News You Can Use: September 3, 2023
Good evening...I hope everyone is enjoying the Labor Day Weekend!!
Some important information for the 2024 season...
1) We have a new fee contract for the next two years and it is what I would consider a substantial raise. Varsity umps will be receiving $100 for single games next year and $200 for DH's ...these are two man games If you work at the varsity level by yourself, you will receive $150 for a single game and $250 for a DH At the lower levels, umpires will receive $90 for one man single games and $180 for one man DH's. At the lower levels, umpires will receive $80 for two man single games and $160 for two man DH's.The show up fee will also be increased to $40...
While this may be good news (and it is), it also comes with umpires needing to rise up to higher levels- especially with professionalism (arriving on time, dressing professional, NO CELL PHONES ON THE FIELD (this is non-negoitiable), being able to listen when a coach comes out to discuss a play or rule, and rule knowledge. We will be the highest paid association in the state of Illinois (and deservedly so) - as we work games in the Chicago Catholic League which is the BEST baseball conference in the state.
I met with coaches and AD's at the end of the year and they informed me that the quality of umpiring is down from the previous years. CCL assignments will now be based on the expectations laid out above and overall professionalism. I have already been in contact with umpires in other associations who are willing to work our conferences and have been doing IHSA sectionals, super-sectionals, state finals and college ball. It is my goal to have 24-28 umpires who will dedicate themselves to working out leagues - the CCL and the ESCL teams we have. I will also be asking them to hold non-league dates for us in case of rain outs. Other conferences (UMPS and IOA) are always looking for umps a few days before games. Games will still be available.
With regards to JUCO Ball: I am only assigning 4 JUCO's next year...Harper, College of DuPage, Moraine Valley and Prairie State. I will no longer be assigning Olive Harvey for various reasons. That include the amount of paperwork that umpires need to fill out to get paid, their reluctance to pay market value for games and the length of time it takes for umpires to get paid. We currently have 2 umpires that have yet to be paid for games in late April and early May. Not acceptable. It is my understanding that Wayne Williams is currently assigning their Fall Games. If you have issues (other than the two umps who have yet to be paid for last spring), please contact Wayne moving forward. Best of luck to you Wayne, you will need it!!!
Pay for Fall/Spring Ball at MY JUCOS...Harper, Moraine and Prairie State: $140 for a single nine $240 for 7-inning game DHCollege of DuPage: $150 for a single nine $250 for 7-inning game DH
I have already started to assign varsity conference games and will be doing more of it in mid September.
Lower level conference games will become available to lower level officials in early October. (Self assign) This will based on how many dates you worked for me last year and coach recommendations.
We will be having a Board Meeting next week to discuss some important issues - especially how we as an organization improve the quality of umpiring. We will also be discussing the Clinic which will be held on Super Bowl Sunday morning...Feb 11th, 2024. Please mark that date on your calendar now! Varsity officials working our leagues will need to be in attendance. Lastly, we will discuss dues...currently they are at $40 and have not been raised since I became the assignor.
If you have any concerns, always feel free to email me parbrbrave@yahoo.com...I will be out of town from 9/8 to 9/11 ....just in case you do not hear back from me immediately....
Enjoy the rest of the Fall, and be in contact with you in late September/early October...
Paul
Some important information for the 2024 season...
1) We have a new fee contract for the next two years and it is what I would consider a substantial raise. Varsity umps will be receiving $100 for single games next year and $200 for DH's ...these are two man games If you work at the varsity level by yourself, you will receive $150 for a single game and $250 for a DH At the lower levels, umpires will receive $90 for one man single games and $180 for one man DH's. At the lower levels, umpires will receive $80 for two man single games and $160 for two man DH's.The show up fee will also be increased to $40...
While this may be good news (and it is), it also comes with umpires needing to rise up to higher levels- especially with professionalism (arriving on time, dressing professional, NO CELL PHONES ON THE FIELD (this is non-negoitiable), being able to listen when a coach comes out to discuss a play or rule, and rule knowledge. We will be the highest paid association in the state of Illinois (and deservedly so) - as we work games in the Chicago Catholic League which is the BEST baseball conference in the state.
I met with coaches and AD's at the end of the year and they informed me that the quality of umpiring is down from the previous years. CCL assignments will now be based on the expectations laid out above and overall professionalism. I have already been in contact with umpires in other associations who are willing to work our conferences and have been doing IHSA sectionals, super-sectionals, state finals and college ball. It is my goal to have 24-28 umpires who will dedicate themselves to working out leagues - the CCL and the ESCL teams we have. I will also be asking them to hold non-league dates for us in case of rain outs. Other conferences (UMPS and IOA) are always looking for umps a few days before games. Games will still be available.
With regards to JUCO Ball: I am only assigning 4 JUCO's next year...Harper, College of DuPage, Moraine Valley and Prairie State. I will no longer be assigning Olive Harvey for various reasons. That include the amount of paperwork that umpires need to fill out to get paid, their reluctance to pay market value for games and the length of time it takes for umpires to get paid. We currently have 2 umpires that have yet to be paid for games in late April and early May. Not acceptable. It is my understanding that Wayne Williams is currently assigning their Fall Games. If you have issues (other than the two umps who have yet to be paid for last spring), please contact Wayne moving forward. Best of luck to you Wayne, you will need it!!!
Pay for Fall/Spring Ball at MY JUCOS...Harper, Moraine and Prairie State: $140 for a single nine $240 for 7-inning game DHCollege of DuPage: $150 for a single nine $250 for 7-inning game DH
I have already started to assign varsity conference games and will be doing more of it in mid September.
Lower level conference games will become available to lower level officials in early October. (Self assign) This will based on how many dates you worked for me last year and coach recommendations.
We will be having a Board Meeting next week to discuss some important issues - especially how we as an organization improve the quality of umpiring. We will also be discussing the Clinic which will be held on Super Bowl Sunday morning...Feb 11th, 2024. Please mark that date on your calendar now! Varsity officials working our leagues will need to be in attendance. Lastly, we will discuss dues...currently they are at $40 and have not been raised since I became the assignor.
If you have any concerns, always feel free to email me parbrbrave@yahoo.com...I will be out of town from 9/8 to 9/11 ....just in case you do not hear back from me immediately....
Enjoy the rest of the Fall, and be in contact with you in late September/early October...
Paul