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Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com
[ Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com ]

Umpires

Posted by Fawn Lebowicz on May 23, 2025, 10:23 pm

Who can speak to the performance or fitness requirements for umpires?

Yes, I was at a game where I disagreed with many ball/strike calls, but I’m asking more broadly.

Does IHSA watch umpires? Do coaches rate them? What is the quality control process?

Also, what about physical fitness? Are there standards? Our umpire was unwell… he had trouble bending to wipe the plate and had visible tremors. I want the best for him, but also wonder how he is still allowed to umpire.

Can anyone educate me?

Re: Umpires

Posted by Umpire Ratings on May 25, 2025, 3:45 pm, in reply to "Umpires"

Yes. IHSA High school umpires provide their umpire numbers to the head coach who is supposed to rate them after every game. The highest rated umpires are the ones who are supposed to then be assigned to playoffs. Umpires are also supposed to start with JV1/JV2 and then move up to varsity with good reviews. A decent chunk of coaches forget to rate their umpires after games, or only do so when an ump is great or terrible.

However, the umpire shortage is severe. I’ve seen numerous varsity games with only 1 umpire in the last few years. I’ve also been told by my conference assignor that umps who should still be on JV are moved up to varsity because there is simply no one else. The majority of the umps now are old, and there’s no one signing up to replace them.

I always held that stance that good teams don’t need every call to go their way to win games. The umps are trying their best. Sometimes their best sucks. Adjust to the zone (on both sides of the ball), control what you can control. Screaming at the ump solves nothing. You can call time and go talk to the umpire without making a scene. My fellow conference coaches used to always say calls went my way because I was a woman. They conveniently ignored that I was the only coach that didn’t constantly chirp at the umpires. The current state of umpires for high school is bad. Parents (and coaches) are crazy. Umpires make like 40-70$ a game, and don’t get paid for rainouts. I wouldn’t want to put up with the nonsense for that amount either. So you can choose to be part of the problem or part of the solution.

Re: Umpires

Posted by Doug Niedermeyer on May 25, 2025, 12:44 am, in reply to "Umpires"

It seems like the prerequisite this year is a pulse though I've seen some that even that was questionable.

Re: Umpires

Posted by @Doug on May 26, 2025, 4:17 pm, in reply to "Re: Umpires"

Most umps that suck are equal opportunity. You're just missing the bad calls that went your way because you're busy building an excuse for when you lose.

Re: Umpires

Posted by EagleEye on May 24, 2025, 11:41 am, in reply to "Umpires"

Be glad you had an umpire for the game. Many of the men and women who did it have given it up due to parent and coaches behavior.

I know I would not want to be an assignor trying to fill game assignments with umpires given the general atmosphere in today's youth sports.

Re: Umpires

Posted by Coach on May 24, 2025, 10:46 am, in reply to "Umpires"

Go take the test! Would be a nice part time job for you.....there is a shortage of umpires/officials because they don't want to deal with people like you!!!!

Re: Umpires

Posted by Hi. It’s me, Fawn again. on May 24, 2025, 3:09 pm, in reply to "Re: Umpires"

Hold on…. I’m not attempting to tear anyone down. I could have (probably should have) omitted that I had just come off a challenging game experience.

But, I truly want to know: how is quality managed amongst IHSA umpires? Is it in any way?

I understand there is a shortage. I understand there are a lot of parents who make life miserable for umpires. I understand we are fortunate to get anyone to our games… I understand all of it.

What I still really want to know is whether there is any quality control.

Can someone educate me without merely firing a torpedo? More than one thing can be true… umpires can have an often thankless job, and some umpires can be not great at their job (or, in my case, at an age and physical condition that perhaps should preclude them from umpiring).

Re: Umpires

Posted by @ fawn again on May 27, 2025, 8:59 am, in reply to "Re: Umpires"

"Quality control" is relative though. Just making up numbers, but if IHSA (or any group) needs 100 umpires on a given day, and there are 110 available, what kind of "quality control" can they do? Parents/coaches/players driving away the umpires is a real thing.

My son umps in the summer when he's home from school. Even though he's told the assigners he's out of state until mid-May, he gets texts about doing games in April. I don't know if it's a mistake on their part, or if they are just so desperate that they text him and hope he happens to be home for the weekend? Happens multiple times every spring.

Re: Umpires

Posted by @F Lebowicz on May 27, 2025, 11:59 am, in reply to "Re: Umpires"

Thanks for the reply.

I'm still searching for an answer to this question though!

Is there any process, formally or informally, for IHSA to monitor the performance of umpires?

Again, I know it's hard. And I know that every one of our umpires are hard working, upstanding, underpaid, patriotic, God fearing, salt of the earth, speed limit obeying, generous tipping, snappy dressing, water walking heaven-sent saints... I concede every point made - and will accept the jerk label for even daring to query on this topic.

But, I really would like to know if there is ANY quality control or if IHSA merely accepts whatever it is given.

Re: Umpires

Posted by @F on May 27, 2025, 12:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Umpires"

They're graded

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