situation. In the long run, the paying of the fee should be worked out with the assigner.  As in, talk with the assigner and tell him/her what happened and driving up 10 minutes before.  Most assigners do have some sort of policy with their crew and if the umpire wasn't there when he was supposed to be - it's on the umpire.  Ironically, maybe he was 'late' due to bad weather... Usually the assigner knows the history... He obviously knew he was cell phone less...

In a local summer league this is what they have in their rules:

RAINOUTS & WET WEATHER RELATED CANCELLATIONS

All notifications of rainouts must be made by phone to (name) at xxx-xxx-xxxx. Home teams must also notify their opponents by phone. You can follow up with an email, but it will not be considered proper notification. If umpires go to a game because you did not notify us properly, they will be entitled to a full games fee for traveling. This should be done no later than 90 minutes prior to the start of the game. Once the umpires leave they are entitled to a $25 travel fee if the game gets cancelled.

Wow NY dad I want to work in your league... here and in most places I have been/work over 20+ yrs... no money pitch (1st pitch) no money... is the rule. Most coaches/leagues throw you a bone and give you $10 which might cover gas depending on how far you traveled. TBC1 states "umpires" so I am assuming more than one.  Showing up 10min prior… where’s the other umpire... If I am your partner you better have a really freaking good explanation on why you are there so late cause at that point I have my gear on ready to go.

Anyway… gotta get the money pitch in…

A. Have a written policy. It protects teams, umpires, and the association.

B. The association needs to have a policy where umpires contact the home team at least 24 hours in advance. This allows communication between the people who need the most timely information. I've had days where the HC would call two to four times to let me know what he thought the chances are of playing and how the field was looking. (It also happens to help rapport.)

In our association, we are expected to arrive 45 minutes before game time.  If games are cancelled:

--More than 2 hours before scheduled start, no fee is paid;

--Less than 2 hours before scheduled start but before line up cards are exchanged, umpires receive 50% of game fee;

--Any time after line up cards are exchanged, umpires receive full fee.

People do try to be reasonable:  when I get a call (actually an email alert telling me to check the web site) 90 minutes before a game and I've barely left my neighborhood, which has happened, I don't expect a fee.

for my summer chapter games:

The home coach is responsible for reaching the assigned umpires when cancelling a game. Games start at 6:00PM.

f the game is cancelled PRIOR to 5:00PM.....no fee is required.(minimum 1 hour notice)

If the game is cancelled after 5:00PM....Umpires must be paid $20 show up fee... 

To answer a couple of other questions:  Both umps showed at about 5:50.  The other umpire did not ask for a show up fee, just waved and said "See you later".  Later found out from the umpiring assignor that the other ump lives about 3 miles from our school, was told at 5:30 the game was canceled, but drove up 15 minutes later to collect his fee....seems he was the one who DID have a cell phone!  Assignor said no show up fee was necessary in this case and he'd take care of it.

At least now I know and will always be ready to ask the assignor ahead of time about time and amount of show up fees so everything is squared away.   Thanks for all the information everyone!

John F....if he didn't show up because he THOUGHT it rained too much and we'd be canceled, and then we weren't canceled, I think he'd be wrong for not checking with me or the umpiring assignor.  If he showed up late, I'd shrug my shoulders and pay him for being there for the game.

If he was late or couldn't show because of traffic or an accident, etc.... well, I'd use one ump.  What else would i do?  Get mad at him for having an emergency? No way....

At least around here, just because you see a front moving in, you can't tell for sure it will rain you out.  This was NOT a situation where the field was wet and questionable. It was dry and more than playable.  Up until about an hour before it STARTED to rain, nothing showed on the radar.  It formed and dumped.  I called the assignor within 5 minutes because it was raining so hard.

While it doesn't happen often, I imagine it could happen 3 or 4 times a year....for our non-profit, parent funded organization, I guess that could mean an extra couple of hundred bucks a year.  Because that's how it works, and because that is what the practice is, I will always meet my obligations, but there is just something that nags at me that everyone, including me and my coaches (none of us who get paid) and parents all show up in this situation and get screwed the same way by the weather. But someone who shows up and gets burnt by the situation just like the rest of us, still gets some "inconvenience" money. Heck, where's mine for working on the field for two hours just to get rained on and go home!!!

Seriously, though, thanks everyone for the information.

I agree with the other answers that you need a written policy.  And, the policy needs to, I think, distinguish between weather and other cancellations.

I get that weather is not the team's fault.  So, I expect lower fees for any such cancellation -- cancelled before I arrive, no fee; cancelled after I arrive, partial fee.

Cancellations because the team didn't have enough players, or the field was double booked, or weather was coming in and they forgot to notify the umpires, etc -- cancelled within about 4 hours, partial fee; cancelled after I arrive, full fee (part of the theory here is that if I had enough notification, I could get another game).