Yesterday's post got me to thinking about the different insurance policies advertised for umpires. Most of these policies are benefits for joining an organization or registering as a sports official. Here are a few:
NASO Insurance
Cost: $94.00 annually included in membership fee
General Liability: $3,000,000 per occurrence with a $4,000,000 aggregate
Errors and Omissions: $50,000 per occurrence (as an umpire or assigner)
Heart or Circulatory Malfunction Death Benefit: $5,000
Assault Protection: up to $3,000 in attorney fees on a 60/40 basis (you pay the 40% until the plan has paid out $3,000).
Game-fee-replacement insurance: up to $100 for each game lost within 21 days after the injury up to $500 total.
Accident medical plan: None
For an additional fee NASO provides Optional Game Fee Loss Insurance for injuries not related to assault. This plan pays up to $1,000 to $2,000 depending on the plan selected.Covers all sports official activities
ABUA Insurance
Cost: $45.00 annually included in membership fee
General liability: $1,000,000 limit
Errors and Omissions: None
Heart and Circulatory Malfunction Death Benefit: None
Assault Protection: None
Accident medical plan: $100,000
Game-fee-replacement insurance: $2,000 maximum benefit
Covers while working any level of amateur baseball AND softball
ASA Insurance
Cost: included in registration fee
General liability: $5,000,000 per occurrence with a $8,000,000 aggregate
Errors and Omissions: None
Heart and Circulatory Malfunction Death Benefit: None
Assault Protection: None
Accident medical plan: $100,000 with $100 deductible, $2,000 accidental death, $4,000 accidental dismemberment
Game-fee-replacement insurance: $2,000 maximum benefit
Covers while working ASA contests
USSSA Insurance
Cost: included in registration fee
General liability: $2,000,000 per occurrence with a no aggregate and legal defense fees included
Errors and Omissions: None
Heart and Circulatory Malfunction Death Benefit: None
Assault Protection: None
Accident medical plan: $20,000 per occurrence with $500 deductible
Game-fee-replacement insurance: None
Covers while working USSSA sanctioned events with USSSA registered teams.
NFHS Insurance
Cost:
General liability: $1,000,000 per occurrence and $5,000,000 Aggregate
Errors and Omissions: None
Heart and Circulatory Malfunction Death Benefit: None
Assault Protection: None
Accident medical plan: $50,000 Accident Medical/Dental Limit per injury with a $500 Deductible per injury; $2,500 Accidental Death & Dismemberment Benefit
Game-fee-replacement insurance: None
Covers officials currently registered with a member state association, or with an affiliate of the NFHS (if that association registers officials), in order to be eligible for the NFHS Officials Association insurance benefit.
So is that clear as mud?
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Umpire Liability: Should You be Concerned?
Every year players are hurt on the ball field. Sometimes the injury is unavoidable. In 1976 Steve Yeager of the Los Angeles Dodgers was standing on deck when a shattered bat hit him in the neck and pierced his esophagus. Sometimes the player assumes the risk of injury. Pete Reiser crashing into an outfield wall chasing a fly ball comes to mind. Sometimes the injury is avoidable and results from another’s negligence.
It is this third category that we worry about as umpires. The court system has seen its share of lawsuits against umpires. In his special report for the National Association of Sports Officials, entitled Limited Liability for Sports Officials, Steven Ellinger states:
“Negligence claims can arise based on an official’s failure to: inspect the playing field; control the game; keep the playing area free of equipment and spectators; stop a game because of inclement weather conditions; inspect equipment; protect and warn participants[.]”
Courts have been reluctant to assign any legal liability to umpires for player injuries unless the umpire acted in a reckless or intentional manner. In most cases the dangers are open and obvious and the athlete is said to “assume the risk” of participating under those conditions (such as a muddy field, or in some cases when lightning is present). Some states have enacted legislation to provide protection to sports officials from acts of negligence.
