2012 Rookie Check In
October 2011
My Fellow Umpires,
Soon it will be 2012 and for us the start of a new season. Your decision to become a member of the American Federation of Umpires is a wise one. Our officials have worked tirelessly to achieve a standard of excellence in their performance that you will soon come to know.
So what are we expecting from you? It's simple. Our success, the trust we develop, the integrity we all work so hard to maintain, everything that we represent as professional umpires working at the amateur level begins with the individual. Your attitude both on and off the field interacting with others. Your ability to provide realistic, flexible availability each week of the season, so that we meet our scheduling commitments. Your thorough knowledge of the rules. Your on field presence, awareness, hustle and positioning to get each call right in a strong and convincing manner. The continuous refining of the timing and mechanics skills you will learn. Your ability to ask questions of fellow umpires until you are comfortable with a rule. The way you dress as an umpire that will speak volumes about how you accept your professional responsibilities. Lastly, the manner in which you develop and cultivate your skills handling every game situation with self assurance in your actions, will add immeasurably to the respect you earn from fellow officials, league directors, managers, coaches and players. These are the areas that will become an essential part of your professional education. They are the benchmarks you will come to accept as your own, that will identify you as an AFU umpire.
Rookie School begins on Tuesday January 3, 2012 at 7:00 PM at Bishop Molloy Gym in Point Lookout, NY. Classes will run on consecutive Tuesdays from 7:00PM - 10:30PM through March 20, 2012. You are responsible for attending every session. In addition, we will hold on field classes that will be announced once classes begin. Heavy emphasis will be placed on rules explanation and interpretation, timing, mechanics and positioning. While you will acquire extensive knowledge and understanding over your weeks of instruction, it is the amount of personal time you devote to study and practice that will contribute substantially to your on field competence and confidence once the season starts.
I have already discussed the Certification fee with you. We expect the fee to be paid off over the twelve weeks of classes.
Congratulations on your decision to become a member of the American Federation Of Umpires. As you begin to understand more about the excellent choice you have made, take pride in the fact that you belong to a blue chip highly respected group of proven professionals whose goal is to provide the highest level of officiating skill to our clients.
See you on January 3rd!
With warmest personal regards,
Bob Fontaine
My Fellow Umpires,
Soon it will be 2012 and for us the start of a new season. Your decision to become a member of the American Federation of Umpires is a wise one. Our officials have worked tirelessly to achieve a standard of excellence in their performance that you will soon come to know.
So what are we expecting from you? It's simple. Our success, the trust we develop, the integrity we all work so hard to maintain, everything that we represent as professional umpires working at the amateur level begins with the individual. Your attitude both on and off the field interacting with others. Your ability to provide realistic, flexible availability each week of the season, so that we meet our scheduling commitments. Your thorough knowledge of the rules. Your on field presence, awareness, hustle and positioning to get each call right in a strong and convincing manner. The continuous refining of the timing and mechanics skills you will learn. Your ability to ask questions of fellow umpires until you are comfortable with a rule. The way you dress as an umpire that will speak volumes about how you accept your professional responsibilities. Lastly, the manner in which you develop and cultivate your skills handling every game situation with self assurance in your actions, will add immeasurably to the respect you earn from fellow officials, league directors, managers, coaches and players. These are the areas that will become an essential part of your professional education. They are the benchmarks you will come to accept as your own, that will identify you as an AFU umpire.
Rookie School begins on Tuesday January 3, 2012 at 7:00 PM at Bishop Molloy Gym in Point Lookout, NY. Classes will run on consecutive Tuesdays from 7:00PM - 10:30PM through March 20, 2012. You are responsible for attending every session. In addition, we will hold on field classes that will be announced once classes begin. Heavy emphasis will be placed on rules explanation and interpretation, timing, mechanics and positioning. While you will acquire extensive knowledge and understanding over your weeks of instruction, it is the amount of personal time you devote to study and practice that will contribute substantially to your on field competence and confidence once the season starts.
I have already discussed the Certification fee with you. We expect the fee to be paid off over the twelve weeks of classes.
Congratulations on your decision to become a member of the American Federation Of Umpires. As you begin to understand more about the excellent choice you have made, take pride in the fact that you belong to a blue chip highly respected group of proven professionals whose goal is to provide the highest level of officiating skill to our clients.
See you on January 3rd!
With warmest personal regards,
Bob Fontaine
