Umpires: Playing on the Other Side of the Plate

We've all been there. We sit at home, in a bar, or at the sporting event and scream our brains out at the calls our officials make.

"Come on ref." "That was pass interference." "He was safe at first."

We all have done it; trust me, I do it, too. It's part of being a sports fan.

But not all of us have been on the other side. We have not been placed at that position, we have not had to be the ref or umpire.

Well, starting Saturday, I will get that experience—I decided to sign up to be an umpire.

Now, surely I won't have parents screaming at me, because these kids are only nine and 10 years old, but I will have to make many close calls.

This will be the first time that I will get this experience, being on the other side of the plate.

Growing up through my life, I have played many sports and had my fair amount of arguments with the official. I have played hockey, soccer, baseball, and football, and can remember being mad at an official on more than one occassion.

It will be a truly rewarding experience this season to be able to think about what this guy making the calls is going through. I may learn to not scream when an official makes a bad call. I doubt it, though.

I'll be able to understand that everything happens so quickly and you need to make a call on the spot and may not always be right, even though I'll think I am.

I don't plan on getting into any Lou Pinnella, kicking-dirt arguments with coaches, so it will be a little easier than the job that these major league guys do.

Next time I am watching a game and there is a close call at first when he is called out, even though he is safe by a mile, I'll say, "I could have made that call."

For the first time, however, I'll be able to back it up.