My name is Mark Hertz and I’m a former college baseball player and current coach of a youth baseball team. Over my many years in the game, I’ve seen hundreds of umpires call games at all levels. I’ve gained a deep understanding of the unique skills and knowledge youth umpires need to do their job well.
The most critical skills youth umpires need are confidence in their decision-making, mastery of the rules, hustle and focus during games, effective communication skills, and thick enough skin to handle disputes.
Gaining Confidence in Their Calls
Confidence is key for any umpire. When you make a call, you need to project confidence in the decision so the players and coaches know it’s final. This is tricky for inexperienced youth umpires. I advise that you study the rules intensely so you know them inside-out. Also, work games with veteran umpires and learn from them. Ask for their critiques after games to continuously improve. Over many games, you’ll gain the experience needed to feel confident in close calls. Don’t be afraid to sell calls strongly even if you have some inner doubt. It’s all part of giving off an aura of confidence until the real confidence builds.
Mastering the Rules of Baseball
To umpire accurately, you obviously need an intricate knowledge of baseball’s many rules. Youth rulebooks are condensed compared to high school and college ones but there’s still a lot to absorb. My #1 piece of advice – read the rulebook front-to-back multiple times until you know it inside out. Also, watch MLB games and take note every time there is a rules review. Pause the action and read up on the specific rule. In your early games, have a rulebook handy you can reference when needed. Consult veteran umpires often as well to clarify interpretations. With diligence, the rules will become second nature over time.
Hustling During Games
Many first-time umpires are surprised by the amount of hustle and physical fitness required to work games well. You’ll constantly be moving into proper positioning to make calls – running up and down the foul lines, sprinting into the outfield on trouble balls, and circling the bases. I strongly advise doing cardio training to boost your endurance. Also be mentally sharp to stay focused during long games. Tracking the pitch count takes concentration too. Working on your hustle will allow you to be nails on your positioning and focus, getting those bang-bang plays right more often.
Communicating Clearly With Coaches and Players
Top youth umpires communicate well with coaches and players to prevent disputes from arising. I teach my umpires to introduce themselves confidently to both coaches before games. Make your presence known. Speak loudly on close calls to sell them. If disputes happen, let the coach speak briefly but be firm in upholding your call. Defer to your veteran partner if needed. Communicate respectfully but with authority. Off the field, have friendly chats to build report that eases tensions during games. Master these strategies of engagement – they will serve you incredibly well in your umpiring career.
Developing Thick Skin
I tell all my young umpires – you need crocodile skin out there! Coaches and parents WILL challenge your calls aggressively at times. Some may insult your integrity. As difficult as it can be, let their words roll off you like water off a duck’s back. Never engage heated coaches – just say your piece calmly and move on with dignity. You represent the league and the sport itself, don’t forget that. If coaches cross major lines of civility, report them to league supervisors. I remind my umpires that people critique calls in MLB too, it comes with the job! Have confidence in yourself and shake off the criticisms.
Making Quick Decisions
Many young umpires struggle with pulling the trigger quickly on calls, especially with runners on base. My motto is – a quick decision is better than a hesitant one! Trust your instincts gained from prep and experience. Don’t overthink close plays. If your gut says the runner is out, confidently call them out! Players and coaches may dispute but never show doubt. Make eye contact after bang-bang plays to sell it. Ask your partner for help if truly uncertain. Strive to improve your instincts and quick decision capabilities over time. The speed of baseball demands it!
Positioning Strategically
Proper positioning is a more complex skill that young umpires need to hone. You have to anticipate the most likely scenarios and shifts your positioning to reduce blind spots. This comes mostly with game experience and mentoring. I teach my umpires to follow these basics – on trouble balls to the outfield, head into fair territory and watch the fielder to gauge if you’ll need to rule on catches, tagging ups or appeals. Rotate as the ball moves, don’t follow it! Set up 12-15 feet behind the catcher’s shoulder on steals to get optimal angles.
Follow TAG-UPS 1/3 of the distance to the next base. Mark those spots beforehand. Have confidence in your readiness. Even if feeling out of position, sell calls 100%! Proper positioning comes in time.
Staying in Great Physical Shape
Demanding games require youth umpires to be in excellent physical shape. You’ll run miles and miles over the course of a spring season. Do HIIT cardio multiple times per week to boost endurance. Maintain strength in your legs via bodyweight and free weight leg exercises. This prevents injuries from all the crouching and jogging. Agility drills are useful too – zigzag sprints, ladder footwork, etc. Stretch regularly to enhance flexibility as well. Associate any aches and pains early before they flare up. My umpires swear by compression socks during games too. If you get tired, chug some Gatorade! Working on your athleticism pays off with better positioning and clearer thinking.
