USSSA FP Officials Mentoring Program

Concept

The Mentoring Program will be put in place to help develop officials as well as retain new officials in our ranks. It will help to develop consistent officiating by making sure that the same standards of officiating are being practiced by officials throughout USSSA. It will enable some of our mentor’s to get deeper into their manuals and rules book, as we often overlook things as we go beyond our starting point. It will allow us to retain officials as they now will have a point of contact other than the UIC to feel like they belong. This will also enable them to ask questions in a different setting then a meeting so they will be able to communicate in a “safe” environment.

Officials to be Mentored

We will not limit the level of officials to be mentored, but would mandate that any first year umpire needs to be assigned to a mentor. We would like to have 2nd and 3rd year officials consider being part of the mentor program as tool to develop their skills faster.  Remember, it  is what you learn after you know it all that makes you exceptional!

Mentors and Responsibility

As an Umpire in chief, it is important to select the correct people as mentors. They need to be officials who are willing to spend time with other officials who don’t have the knowledge that they have achieved. They should be respected in your community, and present a professional appearance at all times. They must also be people who are willing to learn the manual inside and out as well as teach to the manual. They must wear the correct uniform, and generally buy in to the national program.

  1. Teach to our manual! The mentor needs to confirm in the manual what he is teaching the pupil. We want this to be consistent throughout the nation. This is what people will be judged on as they move forward onto national
  2. Contact assigned pupil at least bi weekly The mentor needs to take the time to text, email or call their assigned pupil at least bi weekly when the season gets going. We need to enforce the positive as well as grow from the negative. So make sure you are using the sandwich method when criticizing. Something good, what we need to grow from, and something they are doing well. Listen to your pupil and answer the question with the manual. If it is not there, go to your state   If that doesn’t answer, go to your regional.  Still don’t have a satisfactory answer? Then contact the national coordinator.
  3. Follow the progress of your pupil Check in and see if they are advancing, and suggest ways to This includes using the online resources, watching games on TV or live, and getting evaluated when possible.
  4. Guide the pupil through administrative items How to get to the website, look up a rules question, getting to the manual, these are all questions that you should be able to help the pupil with. We also will begin having reports to fill out on ejections, tournament venues, registrations, etc. Be sure that you know the how’s and why’s we do things!
  5. Dress them up right Know what the official uniform is and make sure they have all the pieces they need. Boombah is our official supplier for shirts. The priority should be Red shirt first, black secondary if possible, white is last priority. Gerry Davis, heather gray pants as we will have a discount with them is our preferred pant. However, Fecheimer also makes a pant that is good. New Era will be our official supplier for hats and will be the standard going forward.

Also, talk to them about what to wear off the field when visible by fans. You can’t go wrong with business casual.

  1. Introduce your pupil As a mentor, it is your job to get these officials to know people in the organization and other officials. We are the only teammates we have, so make sure that you are at minimum, allowing them to sit with you during meetings so they have the familiar faces to be a part of the

Pupils

We expect the pupils to be eager learners and to be open to criticism. The master of his craft was once a beginner. We need to remember that there will be days where we don’t count the number of outs correctly, let alone know what interference is. Communicate your challenges with your mentor! We have been there before too. Trust me.

  1. Contact your mentor pre-tournament Go over your list of what you need to have and make sure you are prepared for the tournament. Uniforms, equipment, snacks, hotel information. Make sure that you have these things either ready to go or can communicate with the tournament assigner to make sure these questions are answered. Check with your mentor to make sure you have your list ready to
  2. Talk to your mentor about your schedule Let them know how much you are working and how much you want to work. We all need balance, but be sure you are working enough to stay sharp and also communicate with your mentor about what you are working so they can watch you if
  3. Watch your mentor You can learn a lot by watching! This doesn’t mean that your mentor will be We are all human. Learn and ask questions about what you see. Sit in a post-game meeting or pre-game meeting if possible.
  4. Schedule a post season meeting Get together with your mentor and/or your state umpire in chief at the end of the See what you can do to get better. See what training is available, see where your mentor suggests you go next. You can always get better or learn something new.

As the national coordinator, I am excited to be a part of this mentor program going forward. We will be rewarding those people chosen as mentors on our Instagram account, Facebook page, and our new national umpire website (when completed) as well as with a special flipping coin. Please communicate with me a list of people that you are considering into your mentorship program. I will make sure that they receive their coin and try to follow up with as many as possible.

Yours in softball,

Victor Canales
National Coordinator of Fast Pitch Officials
Victor.canales@usssa.com
260-701-1400