North Georgia Amateur Umpire Association

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NGAUA NOTES

December, 2009

• Be on time: On time definition is NOT game time, but 15 minutes early.
• Wear the uniform the proper way and with pride. No ball bags are to be worn by the field umpire UNLESS swapping balls in adult co-ed.
• Cancelation of games: NGAUA books weekly to help avoid umpires needing to cancel assignments. Anytime someone cancels, a burden is placed on the coordinator to find someone who had a "night off" and is qualified to work the canceled assignment (fast pitch, USSSA, etc). If a veteran cancels who is scheduled with a new umpire, a veteran must be found as a replacement. Needless to say, if you cancel, you make it tough on your friends. If you must cancel, give as much notice as possible. Sometimes the need to cancel is unavoidable, but please remember, it takes anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 hours to find a replacement. Try to imagine if 3 to 5 umpires cancel on a given day!
• Scheduling this year is the same as last year:
  All veteran umpires are to call after 2:30PM on Wednesday.
  All 1st year and transferees call after 2:30PM on Thursdays.
  Exception: If you wish to send an email request to schedule, you may do so as long as Glenn gets it no later than Monday. If you do so, list the days you wish to work and park/type preferences. Call no sooner than on Thursday after 2:30PM for your schedule. Understand, NO preferential treatment will be given to anyone using the email option. Those using the email option will make it easier for those who chose to call as in the past.
• Please remember when leaving a message for Glenn, he needs your name first then SLOWLY leave the message.
• Never "NO-SHOW" for a game. If your car breaks down, if you have to work late, if you are sick, if you get lost going to a park, call Glenn so he can get help for you.
• If you are running late to a park, call Glenn and he will call the park so they will not be concerned.
• Veterans please help our new umpires by being an on-field teacher. Show them the proper (ASA) mechanics and encourage them to both ask questions and accept pointers from you.
• PAY: If a park schedule is altered so that your 9:30PM game is cancelled, NOT FORFEITED, you do NOT get paid. If the scheduled 9:30PM game is a forfeit, you do get paid.
• Any trouble at the park (fight, ejection, park official trouble, or any other thing you think Glenn needs to know, call him that night after you get home and leave a message on the answering machine explaining what problem occured. Glenn cannot defend your actions if he is not aware of what happened. In any problem like those above, Glenn would like BOTH umpires to call and leave their description of what happened. Remember, Glenn needs to know the following:
  Who you are.
  Which park.
  Which field.
  Which game (6:30PM, 7:30PM).
  Who was your partner.
  Your description of what happened.
• REMEMBER: As much as we get fed up with certain players, coaches, and parents, we need them. We do not have a job without these people. We cannot afford to allow our temper to take over. When you find one of these people that you cannot persuade to calm down, listen to reason. Please allow them to do their thing before you fire off the ejection button. If we blow our temper, we are seen as the bad guy. If we delay and allow the angered player to refuse our offer to regain his control, we can maintain game control and still see to it the player leaves. By delaying, most involved in the game will agree with your decision to eject this person, even if they do not agree with the call you made.
• We all share our image as "NGAUA" on the field. We all look only as good as a group, as we do as individuals.
• For Youth parks, make sure you know the "Special" exceptions to the book rules for that park and age group you have.
• Please, never do a "SELL OUT" to a small kid! You will scare them and look like a real villain doing it.
• Various youth parks will "GIVE' you a drink or even a hamburger or hotdog. However, before going up to ANY concession stand and expecting to get something for nothing, ALWAYS, ALWAYS offer to pay for what you ask for first. If they say no charge, you say thank you. If they take your money, do not be offended. Remember, they are working for free, you, the umpires, are the only people in the park getting paid that day. The concession stand is the only source of revenue other than player fees that these parks have. What little they may charge you may indeed help pay your game fees each year.
• Lastly, Remember: Please and Thank You. Character - Conscience - Courage - Control. These will get you through almost any on-field problem.