The Newbies Section

[Dan]

This area is a “Safe Harbor” for the rookie umpires who visit this site to post questions without fear of criticism, attacks or “flaming”.

This section, along with all other board topics, is provided, in total, as an umpire information resource.

Just like all of the other boards on this site, the posts are individual author’s opinions and responses. Readers are encouraged to reap all that they can from these posts in the pursuit of becoming a better umpire.

This area, and every topic area on the board, will automatically drop posts more than 90 days old.

Thank you for your visit to the Umpires Resource Center!

[ctusmc1999]

My name is Joe Goodrich and I just moved to New Bern, NC. I love baseball and started umpiring two years ago on weekends in season. I have only umpired a few High School games and many Little League level games. I love the sport and played through college level as a catcher.

My first question is who can I contact to start umpiring in my area?

Secondly, I am an active duty Marine Corps pilot and sometimes it is hard to get time off to attend umpire camps. Is there a way to get together with other ABUA members in my area and work on our drills?

I am a new ABUA member and have enjoyed the online courses offered by ABUA and ESO. How do I find out about camps coming to my area?

Any help will be greatly appreciated on these questions. Thanks.

Joe

[SocalBlue1]

Joe,

Welcome to ABUA and THANK YOU for your service!

You will likely find find several members here that reside in NC that will be willing to help. Much will depend on what level you wish to umpire (Youth ball such as Little League, high school, etc).

I suspect someone more local to you will advise the closest umpire association shortly. If not one of us will help you out.

Jim

[chuck1]

Joe

Although I am not local, I just pulled up the North Carolina High School Athletic Association and there is a list of "Booking Agents" (aka "Assignors" in most parts of the country) and I believe the closest for you is

Ken Saunders
PO Box 728
Jacksonville, NC 28541
ksaunders@ec.rr.com
Home: 910-938-8979
Cell: 910-330-6871
Fax: 910-938-8979

I'm sure if you give him a call, he would be glad to answer any and all questions and help you in any way possible. Being from Jacksonville himself, there is absolutely no way that he has managed to escape running into someone connected to the Military in one form or another unless he lives in a cave. I'm sure he knows all about the scheduling challenges for clinics, camps, and games are concerned. Good luck and I hope this helps.

Thanks so much for your service to our country.

[heyblue26]

My name is Joe Goodrich and I just moved to New Bern, NC. I love baseball and started umpiring two years ago on weekends in season. I have only umpired a few High School games and many Little League level games. I love the sport and played through college level as a catcher.

My first question is who can I contact to start umpiring in my area?

Secondly, I am an active duty Marine Corps pilot and sometimes it is hard to get time off to attend umpire camps. Is there a way to get together with other ABUA members in my area and work on our drills?

I am a new ABUA member and have enjoyed the online courses offered by ABUA and ESO. How do I find out about camps coming to my area?

Any help will be greatly appreciated on these questions. Thanks.


Joe

Joe: Welcome to the ABUA it is great and there is a lot of great umpires on this site that will help any way they can either by answering your questions or other umpiring assocation information such as you have asked in your post. I am a retired Marine and I want to say Semper Fi. I umpire here in Korea and the only American umpire to attend the KBO Umpire School. Again welcome.

Heyblue26

[ctusmc1999]

Jim,

Thanks for the warm and prompt welcome. I did some research last night and found a few contact numbers for my area. After contacting them I was registered and taken care of within hours. ABUA has already proved to be worth the membership. Thanks again.

Joe

[ctusmc1999]

Chuck1,

Thanks for the information. I just got off the phone with Ken and found that Jim Johnson would be my best bet for the area I am from. Ken was a big help so thanks again.

I do have one question regarding an updated rules book for 2009 season. I looked everywhere online and only found older versions. I have the (4) revisions to the NFHS rules book but can't find any online versions of the 2009 NFHS Baseball Rules Book. Does it not exist for online purchase?

Joe

[CoachJM]

Joe,

I believe FED has gone to an "every other year" publishing schedule. Rule changes between publications will be documented on the FED website.

JM

[heyblue26]

Chuck1,

Thanks for the information. I just got off the phone with Ken and found that Jim Johnson would be my best bet for the area I am from. Ken was a big help so thanks again.

