Umpiring

I have never made a bad call.......from the stands!

timing is the key.........try and establish a set timing for your calls and it wont matter if your calling a 50 mph or a 85 mph pitch...

Follow the ball into the mitt with your eyes...hear the catch...call the pitch in your head......then call the pitch out loud....

That half second pause will give you a more defined approach to calling the ball...

Consistently calling balls and strikes is where an umpire makes or breaks his reputation...

Good Luck on your next game.......

I have the utmost respect for quality umpires. What I mean by quality are guys that show up early like expected. Are neat in their appearance and are professional in their demeanor. I know that most umpires have their own strike zone. Some like it a little up some like it a little down some give you a ball off the plate and some are tight. I really dont care either way. What I do want is consistency for the entire game. If you are giving a ball off the plate in the first give it in the 7th. If you are tight to start be tight to finish. My personal preference is they not have a high strike zone. I dont mind one that is a little low. I would say that over my years as a HS coach that the vast majority of the umpires that we have had at home and on the road have been very good quality umpires. Like any profession you have the bad ones. But the fact is these guys are not umpireing to get rich. They enjoy what they do and take pride in doing it right.

Three unpires talking.....

Ump #1 says: "Some are balls, some are strikes, I call 'em as I see 'em."

Ump #2 says: "Some are balls, some are strikes, I call 'em as they ARE."

Ump #3 says: "Some are balls, some are strikes, but they AIN'T NUTHIN 'til I call 'em!"