Tips for a Good Game

I have been thinking about what to write about as my first article for the site... And finally decided to do one about my personal suggestions for having a good game, keeping the game under control, and not getting verbally abused too badly by the crowd.


First off, Treat everyone better than how they probably, really deserve to be treated. When you are walking around the park, say Hi to people, be friendly. I'm sure it's very surprising to a coach who is very abusive of umpires, to get greeted with a friendly hello, by the very one he's treated so poorly.

Unless they have crossed a clear cut line, where no one should dare go, Give them a warning first. Don't be quick to eject people.

Ignore ALL comments from the fans. Umpires should NOT talk to the fans. Why? Well how does it look to the other team if the umpire is standing there chit chatting with one team, the whole game?? They would have reason to believe the umpire was biased in the other team's favor.

When calling the plate, calling the strike zone consistently should be your number 1 goal. Keeping your head still, and tracking the ball in with your eyes, instead of your head, is a good way to keep the zone from "bouncing around on you". Another frequent mistake of the plate umpire when calling pitches is calling it too soon(I do this a lot, when I miss a pitch, it's almost always because of this). To keep from calling the pitch too soon, watch the pitch all the way into the glove. Don't decide what it is, as the pitch is halfway to the batter. Watch it all the way into the glove.


This one, like the first, applies more to everything, than just during games.

Don't criticize your fellow umpires in front of others. If there is something that another umpire is doing wrong, that is potentially embarrassing to him or her, go to them privately and talk about it. This also goes for dealing with coaches. It's usually a lot better to go to the coach, and talk to him, rather than shout things from halfway across the field.

That's enough for now.

Andy