Joe Torre said it best in a local interview in California in late August of 1998. His Yankee team was rolling. They just completed a successful road trip and were notching win after win, to an exceptional year. Joe was asked by a local TV reporter, what made this team so different, and, what was the key to their collective success so far into the year. He said two words.......preparation and effort. He explained that the Yankees, to a man, focused completely on preparing themselves for each game they played, and that they went into each game with a single mind set expecting to win. That meant doing all the routine, ordinary aspects from batting practice to infield and outfield drills to running windsprints and stretching, etc..,with the determined intensity required of professional ball players who expect to win. No half efforts, no drills blown off, because that couldn't be tolerated if they were to reach the World Series in October. He talked briefly about the mental part of constantly keeping the goal of the team in place, not allowing individual setbacks to throw them off course and to keep their focus everlastingly on their mission. The same mission everyone sensed they had a chance to achieve back in March with the beginning of Spring Training.

           Time was running out on the interview so Joe only had a moment to talk about his definition of effort saying that he knew every player on his team understood what it meant to deliver maximum effort not sometimes but all the time, if they were to succeed. Torre ended the interview saying he did not worry about the ups and downs of his players on any given day because as professionals each one of them intuitively understood what he (Torre) expected of them ......preparation and effort.

           As they went to commercial, I sat back in my chair realizing just what a powerful concept Joe had delivered in those two simple words. As it turned out he not only won a World Series with those two words but his Yankee team will go down in sports history as one of the greatest teams ever !

           Often the most powerful messages that help us to succeed are the simplest ones to understand and to put into action for ourselves once we recognize them.

           Is that not precisely what we are asked to do as umpires every time we step onto a field ? To take the time to prepare ourselves in every aspect of our game responsibilities both mentally and physically. Then give our maximum effort during the course of the entire game. Whether it's knowing the rules thoroughly; slowing down your timing on strikes, balls, outs and safes; busting to get into position to get a better look at a play and then selling the call convincingly. It's about the way you look; slacks wrinkled ?; shirt stained and dirty ?; shoes unpolished ?; hat salted with your own sweat that you can't bear to put it on your head one more time because it stinks ? So what are you telling the managers, coaches, players and most importantly your partner without saying a word....it's simple ...you're telling them all that you're a slob !! That you don't care about this game or the position of authority you are asked to assume and that you have no respect for yourself.

           But these are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, we all know that. But it does serve to raise your own awareness level.

           Become a "work in progress" in terms of your preparation and effort when you umpire. Some of my closest friends are Division I umpires officiating at the top levels of college baseball in this area. Yet there is a pervasive attitude that is shared by these officials that they continue to be a "work in progress" and that there is more to be learned. They constantly look to improve their knowledge and skills inspite of the level they have already achieved ! Not only is that concept an empowering one, it gives us a candid view of the type of attitude that's required to make it to that level.

           So, the message is to constantly and consistently look to improve yourself in every aspect of your game. Find your weakest area and improve it because you want to. It goes with the territory of calling yourself a competent official among your peers. Besides it's one of the most satisfying aspects of umpiring when you know you have improved in one or more areas of your game. Why ? Because it's an inner knowing that doesn't need someone validating it for you. You just know you have reached another level in that aspect of your game.

           Preparation and effort....two very simple yet powerful words that can put you on the path of perpetual improvement ...when you understand how to use them effectively !

---

Any member of the AFU that would be interested in writing an article about umpiring and would like to have them published on our web site please contact Dave Mekelburg AFU#9 at: info@americanfederationofumpires.com