Talent Isn’t Everything for Those Looking to Climb

By Jon Bible

I’m often asked what it takes for an umpire to get hired into a college conference. It’s more complicated than having a solid skill set and putting in the time. Having been a coordinator for four conferences and the first national coordinator of NCAA umpires, I can attest myriad factors affect how staff selections are made. The average umpire is likely aware of (or can intuit) some, but others may not be on his or her radar screen. Add everything up and you’ll see the odds of achieving this goal, while not insurmountable, aren’t necessarily favorable, either.

Staff Needs Coordinators want to ensure their staff, especially the premier members, have several series to work. To do that, they must keep the staff relatively small. The smaller it is, the younger the members and the better they perform, the more likely it is the need for new umpires each year will be minimal, if not nonexistent. Many umpires work in several conferences. The more prominent the umpire, the more conferences in which that umpire will work. If three conferences each have 20 staff positions, that means slots for 60 umpires. But if Sam works in all three, he’ll take positions in two that Tom and Dick may have gotten. The more Sams there are, the fewer slots exist for other aspiring umpires. When openings occur, coordinators often fill them by taking someone from a “pipeline” of umpires they’ve previously identified as prospects. Most likely, these umpires have been working nonconference games involving conference schools, possibly for a long time. Larger conferences tend to fill vacancies with umpires from smaller “feeder” conferences. Thus, the key to getting into a conference is to become part of that pipeline or smaller conference and to perform well enough to be attractive when one of the few staff opportunities finally occurs.

Ex-professional Umpires

In recent years, there has been an “up or out” policy in higher levels of minor league baseball. Whereas umpires could stay in the minors for years when I was in pro ball ages ago — many who never got to the majors were minor league “lifers” — pro umpires who are not quickly identified as serious MLB prospects now get released. Because they’re in their 20s or 30s with many years of umpiring still ahead of them, some seek to join the college ranks where the per-game pay is often much higher than it was in the pros. Generally, due to their experience and training, they go into a conference without being part of the pipeline or feeder system; if so, they may jump over umpires who have been working their tail off in that system for years.

If an ex-pro applies for my staff, why wouldn’t I want him? If that umpire’s skill set was good enough for pro ball, it’s good enough for me and likely better than that of the typical amateur. Some former pros have difficulty adjusting to the college game, where they must control things and people differently than in pro ball, and some never do; they’ll get washed out. But those who make the transition may stick around for years. Increasingly, ex-pros are taking the few vacancies in college conferences, and this has created a roadblock for amateurs.

They’re also increasingly filling slots in NCAA postseason events. Coordinators rate their umpiring staffs for regional, super regional and Men’s College World Series selections, and it stands to reason ex-pros will usually score better than amateurs. So besides taking many conference staff slots that would otherwise be filled by amateurs, they’re taking many postseason positions as well. Check out who has umpired these events in recent years and you’ll see how much they’re dominated by ex-pros.

Geography

College baseball doesn’t generate the revenue football and basketball do. Some conferences give umpires a lump-sum payment that covers their game fee and travel expenses, so it doesn’t really matter where they live. But those that don’t may have to be careful about this in order to avoid having to pay significant travel expenses for airfare, mileage and/or hotel rooms. Thus, your chances of getting into a conference may be in part a function of where you live. I’ve known good umpires who weren’t in the footprint of any conference so they never got the opportunity to move up.

Diversity Initiatives

This is a touchy subject but it’s reality, so I need to address it. I was never told to hire someone specifically because of race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. However, on occasion it was made clear to me this

LEARN MORE STORE.

$2495

Caseplays

Is It Over?

Play: With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the last inning, the score is tied. B6 is hit by the pitch and is awarded first base. R3 legally touches home and scores and B6 legally advances to and touches first. R2 started toward third but went to join the celebration near first before he touched third. Ruling: In NFHS, R2 is out if the defense properly appeals at third base and the game continues. If not, the game is over. In NCAA and pro, the game is over. The run scores as only B6 needed to go to first and R3 needed to touch home (NFHS 9-1-1 Note 2; NCAA 5-8d Note; pro 5.08b).

Order Matters

Play: With R1 on first, B2 hits a line drive at F3, who dives but can only trap the ball for no catch. R1, believing there is a catch, returns to first. F3 tags first base before B2 touches first and then tags R1, who is standing on first base. Ruling: The order of the tag/touch is significant. B1 is out, removing the force against R1, who is safe. If F3 had tagged R1 before touching first, it would be a double play (NFHS 2-241; NCAA 2-33; pro Force Play Definition).

Timing of Block

Play: F1 throws to first to attempt a pickoff. F3 drops his knee to completely block the base before catching the ball and attempting to tag R1. Ruling: In NFHS and NCAA, F3 may not completely block the base until he clearly possesses the ball on a pickoff play. F3 is guilty of obstruction and R1 is awarded second base. In pro, F3 may block the base before possessing the ball as long as he is in the immediate act of fielding the throw (NFHS 2-22-3; NCAA 2-55; pro Obstruction Definition).

Do Over would be a plus factor for a potential candidate. Just another thing to factor into the mix.

Play: With R3 on third base, F1 stops his delivery because the batter stepped out of the box with one foot in response to the thirdbase coach giving a new sign. Ruling: There is no penalty on either the batter or the pitcher. The umpire shall call “Time” and begin play anew (NFHS 6-2-4d1; NCAA 9-3g Note; pro 5.04b2 Cmt.).

Packaging

Trying to get into a college conference is like applying for a regular job in that your skill set and how you package yourself are important. Do you objectively qualify given how long you’ve worked, at what levels, and with what degree of success? Some folks aren’t realistic; I received applications from umpires who had worked high school baseball for only one year. That won’t cut it in a major conference or, for the most part, in smaller ones. Many umpires today want to shoot to the top without taking the time to get the seasoning needed to be wellrounded, but coordinators value experience. And if you apply to me prematurely, I may write you off so that if you apply again later, I won’t pay attention. So be careful about when you initiate your contact.

What’s your age, weight, etc.? (If you’re wondering, college conferences hire umpires as independent contractors, who aren’t protected by laws barring discrimination based on age, race, disability, etc.) If you have weaknesses in these areas, you’re less attractive than another aspirant who doesn’t have them.

If you emailed me a cover letter and submitted a resume, were they well-written or replete with grammatical errors? You may say this shouldn’t matter, but if you present yourself sloppily on paper, why won’t I think you’ll be sloppy in your work? Remember the old adage “image is everything.”

Finally, some coordinators require umpires to have not only attended a camp to be considered, but one that has that coordinator’s name attached to it. I’ve complained about the latter on occasion because I don’t think it’s right, but I’ve never gotten anywhere. Jon Bible, Austin, Texas, worked seven NCAA Division I College World Series. In 2019, he was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in Lubbock, Texas. *