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Author TOPIC: dave with all
kwd6886

May 15, 2007
9:31:54 AM

Entry #: 2141135
with all this talk about refs i was wondering what is the right way to disagree or to bring to the attention of a ref or you that they are doing a bad job and need to get it right is there one in place and what does the park do when or if someone complians and how does one become a ref is there a test ......?

RecStaff

May 15, 2007
2:07:07 PM

Entry #: 2141824
Good question. First, if a team waits until they receive an ejection, it's not a good time. A simple email explaining your concerns will start an inquiry. I usually will address the referee/umpire with a perception notice. It might read: The perception is that you are letting a game becaome too rough. Please work on changing that perception. Hopefully the manager will notice a change. If not we'll have one of our head officials make a judgement. Lately we actually have removed an official.

Jenn

May 16, 2007
12:11:34 PM

Entry #: 2144083
I might also make a suggestion that supervision makes it a point to go out and randomly visit the fields during games to see how the officials are doing. Some people wear that "Blue Shirt" like a badge, and can't take the least amount of lip from anyone on the field.

We know, as players, that an official IS going to miss a play here and there, as they are out there alone. They can only move so fast, and get so good a view of something. NO ONE is perfect. As an official, they need to accept that they are not perfect, and can expect criticism at their games. It's how they deal with it, too, that can affect how smoothly a game runs.

Yes, people are going to be upset when you miss something. But to be honest, and say "I didn't see the tag" is better than trying to say something else happened. That's when people are going to argue.

They should also listen to the reaction of the crowd, too. There's always going to be some "Oh'ing" and "AH'ing" on a close play. But an experienced official is going to know the difference between that and the sounds of people signifying that "hey, I probably messed that one up - I really DIDNT have a CLEAR view of that..."


RecStaff

May 16, 2007
3:12:41 PM

Entry #: 2144538
Two points. First, We DO visit the fields and watch umpires. Second, If it looks like a tag to an ump, he will call it that way. I don't feel that an ump should quibble with the degrees of safe and out. For example, do you REALLY think that if the ump would have said something like "I wasn't really sure, but I had to call something..." it would have calmed someone down? I think that they would have used that as a sign of weakness and complained harder. All I want from my umps is an honest effort. If they say "He looked out to me" or "it looked like he missed the tag" they've done their job on the play. Even if they did say, "I called him out" you should infer that they called what they saw. We need to understand that for over 100 years people in all levels of play disagree with umpire calls. So instead of pressing the point on each call, just realise that there will be calls that will appear to be wrong and that you can not win an argument on a judgement call.

To prove my point, I hear each season from people who feel that an ump or official blew a call, but I've yet to hear someone point out a specific call and say "Man I can't believe that he made the correct call on that play, it was very difficult."

You can ALWAYS find what your are looking for.


Jenn

May 16, 2007
4:43:33 PM

Entry #: 2144745
Dave, that is exactly my point. That officials are ALWAYS going to be questioned. I wasn't saying that an ump would actually verbalize possibly making a wrong call, but should think about it. All I'm saying is that as an official, one needs to accept that, no, you arent perfect, and that yes, you are going to make mistakes. And to be aware of the response to a call. If everyone is really groaning, MAYBE you missed it.

Jenn

May 16, 2007
4:48:44 PM

Entry #: 2144759
And perhaps because there are 3 officials on our team, when a call has been made NOT IN FAVOR of our team, and it's been close, we have gone to bat for the Blue keeping our players in place.

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