62 games in 64 days! Spring 2025

Who Makes The Rules? NFHS rule committee member Bob Leader

Thanks to NFHS umpire rulebook committee member Bob Leader for coming on the show. Be sure to reach out to him at bleader5@icloud.com [bleader5@icloud.com] to say thanks or give him feedback. Also check out his interview with Patrick Faerber at Umpire Classroom at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlZQSgRXUMM [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlZQSgRXUMM]

Play Breakdown: Skunk at 3rd with Patrick Faerber and Coach Ross McMurry

Learn how Coach Ross McMurry ran a play where two runners were within 10 feet of 3rd base before the pitch was delivered. Also hear a rules breakdown from the expert Patrick Faerber of UmpireClassroom.com to see if this play should have been illegal. Thanks to Patrick and Coach McMurry for being on the show. Find all of Patrick's videos and trainings at https://www.umpireclassroom.com/ For everything related to the Best Umpire Show go to https://theumpireshow.com/

62 games in 64 days! Spring 2025

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10 Ways To Make More Money As An Umpire

1. Work as close to home as possible 2. Work tournaments, but don't kill yourself doing it 3. Be easy to work with 4. Have a great attitude 5. Be a great partner 6. Expand your menu 7. Attend an umpire camp 8. Invest in yourself so you look and feel good 9. Try different tournaments, schools, leagues 10. Don't wait until you're ready BONUSES: 1. Don't work for too little 1. Join an association Send feedback to TheUmpireShow@gmail.com [TheUmpireShow@gmail.com] Extra stuff: 10 Ways To Make More Money as an umpire 1. Work as close to home as possible 2. Work tournaments, but don't kill yourself doing it Choose the games that pay more Choose the assigners that are great communicators 3. Be easy to work with Use their scheduling system Take the games they give you Take extra games if they need you to Run games efficiently and professionally Work for free, sometimes... 4. Have a great attitude Be grateful Communicate well with the on-site supervisor Express gratitude to your assignors and athletic directors and sometimes...coaches 5. Be a great partner Take the plate more if it's 3/2 Communicate well Encourage Ask questions Talk through situations Work with the same partners as much as you can 6. Expand your menu There's a LOT of softball to be done Work in your local area 7. Attend an umpire camp You'll improve You'll make great connections 8. Invest in yourself so you look and feel good Get the right equipment Get certified 9. Try different tournaments, schools, leagues 10. Don't wait until you're ready BONUS: Don't work for too little. 1. MAXIMIZING TOURNAMENT WORK (5 MINUTES): • Strategies for getting assigned to tournaments with higher pay rates. • Importance of networking with assigners and other umpires at tournament levels. • How to handle multiple games in a day while maintaining quality performance. 2. SPECIALIZING TO BOOST INCOME (6 MINUTES): • Benefits of specializing in certain leagues or age groups, such as high school varsity or travel ball. • Certifications needed to officiate at higher-paying levels (e.g., NFHS or NCAA). • How specialization builds credibility and demand. 3. GAME MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY (4 MINUTES): • Tips to speed up games without compromising fairness or quality. • How game management skills can lead to more game opportunities. • Avoiding penalties or protests that could harm your reputation. 4. DIVERSIFY UMPIRING ROLES (6 MINUTES): • Exploring roles beyond baseball, like softball, to increase overall earnings. • Training for related officiating roles (e.g., plate vs. base specialization). • How to leverage skills across different sports for year-round income. 5. OFF-FIELD OPPORTUNITIES (7 MINUTES): • Hosting umpire clinics or mentoring new umpires for additional pay. • Writing or blogging about umpiring tips for supplemental income. • Opportunities for selling umpire gear or partnering with local equipment suppliers. 6. LEVERAGING SOCIAL MEDIA (5 MINUTES): • Building a personal brand as an umpire on platforms like Instagram or YouTube. • Offering paid consultations or reviews of umpire mechanics online. • Networking through social media to find hidden opportunities. 7. TACKLING BURNOUT FOR SUSTAINABILITY (5 MINUTES): • Importance of pacing yourself for longevity in the umpiring field. • Strategies to stay motivated and professional during busy seasons. • How sustainability in umpiring can lead to consistent earnings over time.

Ejections & The Progression of Punishment

The Progression of Punishment: When to Eject and When to Hold Back Be sure to check out Patrick Farber's video on ejections - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOMTNKJ4LR4 Ejections should be rare—but when should I actually eject a coach? In this episode of The Best Umpire Show, I break down The Progression of Punishment and share the steps I take before sending a coach packing. Good game management is all about de-escalation, keeping control, and making sure coaches stay in the game when possible. 1. Ignore 2. Acknowledge 3. Warn 4. Restrict 5. Eject I share a personal story from a 10U travel ball game where a coach turned a minor disagreement into an unnecessary ejection. Looking back, I could have handled it differently, and I want to help you learn from my experience. I also analyze a viral ejection video gone wrong, where an umpire escalated things instead of walking away. The lesson? Avoid power struggles. Stay calm, set clear expectations, and don’t let emotions take over. 💬 What’s your strategy for handling difficult coaches? Let me know in the comments or send me an email—I’ll feature the best responses in a future episode! 📩 Subscribe for more umpiring tips! ⚾ Send questions and feedback to TheUmpireShow@gmail.com