I do have one question regarding an updated rules book for 2009 season. I looked everywhere online and only found older versions. I have the (4) revisions to the NFHS rules book but can't find any online versions of the 2009 NFHS Baseball Rules Book. Does it not exist for online purchase?

Joe

Joe: Try going to the NFHS site I believe they are on sale there. Also try Umpnews.com and they have the rule changes posted there for 2009. Hope that this helps and again welcome.

John

[BrianC14]

FED has published a 2009 Rule Book.

It's available here:

http://www.nfhs.com/index.asp?cmd=showcategory&param_0=61

Since they have a $10 minimum order, I'd recommend buy the Case Book (but I recommend staying away from their Umpires Manual - get a CCA Manual instead).

Semper Fi, Marine!
:)

[BT_Blue]

Honigs also has the FED rule book if I remember correctly.

Also talk to Warren (TarheelUmp)

I know for a fact he is from NC (based on his posts... and oh yes, his avatar) he might be able to help you out.

[ctusmc1999]

Thank you all for the quick and helpful responses. This forum stuff really works! As more problems and questions arise I know where to turn to.

Semper Fi!

Joe

[TarheelUmp]

Sorry I'm a little late to the dance, but it looks like you've been taken care of. Welcome Joe.

[torquer]

My name is Joe Goodrich and I just moved to New Bern, NC. I love baseball and started umpiring two years ago on weekends in season. I have only umpired a few High School games and many Little League level games. I love the sport and played through college level as a catcher.

My first question is who can I contact to start umpiring in my area?

Secondly, I am an active duty Marine Corps pilot and sometimes it is hard to get time off to attend umpire camps. Is there a way to get together with other ABUA members in my area and work on our drills?

I am a new ABUA member and have enjoyed the online courses offered by ABUA and ESO. How do I find out about camps coming to my area?

Any help will be greatly appreciated on these questions. Thanks.

Joe

Thanks for your service to our country. Ex Navy here and I know you guys are the mens department. Have a good friend and umpire that I learned alot from about the game who was a Marine in Vietnam. Try to hook up with a senior ump that has solid mechanics and knows the rules in the different codes you'll be working. I find for myself that the older umps don't have a chip and aren't threatened by the new umps. Your high school association should have some kind of training if they are active. Most HS are using the CCA manual for ump mechanics anyway so study that book and you should be able to do most games efficiently.

Jess AMS2 Navy veteran

[semperfiguy]

Welcome aboard Joe. Go get em devil dog!!! Semper fi!!!! Next to the corps, its baseball for me!! Balls and strikes baby!!!

[coachvan]

hello everyone. i wanted to know the signifigance if any of the numbers on the shirt

[mstaylor]

I assume you are talking in a local group. If so there some groups that use numbers and others that do not. There is no real significance other than some guys like to look like the big boys.

[torquer]

hello everyone. i wanted to know the signifigance if any of the numbers on the shirt


For our HS group its for ID purposes. If there is a problem game, its easier for numbers than names. Otherwise no real deal.

Jess

[lustersilk]

Just my opinion - but don't wear them unless you're supposed to. I'm pretty new to this and thought I'd look like a big shot at an evaluation by showing up with numbers on my Jersey. That was the very first thing my evaluator mentioned. I was totally humiliated when he said "Do you see any others around here with numbers. Only the pros have numbers". I think he was a bit over the top, but what do I know.

I wear the Jersey sometimes when I do solo, independent, travel games, but besides that I leave it in the closet. Just my humble opinion.

[robbyrudd455]

For our HS group its for ID purposes. If there is a problem game, its easier for numbers than names. Otherwise no real deal.

Jess

Exactly why my chapter has them. Easier for coaches to remember numbers- especially when there's a large group of umpires.

I think they look sharp, personally.

[mstaylor]

Some evaluators are absolutely amazing. They have the worst way of saying things to a new or less experienced umps. They pick on stuff that is stupid instead of trying to improve the person they are doing the eval for.
I evaluate in two sports and what my colleagues and I try to do is find things they are doing right as well as things they are doing wrong. When we talk to them we mix the good and bad so it doesn't discourage them. When we have an official want to join our group, we give them a rundown on our uniform requirements plus what equipment they need, plus where they can get it. My goal as a trainer is to help new guys improve to a point where they can take my job.

