Umpires are the often-invisible part of a game. The people who are charged with managing and fairly administering the rules of a contest, who are on the field for every pitch, but are seldom seen. In fact, not receiving recognition, nor being remembered at a game, is often a goal of those who adorn the heather grey pants and (typically blue) polo shirts. Your brothers and sisters in blue know all too well the amount of time, energy, and effort that go into developing into a quality official. Complete with tips, tricks, lessons learned, insights, and more, this show is designed to help you develop into the umpire that you want to be. Rob Watson from Central Illinois Softball Assigning shares his experience as an assignor and veteran high school, travel, and collegiate fastpitch softball umpire to help all umpires improve and hone their skills.
Central Illinois Softball Assigning
Today's episode is called Off the Record with Diana. In our last episode, A Global Game, we talked with Diana Welch about her experiences umpiring the Women's Softball World Cup in Lima, Peru in 20211. This is an extension of that conversation that is more focused on her social and cultural experiences in Peru. They aren't directly connected with softball, but do extend an understanding of opportunities you may get to experience because of your association with the global game of softball.We pick up at the end of the Global Game episode with the interview already in progress.
Today's episode is called A Global Game. We'll discuss our guest's international umpiring experience, how she got to the level to work those games, and advice she has for umpires to improve their skills.Today I'm joined by Diana Welch, a long-time umpire who umpired at u18 the Women's Softball World Cup in Lima, Peru in 2021. Diana has been umpiring softball for the past 20 years and currently works IHSA, NCAA, USA, and World Baseball-Softball Confederation (or WBSC) games. She also officiates IHSA, club, and NCAA volleyball and high school baseball, basketball and football.She spent her collegiate days studying music at a conservatory and studying abroad. She's a dedicated mother, wife, and friend and an avid lover of dogs, food, travel, and the arts.
Today's episode is called The Hop. Our discussion today is on recent pitching rule changes by the NCAA, USA, and USSSA softball. Specifically, we'll focus on how rule changes and varying rules across organizations impact pitchers and pitcher training and coaching.Today I'm joined by Lori Cook Baird and Jay Bolden, both veterans of the fastpitch softball world.
Today's episode is called IHSA Rules Review 1. In this episode, umpires review, discuss, and answer questions 1-13 of the 50-question sample test provided by the Illinois State High School Association.
It's that time of the year again! Softball season is in full swing with teams practicing and games being played in the warmer parts of the country. Unfortunately, that also means it's tax time. Taxes are due April 18 this year, which leaves you a couple months to get them turned in. I thought this would be a good opportunity to talk about some tips and offer some resources that will make doing your taxes easier.TurboTaxH&R BlockQuickBooks Self-EmployedAirtableUmpiring Income & Expense Database
In Flow of the Game, Central Illinois Softball Assigning shares tips to help umpires improve their game management by maintaining a good pace of play.
Avoiding the Ejection is focused on techniques to help umpires avoid ejecting players and coaches during a softball game.Rules Comparison Chart on the Central Illinois Softball Assigning website
Today's episode is called Rapport. This is the second podcast in a series on game and personnel management. Today we'll focus on ways that you can build a rapport with administration, coaches, players, and fans.Behind the Mask is self-funded. Your support will help me continue to create valuable content and pay for website and podcast hosting.
Today's episode is called Clear the Mechanism. We'll focus on the tolerance of player, coach, and fan behavior and what we can do to keep control of the situation and ourselves.
In this episode, I discuss some of these things I've seen online in umpiring groups or forums, and ask some questions to help us reflect on our behavior.
The evolution and variation of rules across associations can cause pain points for umpires and coaches. In this episode, we look at NCAA rule 11.2.5 - Legal Position in the Batter's Box and how it's changed over the years, how it compares to non-NCAA associations, and difficulties of implementing changing rules.
It's vitally important for umpires, schools, organizations, and assignors to be on the same page. The best way to do that is to document the expectations of all parties so they are openly available and transparently conveyed.Learn about how CISassigning provides this to parties that use our service, and some of the key points contained within the document.Visit www.cisassigning.com to learn more. You must be registered on the site to access the document at https://www.cisassigning.com/cisa-expectations-operations/
Face coverings are a touchy subject these days. The Illinois High School Association and Illinois Elementary School Association have provided guidelines for the Return-to-Play strategy. How do umpires and face masks impact the continued softball season?
Today's guest is Daniel Maldanado, known by his peers as Candy. I've known Candy for about 4 years through collegiate and travel softball officiating. Hailing from Las Cruces, New Mexico, Dan currently lives in Illinois and travels the country umpiring softball for a living. An avid health nut and dedicated official, Dan has gone from working USA travel softball to Division 1 softball in just under eight years. Today's discussion is about his progression through the umpiring ranks, his advice about advancing for current umpires, and a reflection on the years he's spent in the profession.Theme music:Laying Low by Admiral Bob (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/admiralbob77/61081 Ft: Apoxode
In this episode we discuss a rule myth, that when there's a tie between the batter-runner/runner and the play being made against her, the offensive player wins the tie.Contact me with questions or suggestions for future episodes.Referenced RulesDuring the podcast I reference four different rule books. Those rules can be found at:NFHS Rules: Pg. 63. Rule 8.2.2USA Rules: Pg. 90. Rule 8.2.2USSSA Rules: Pg. 48. Rule 8.17.DNCAA Rules: Pg. 110. Rule 12.5.1
John Nelson, a high school head varsity softball coach, president of the Heartland Havoc program, and 14-year travel softball coach joins me to share his thoughts on the impact of the Coronavirus, travel softball, and umpires.Contact Coach Nelson via:Website: https://www.heartlandhavoc.org/Twitter: @fastpitchhavocFacebook
The Coronavirus Economic Stimulus Bill is being debated in Congress as we speak. I encourage you to listen to and download this letter I wrote in support in umpires, each one of which is an independent contractor. To download a copy of the letter visit CISassigning.com.
Coronavirus has taken its toll on umpires across all levels of softball. How do we deal with the impacts of the pandemic and turn it into a positive?
In this episode, we discuss some of the roadblocks to becoming an umpire and how to overcome some of them.
Behind the Mask is a podcast about the unseen side of umpiring softball. In this episode we introduce the podcaster and the general idea behind the podcast.
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