Too many/too few games

t is a given that when we start out we will call any game available. I taught an umpire who carried his gear with him to all college games in the hopes that an umpire wouldn't show up and he could fill in. Naturally, we nicknamed him "ambulance chaser." He called everything in sight, from T-ball up to college — and all levels in between. After a time, his face was familiar to everyone in the area. But you must admit that the more games one calls, the more opportunities for mistakes. In fact, A.C. became so well known that even when he nailed the call right on, he was accused of getting it wrong.

A second consequence was more serious; he very soon came to hate the sight of his ball bag, black socks hanging over the shower rod, Kiwi polish on his rear bumper: burnout — at 25.

Professional umpires call 140 games a year; they have vacation time during the season. They call games where the players know what they're doing. An amateur umpire who calls 140 games in a season is stretching it. I know: I once did over 200 from February to August. (No, I'm not A.C.)

The point: The professional does little but call; we do everything else — and then call! That's why amateurs face burnout at a much more rapid rate than the professional. Of course, the difference between $28 per game and $2000 per game might help prevent malaise.

Continued...