[heyblue26]

Some evaluators are absolutely amazing. They have the worst way of saying things to a new or less experienced umps. They pick on stuff that is stupid instead of trying to improve the person they are doing the eval for.
I evaluate in two sports and what my colleagues and I try to do is find things they are doing right as well as things they are doing wrong. When we talk to them we mix the good and bad so it doesn't discourage them. When we have an official want to join our group, we give them a rundown on our uniform requirements plus what equipment they need, plus where they can get it. My goal as a trainer is to help new guys improve to a point where they can take my job.

mstaylor: Very well said and you mention some very good points like the good along with the not so good and explain how to correct the things that need to be worked on. IMO this is a good sign of a good tariner.

[mstaylor]

I appreciate compliment. torquer has seen me in both clinic settings and one on one with young umpires. I try to encourage as much as possible while giving them things to work on.

[darbnosnhoj]

Ball line drives over first (or 3rd) base does not hit fair territory and falls in foul territory - is this a fair ball or foul? I know this is the basic of the basic - help I am very new.

[BrianC14]

Ball line drives over first (or 3rd) base does not hit fair territory and falls in foul territory - is this a fair ball or foul? I know this is the basic of the basic - help I am very new.

Foul ball, so long as it touched nothing in (or on) fair territory.

[cajunyankee]

Foul as the other posters have said. You'll catch on. Give yourself some time, get with quality partners, spend lots of time on this site, and do lots of games.

[cajunyankee]

You may also try watching games on TV with the sound turned down.
If the sound is on, and you can hear the announcers, you'll just get more confused.;)

[critterump1]

My Name is Christopher or Chris you can also call me critter that's a nickname i go by.

I umpire babe ruth

cal minor 9-10
cal major 10-12
baberuth 13-17

I been in this leauge for 4-5 years i been umpire for 3-4 years before that with the local free ll left for reason i disagree with them.

I am 22 years old

[AugieDonatelli]

Chris, just jump right in and learn all you can from the veterans here. Make sure not to argue about finer points until you have some posts under your belt or some of these wolves will bite your head off!:D

[heyblue26]

Hey Critter great advise by Augie and like he said jump right in. Welcome to a great site and you can learn alot from all here.

[stonewi]

I am not an umpire but my son and I play a lot of ball and we both try to learn the rules as much as possible. Maybe one day soon after I hang up the cleats I'll move behind the plate.

Encountered an interesting situation the other night at my sons game and almost everyone had a different take on the proper call.

Bases loaded one out. Batter lays down a perfect bunt down the first base line. Batter busts out of the box trying to leg out a hit. Catcher busts out behind the batter and fields the ball about 10' in front of home plate. He instinctively turns to go tag home plate, but the runner on 3rd had broken early and catcher realizes the runner is going to beat him to the plate. Catcher looks toward 3rd but then decides to throw to 1st. He now has to hurry to get the batter at 1st and rushes his throw to first base. The throw is several feet over the first baseman's head and goes down the foul line into right field. The runner was more than a step away from 1st when the ball went over the first baseman's head and in his effort run fast to beat the throw he strayed out of the 3' baseline box with one foot in fair territory when the ball went over the first baseman's head. Should the runner be called out for interference?

[BrianC14]

I am not an umpire but my son and I play a lot of ball and we both try to learn the rules as much as possible. Maybe one day soon after I hang up the cleats I'll move behind the plate.

Encountered an interesting situation the other night at my sons game and almost everyone had a different take on the proper call.

Bases loaded one out. Batter lays down a perfect bunt down the first base line. Batter busts out of the box trying to leg out a hit. Catcher busts out behind the batter and fields the ball about 10' in front of home plate. He instinctively turns to go tag home plate, but the runner on 3rd had broken early and catcher realizes the runner is going to beat him to the plate. Catcher looks toward 3rd but then decides to throw to 1st. He now has to hurry to get the batter at 1st and rushes his throw to first base. The throw is several feet over the first baseman's head and goes down the foul line into right field. The runner was more than a step away from 1st when the ball went over the first baseman's head and in his effort run fast to beat the throw he strayed out of the 3' baseline box with one foot in fair territory when the ball went over the first baseman's head. Should the runner be called out for interference?

Unfortunately, it depends on what rule set you're using.

