Editor's note - As you will see Fred wrote a very thorough and comprehensive article. He has been with the American Federation of Umpires for four years and has umpired at the Colllege Wood Bat level and down. He also works as a clinician at our Rookie School. We are proud to have Fred as a member of AFU.

Time and again, you will hear umpires talking about what it takes to bring their game to the next level. Truth be told, there is no substitute for experience. It takes about five years to really hone your craft to the point of substantially improving your skill level. Think about it -- during that time you will probably do more than 500 games, and see well over 100,000 pitches. Experience is invaluable, but experience is only part of the equation. Hard work and dedication are also essential. Here are some things that you can work on to improve your game. (None of this is original. These are things I have picked up from Bob, Ed, Dave and many of the guys I have worked with over the years, as well as, Referee magazine, various list serves, and other officiating sources.)


Rules Knowledge
Know your rules. "Knowledge is Power!" Read the Little League Rule Book before the start of the season in April. It is a good idea to re-read it several times during the season, a section here, a section there. The same goes for Official Baseball Rules (OBR) when you start to do games for leagues using those rules. If you are doing games that use different rule sets, it is well worth the investment to purchase Baseball Rule Differences by Carl Childress. The Professional Baseball Umpire Corp. (PBUC) Umpire Manual is another great and fairly inexpensive book that gives detailed interpretations of OBR. If you can afford it, The Rules of Professional Baseball by Chris Jaska and Rick Roder (commonly known as Jaska/Roder) goes for $36.99 + s/h.

You don't need to be a rules maven, but there are certain situations that you need to know cold. These include interference, obstruction and their variations, awarding of bases on throws and catch & carry (or fall) into dead ball areas, fair/foul, and what constitutes a catch. As you begin to umpire at the higher levels, you really need to be on top of balks, identifying them, calling them, and knowing when to stop play and award bases. These are plays that you will see over and over again. You need to get them right, the first time, every time. Sometimes, too much knowledge can be a dangerous thing. Do not call plays just to show that you know some obscure rule. When no one expects that "Third World" call, don't make it.


Hustle
Nothing looks better than an umpire who is busting his butt from the first pitch to the last out. Does it really matter on that "can of corn" to center field that you make that call from home plate? Probably not. You can see it just as well from there. So why bust it out to the mound area? When what appears to be a routine play turns into a difficult one, those extra 40-60 feet could be crucial in a catch/no catch situation. There's no going to your partner for help here. He's busting into the pivot and you're on your own. Hustling on every play is habit forming (and it's a damn good habit to get into!). It sends a message to the coaches and the players that you mean business and that you take the game seriously. Trust me, as the game goes on, you will hear less and less sniping from the sidelines. When that whacker happens, and you're in proper position and you sell that call - you won't hear a peep.
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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