Managing High Pressure Game Situations
Throughout a game, an umpire will inevitably face high leverage situations that ratchet up the pressure – bases loaded, full counts, 1 run games late, playoff implications, etc. Managing tensions in these moments is an essential skill young umpires need to foster.
My first piece of advice is to take some deep, centered breaths when pressure mounts. Brief meditative breathing gets you grounded. Between pitches, visualize yourself succeeding, making the tough call confidently. Eliminate self-doubt. Next, increase your focus radically when the stakes heighten. Tune out distractions and reactions to your previous calls good or bad. Hyper-focus on the next pitch and your positioning.
Furthermore, expect disputes to be more vigorous in tense spots so mentally prepare to assert your authority more firmly. After close calls with a mob of players complaining, stand tall, make strong eye contact and signal the next play. Do not appear rattled whatsoever. Your body language must project poise to earn respect.
With experience, high leverage moments will feel routine. You’ll make big calls barely breaking a sweat. But the mental preparation remains vital even for veteran umpires. Do the internal work, get into that umpiring zone when tensions rise. Coaches and players can smell fear so exude steely confidence!
Using Proper Mechanics and Signals
I cannot stress enough how proper umpiring mechanics and signals boost an umpire’s authority substantially. The positioning, stance, movements and gestures of a strong umpire all facilitate accurate calls while conveying competence.
Firstly, always be light on your feet, ready to shift quickly into ideal positioning when the play demands it. Bend your knees slightly and lead forward in anticipation. Limit excessive leaning and crouching that tires your legs. Keep your eyes and ears open, focused intensely on the action.
Use emphatic, crisp signals on all your calls – dramatic punch outs on strikes, sweeping out calls on tag plays etc. Good visibility ensures everyone sees and respects your authority. Shout forcefully if needed as well, do not be meek!
On plays requiring conferences like disputing catch/no catch calls, gather your crew, listen briefly to perspectives then make a strong judgement. Display no self-doubt, rule clearly then signal the next play.
Finally, run crisp plays at home – hustle into ideal position, set your feet, then emphatically signal safe or out. Sell it! Even if feeling unsure, proper mechanics hide doubts so pull the trigger confidently!
Building Camaraderie With Other Umpires
While an umpire’s work largely involves solo decision-making, I urge young umpires to build camaraderie with your peers. You will work on coordinated crews often so rapport helps. You can offer each other mentoring and support which boosts everyone’s capabilities.
I suggest befriending all the dedicated, honest umpires with integrity. Attend association meetings to bond further. Form group chats and follow up regarding disputes, tricky rules or positioning conundrums to get clarity.
On the field, hold pre and post-game conferences with your crew to align. If disputes get heated, have each other’s backs! Confer quickly on contested calls to get it right but show unified certainty after judgements.
Between innings, chat briefly to boost rapport – ask about their careers, families, hobbies etc. But maintain professionalism too of course. Bottom line – cultivating an umpire brotherhood pays dividends for decades via enhanced camaraderie, wisdom sharing and support through disputes.
Learning to Love the Difficult Aspects
I’m asked often by rookies – what parts of umpiring motivated you to stick with it for decades? My answer may surprise you – it’s the difficult aspects! The tense confrontations, the high pressure spots, managing disputes – as counterintuitive as it sounds, meeting those challenges head on filled me with intense satisfaction.
The ecstasy of making the tough call confidently in the clutch tastes sweeter than honey. Calmly defusing a livid coach desperate to eject you feels deeply empowering in the long run. Pushing through extreme physical fatigue yet staying mentally pinpoint sharp is revelatory.
My advice to young umpires is – do not dread or avoid the rough spots. Learn to love surmounting the immense challenges! Let the fires of tense game situations and disputes forge you into veteran brilliance. The personal growth accelerates greatly too. Lean into hardship and conquering difficulty becomes its own monumental motivation over decades behind the plate!
Keeping Up With the Speed of the Game
The speed of baseball can overwhelm rookie umpires. As a player, I took for granted how rapidly base runners move and balls get smashed into play. In your first games umpiring, it likely feels like warp speed out there!
I remember an early game on the bases just thinking “Slow down!” The runners looked like Olympic sprinters! On a sharp grounder to short, I hesitated calling the force out at second. My stunned brain cost the player an inning-ending double play.
After that, I trained my mind to process the game at hyper-speed. I asked veteran umpires how they compartmentalized observing numerous events simultaneously. “Laser mental focus” they emphasized.
Between pitches, I visualized blistering line drives and lightning-quick tags at bases. This mental imagery attuned my brain to the pace. Come game time, the speed felt far more manageable. Close calls still challenged me but hesitant mistakes waned.
Now, the speed of the game feels natural to me. My advice – mentally prepare by visualizing rapid flow. Lean into the speed through training. Let your brain and reactions lock in at baseball’s breakneck tempo!