If it's a high school game using NFHS ("FED") rules, this can be ruled as interference.

In other codes, (Official Baseball Rules, NCAA, etc.) then the quality of the throw comes into play, and it's left to the umpire's judgment whether or not the runner caused the wild throw, or if it were simply a poor quality throw.

[stonewi]

Thanks.

I believe official baseball rules applied in this tournament. One question with regard to the quality throw. I thought I read somewhere that in the umpire's judgement the runner must intentionally try to cause the wild throw to be called out for interference, such as waving your arms, yelling, etc. Is that true, and if so, doesn't that suggest that to call interference on this play the umpire must believe the runner intentionally stepped out of the baseline to try to cause a wild throw? Or conversely, if the umpire believes the runner accidently stepped out of the baseline, he wouldn't call interference? If that line of reasoning is correct, seems like a tough judgement call.

[yawetag]

the runner must intentionally try to cause the wild throw to be called out for interference, such as waving your arms, yelling, etc. Is that true

No. On a running lane violation to first, simply being outside the lane is enough for the call (if you believe the throw was hindered by him being outside the line).

[johnnyg08]

Remember that the rule for runner's lane violation protects F3, not necessarily F2.

Something about hindering or impeding F3's ability to field the throw.

[stonewi]

The last two posts get to the two different points of view that I encountered regarding the out of first baseline rule. If it protects F3, if runner is out of baseline and is hit by a throw or screens first basement the case for interference is clear. If the throw is not catchable by F3, does that eliminate the possibility for interference call? Or if in the umpire's judgement the runner being out of the baseline caused a wild throw, interference should be called?

[bobjenkins]

The last two posts get to the two different points of view that I encountered regarding the out of first baseline rule. If it protects F3, if runner is out of baseline and is hit by a throw or screens first basement the case for interference is clear. If the throw is not catchable by F3, does that eliminate the possibility for interference call? Or if in the umpire's judgement the runner being out of the baseline caused a wild throw, interference should be called?

The former in OBR; the latter in FED (with the umpire's judgment "always" going to "caused a wild throw.")

[richo_aust]

HEYBLUE26, Hi mate, I'm from Australia, love your "Your out and your ugly too"

[heyblue26]

HEYBLUE26, Hi mate, I'm from Australia, love your "Your out and your ugly too"

Thanks but that saying is from a book that was written by a MLB Umpire (Durwood Merrill) with the book title being that.

[aaikin]

Hey Joe I just moved from Camp Lejeune, NC. You may also want to check on base. The youth directors are always looking for umpire/sport officials/referees to help with their youth sports programs.

[lawdawg2770]

Hey all I have just registered with the Mississippi HSSA and have been assigned an association. i just need to pay my dues but, have not been contacted by anybody yet. Does anyone have any experience in MS, so i can get the ball rolloing? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark

[heyblue26]

Hey Joe I just moved from Camp Lejeune, NC. You may also want to check on base. The youth directors are always looking for umpire/sport officials/referees to help with their youth sports programs.

Yes I would say the Marines are always looking for a few good Umpires. the youth programs on base are good programs.

[cajunyankee]

They'll likely have clinics before the season starts as well. Sometimes late in the fall.
If you wait too long to contact them, you're running the risk of missing their clinics which can be beneficial not only in the areas of mechanics, etc., but can help them meet you, learn your capabilities, etc.

Call them up. Can't hurt.

[bobjenkins]

He was looking for information in 2011.

[cajunyankee]

Sooooo, I guess my delivery of information is as quick as usual right?!?!?

[AugieDonatelli]

Sooooo, I guess my delivery of information is as quick as usual right?!?!?
Your timing is a little slow. Greg Bonin called and said your timing is a little slow. Tim McClelland called and said your timing is a little slow.:eek:

[cajunyankee]

Your timing is a little slow. Greg Bonin called and said your timing is a little slow. Tim McClelland called and said your timing is a little slow.:eek:

Tim McClelland called but I fell asleep before he could tell me what he was calling about.

[heyblue26]

This is too funny. I have a picture hanging in my office of Jocko Conlan and dressed in his (Hey) day umpire uniform with grin on his face. Seems like he is just happy to a umpire and timing is everything.

[AugieDonatelli]

Yeah, he really butchered that call. You got that right. Worst call I've ever seen.