09/16/2025
Secrets of Umpiring
This issue is part two of Secrets of Umpiring. To recap, last issue we gave you three "secrets" of umpiring (Note: there is no such thing as a "secret" to becoming a good umpire, but these issues may not come to mind all the time when you think about what it takes to become a better umpire).
To recap, last issue we listed these as key "secrets" to being a better umpire:
Be a better listener. Listen to everyone, take what you need from what they say.
Be prepared to change. That means abandoning what you're comfortable with.
Know the rules. No amount of working on timing, angles, positioning, head height or anything else will make you a good umpire if you don't know the rules.
We have three more for you. So here we go.
EGO/PRIDE
Put it away. It has no place here, when you're learning. If you're too proud or your ego is too big that you're not willing to try new things and make some mistakes along the way, you're just not going to get better.
Also, if your high-level mentor is telling you, for example, that you need to stay down in position until the catcher catches the pitch, and you're thinking you're already doing that, so you don't need to learn this step, you're not going to improve. Lose the ego. Your mentor isn't telling you this for any benefit to him. He's trying to help you. Listen. Put away your ego.
FUNDAMENTALS
I remember one time at, of all things, a golf clinic, someone asked the teaching pro how to put backspin on his iron shots. The pro asked the learning golfer what score he usually shoots. The golfer proudly replied he consistently shoots in the 90s.
The pro told him that maybe he should learn to be more consistent first. "First you get good, then you can get fancy," he said.The same idea applies to umpiring.You can't progress in an area if you don't already have the basics.
It's hard to teach an umpire about head height, timing, the slot, or anything else to do with plate work if the umpire is always jumping up before the pitch comes in. First you get good, then you can get fancy.
HARD WORK/PRACTICE
Other umpires may have more talent, more knowledge and more experience than you, but nobody can outwork you if you put your mind to it. Focus on your goals. Work on them until they become second nature.
The place to work on changes isn't at a high-level playoff game. It's at a level that may seem a step down for you, in a game that has nothing on the line, like an exhibition game or early regular season game. If you find the baseball happens fast at the age-15 level, work on things during a game with players aged 13 and under. If you're working on timing, for example, you may have to really slow things down in this game so you're more focused on timing. This will be inconvenient to the players, but it won't affect the outcome. Keep working on it. Focus on your issue, work hard at it, and keep working on it until you don't even have to think about it any more.
To recap, here are some secrets to becoming a better umpire. Focus on these and I can guarantee you'll be a better umpire:
Listen
Be prepared to change
Know your rules
Put away your ego and pride
Know your fundamentals
Get used to working hard and practicing on your goals