Overcoming Early Stage Fright
I felt sheer terror stepping onto the field to umpire my first game. Would I look like a clueless fool out there? What if I botched easy calls and got ridiculed? My palms sweated as I introduced myself to the coaches.
But right from the first pitch, the instincts I’d sharpened through diligent study surfaced. My early ball/strike calls projected confidence. Foul tip snags were clear too. I even nails a tough tag call at third – perfect positioning to see the swipe just before the dive.
A tricky popped-up bunt challenged me next. I circled under it decisively affirming “I got it!” for the catcher. The ball glanced off my chest but I squeezed it safely, whew!
The coaches gave me fist bumps after the game for a job well done. What a thrill! My stage fright had subsided quickly as my competence shined through. All the hard work paid off. As long as you put in the preparation, have faith your abilities will rise to the surface!
Quick Thinking In Disputes
My first major dispute happened at the worst possible time – bases loaded, full count, last inning with the home team down 1 run. On a checked swing, I rung the batter up as the winning run crossed the plate. Bedlam ensued.
Players screamed at me, calling it a horrible call. The frenzied head coach got in my face demanding I ask my veteran partner. My head spun!
But remembering my mentor’s advice, I took 3 deep breaths, straightened my shoulders and signaled timeout. After a 30 second crew conference, I confidently upheld my call – fierce competitiveness but no excessive movement of the wrists.
I explained firmly to the coach that by rule the checked swing was a legal strike. He reluctantly backed down. Ballgame over!
My quick thinking and projections of confidence/authority in that heated dispute proved mature beyond my years. Staying poised under fire comes with experience.
Building Trust Over Time
Early on I noticed players eyeing warily as I took the field, whispering “Oh great, the rookie…” Their doubtful glances revealed a complete lack of trust in my competence.
I reminded myself trust builds slowly, call-by-call. Getting early plays right boosted players’ confidence marginally. But the older kids still shook their heads angrily at close calls not going their way.
Late in one tense playoff game though, I perfectly nailed a swipe tag on a stealing runner after sprinting into ideal position. Crucial out! The kids roared, slapping my back. Even the crusty coach grinned begrudging approval.
In that electric moment I felt their trust surge as my positioning and sell job stuck. Building authority occurs inch by inch. But over seasons of excellence, even the doubters will trumpet your name triumphantly!
Conclusion
Mastering the wide-ranging skills of a youth baseball umpire takes great dedication but brings profound rewards. You’ll form lifelong bonds while Watching the next generation blossom before you. Project confidence in your calls built through rules study and mentorships. Communicate calmly but firmly when disputes happen. Hustle hard every game and keep your fitness peaked. Acquire a mental toughness to withstand criticism along with thick skin. Make quick decisions from first pitch to final out. Position yourself optimally based on game situations and your growing wisdom. Prep your body relentlessly to handle the grind. Follow these tips and over the years You’ll progress up the umpiring ladder – maybe even to the big leagues one day! I’m always happy to mentor promising young umpires further. Now get out there and take charge of those ballgames!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the hardest call for a youth umpire to make?
Without a doubt, it’s tag-up calls on fly balls to the outfield. You have to watch the catch, the tagging runners, judge if tags precede runners reaching bases, while often contending with blind spots from your positioning. Repetition sharpens your instincts over time but I still find these calls intensely challenging.
How much money do youth umpires typically earn?
It varies league to league but generally youth umpires can earn $25-50 per game depending on experience level and the league they officiate. Tournaments provide more income opportunities too. It’s rewarding work but just don’t expect to get rich quick from it!
What makes a great youth umpire stand out?
The best amateur umpires have an aura of confidence and authority that impresses all. They know the rules cold and make quick judgements decisively. They speak firmly to sell calls and defuse disputes calmly via strong communication skills. They hustle hard to track the action and resist fatigue game after game. And they have the grit to withstand criticism while upholding the dignity and spirit of the game.
How much fitness training should I be doing each week?
I recommend amateur umpires engage in cardio training 3-4 times per week for at least 30 minutes a session – running, biking, using the elliptical machine etc. Do some agility drills during these cardio workouts as well. Lift weights for your legs 1-2 times a week to build strength. Of course, adjust your regimen based on your current fitness level. Bottom line – push yourself reasonably hard so you’re peaking physically heading into the season.
It’s a grind but being supremely fit allows you to excel in your umpiring duties.
What if I freeze up constantly on close calls?
Freezing frequently on crucial calls can hurt an umpire’s confidence badly but it’s fixable. Have patience with yourself – it’s common early on. Between games, analyze why you keep hesitating. Overthinking? Lacking decisiveness? Poor positioning? Identify those root causes then work actively to improve. Ask seasoned umpires to share their mindsets during bang-bang plays. With enough quality experience and tweaked mental approaches, your quick-call abilities will lock in. Keep grinding!
