NCOA News for February 2010

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As officials and umpires we are put in a position of authority. People will question your authority. The number one thing you should have is integrity. Integrity to do the right thing and put yourself above and beyond all else in regards of the games you are assigned. Perception is reality in the perceivers mind. As officials we need to not put ourselves in a position were our integrity will be questioned. This includes, but not limited, to the following:

• Being too friendly with coaches, players and fans before, during or after a game.
• Accepting gifts or anything from coaches, players or fans. This does not include being offered water or gatorade at half time or between games.

Ways to improve perceptions about you and fellow officials/umpires:

• Stay away from players, coaches and fans before, during and after the game.  You can be polite by saying “hi,” then get away from them.  You are there for business, not to socialize.
• Hustle and work hard for the players.
• Keep the game flowing.
• Don’t add to a team’s frustrations.
• Be professional and act professionally.
• Work as a team with your partner.  Your only ally is your partner.

It takes a lot of courage to be an official/umpire. You have shown that you have that courage. Be proud that you can do it and all those people in the stands don't have the courage to do it.

We are looking ahead to Fiscal Year 2011 and considering some changes to meetings and the officials web site. We want to spend more quality time at the first meeting for the season for each sport instead of wasting an hour or so on administrative stuff. As part of the Independent Contractor Agreement you will also be required to complete an administrative check list acknowledging all the administrative items that we cover and expect of officials and umpies.

Also, more of the policies and procedures will be put on the Officials web site in the coming months.

The Board will be considering other items such as Background checks and acceptable liability insurance requirements for officials working for NCOA.

Dave and Gary want to remind everyone that we are working officials. This means that we need your help in the following areas:

• Make POSITIVE contact with your partner at least a day before the scheduled date of the game. Positive contact means you talked to your partner or responded to their email. If you don't receive a response from your partner please call David and he will track your partner down and remind them to call you. This is incur a $5 fee from your partner.
• When communicating with your partner before game day confirm start time and location of the game. Don't assume!
• Print out a roster of officials and/or umpires and put it in your glove compartment in your car. If your partner has not arrived 20 minutes before game time, call him/her FIRST before calling David or Gary.
• If there is a game following your last game and the next official(s) have not arrived, PLEASE call 538-5190 and advise who ever answers AND start the game until they arrive. This is good PR not only for NCOA but for you. There may be many reasons why the next official(s) have not arrived.
• Work the game(s) like you want to be their no matter how good or bad the game is. And/or how good or bad you are feeling. Effort and attitude on your part goes a long ways towards the perceptions of officials and you. Yes, we have seen some games this season reffed by NCOA officials who look like they don't want to be there, care or otherwise.

• If there is a problem in the game the coach can identify who worked the game.
• Evaluation purposes:  Coaches want to be able to correctly identify officials who have done a good job for playoffs or moving up.

For baseball and softball games if you are asked before the game to put your name in the scorebook, do it!

February winds down the basketball season. With this for some teams brings out a season of frustration. Coaches, players and fans will forget about sportsmanship and want to take their frustration out on someone. As officials we need to stay on top of the games and make sure the game is safe for all. Manage the games and issue a warning to get verbal comments about your crew's ability under control. Some teams are fighting for playoff spots or higher seeds in playoffs. Manage these games accordingly too.

You have worked hard all season to have one game blow up on you this late in the season. Expect the un-expected.

Congratulations goes out to the following high school basketball officials for being eligible and selected for post-season North Coast Section high school basketball assignments:

Ron Barnes, Dom Bosque, Ruben Candelaria, David Carter, Cim Case, Larry Coffey, Dane DeMattei, Julie Dempsey, Chris Fabela, Gary Frieders, Steve Fujii, Dan Galvin, Joe Harris, Aaron Locks, Lloyd Makilan, Matt Marchand, Ryan Mathis, Brandon Montero, Timothy TJ Murphy, John Namkung, Andy Noonan, Mike Patricks, Steve Phillips, Greg Puccioni, Adrian Reyes, Bruce Schomaker, David Van Hall, Charlie Wisdom.

The following officials have been selected to work State NorCal playoff assignments:

Dom Bosque, Ruben Candelaria, Dane DeMattei, Julie Dempsey, Gary Frieders, Dan Galvin, Joe Harris, Aaron Locks, Ryan Mathis, Adrian Reyes, David Van Hall

Note: We initially had six nominations for State NorCals. We were asked to add five more names due to quality and experience for these games.

Below are the dates, times and locations of the 2010 NCOA High School Umpire Meetings and Clinics for all High School Baseball and Softball Umpires.

Summer Softball and Baseball Umpire Meetings
will be announced soon.

There are no make-up meetings. Attendance is required for the sport(s) you umpire.

*** $30 is required at the first meeting to pick-up materials, unless you have already paid FY2010 Dues.
No exceptions! No $$$ No Materials.
This $30 is part of your $70 dues for the FY2010 season.
The remaining $40 dues will be taken out of your check when you earn $300 in FY2010. ***

February brings the start of the high school baseball and softball season. Umpires have been preparing by studying the rules, attending meetings and clinics. High scores have been coming in from the Rules Review Exam. We know this is from attending the Rule Review Groups, but we hope you just didn't get the answers but you actually learned from doing the exam. The truth will come out on the field when that situation occurs. Keep reviewing those questions and reasons for the answer to build on your rules knowledge and memory. At the mid-season meetings for each sport there will be a closed book exam of about 25 questions. Potential playoff umpires must pass this closed book exam with a score of 88% or better.

When a situation or ruling on the field occurs and you are not sure, get with your partner and get it right.

Also review the Umpire Education items on the NCOA Baseball/Softball Site regularly.

On bad weather days umpires should check your emails often for announcements from NCOA about your game. However, if you do not get an email or phone call you must verify your assignment with the home school or coach one hour prior to the game (after 2:15pm for MCAL Softball games).

An up-to-date and more accurate list of contacts for schools NCOA services is available online at the NCOA Officials Web Site. Print out a copy and put in your glove compartment in your car. This is only to be used to contact the school or coach about the status of the game.

When calling the school be specific which sport and level you are working (i.e. JV or Varsity, Baseball or Softball) and verify the game site with the person who answers your call.

Get the name of the person you talked to. If the game is canceled after you verify the game is on, you will be paid for the assignment. However, umpires who fail to verify game cancellations will not be paid for showing up at a canceled assignment.

Each umpire is responsible for verification of the game. Once you find out the status of the game contact your partner. Also call 538-5190 and let us know.

How to Umpire Baseball & SoftballBook and DVD Available on Amazon.com
by Steve Boga

Thank you,