While umpires have generally escaped liability for their acts of simple negligence, the costs involved in a lawsuit are considerable. Even if called as a witness, your time and involvement in court and during depositions, etc. can be extensive. So who pays for the defense of the lawsuit when little Johnny is injured? As an independent contractor it is your responsibility to pay for your defense. The “American Rule” is that each party pays its own legal fees. That means you will either pay for a lawyer out of your own pocket or you had better have insurance. Homeowner’s insurance will likely not cover this type of action. Often association insurance will not pay anything, or a reduced rate, for attorney fees.
The best way to protect yourself from liability is to maintain liability insurance and take your responsibility to protect the players seriously. When in doubt, err on the side of safety. The old saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Steven Ellinger suggests:
“Sports officials can help to protect themselves from possible litigation by following the checklist below:
1. Inspecting the playing surface and adjacent areas for hazards prior to the game.
2. Determining if weather conditions are appropriate for beginning or continuing the game.
3. Inspecting game equipment prior to and during the game.
4. Inspecting players’ equipment for safety and compliance with game rules prior to the game.
5. Controlling the game and properly enforcing playing rules.”
As an umpire I suggest that during every pre-game meeting you tell the coaches that “we are going to have good sportsmanship and a safe game.” With that, ask whether the teams are properly equipped. Even though the Fed rules require it, many umpires fail to ask this simple question. Especially for softball, tell the coaches to have their players remove all jewelry. It is easy to imagine a lawsuit from an injury resulting from illegal equipment. Go over the ground rules and pay special attention to any area that may be a safety issue. Inform coaches that they are to have “buckets and bodies” in the dugout. Sure they don’t like it, but if the coach or player is seriously injured from a foul ball, the plaintiff’s lawyer will want to know why you allowed such a dangerous condition to exist on your field.
By emphasizing safety you set the tone for later penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct infractions and encourage the cooperation from the participants. Many game management issues can be handled under the pretense of safety, for instance: policing equipment, keeping gates closed, or delaying or suspending games for weather. Emphasizing safety may be the difference between spending time on the field or in the courtroom.
Further reading:
Limited Liability for Sports Officials, by Steven Ellinger
STEPPING IN TO STEP OUT OF LIABILITY: THE PROPER STANDARD OF LIABILITY FOR REFEREES IN FORESEEABLE JUDGMENT-CALL SITUATIONS, by Michael Mayer, Journal of Sports Law & Contemporary Problems
It is this third category that we worry about as umpires. The court system has seen its share of lawsuits against umpires. In his special report for the National Association of Sports Officials, entitled Limited Liability for Sports Officials, Steven Ellinger states:“Negligence claims can arise based on an official’s failure to: inspect the playing field; control the game; keep the playing area free of equipment and spectators; stop a game because of inclement weather conditions; inspect equipment; protect and warn participants[.]”
Courts have been reluctant to assign any legal liability to umpires for player injuries unless the umpire acted in a reckless or intentional manner. In most cases the dangers are open and obvious and the athlete is said to “assume the risk” of participating under those conditions (such as a muddy field, or in some cases when lightning is present). Some states have enacted legislation to provide protection to sports officials from acts of negligence.
While umpires have generally escaped liability for their acts of simple negligence, the costs involved in a lawsuit are considerable. Even if called as a witness, your time and involvement in court and during depositions, etc. can be extensive. So who pays for the defense of the lawsuit when little Johnny is injured? As an independent contractor it is your responsibility to pay for your defense. The “American Rule” is that each party pays its own legal fees. That means you will either pay for a lawyer out of your own pocket or you had better have insurance. Homeowner’s insurance will likely not cover this type of action. Often association insurance will not pay anything, or a reduced rate, for attorney fees.
The best way to protect yourself from liability is to maintain liability insurance and take your responsibility to protect the players seriously. When in doubt, err on the side of safety. The old saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Steven Ellinger suggests:
“Sports officials can help to protect themselves from possible litigation by following the checklist below:
1. Inspecting the playing surface and adjacent areas for hazards prior to the game.
2. Determining if weather conditions are appropriate for beginning or continuing the game.
3. Inspecting game equipment prior to and during the game.
4. Inspecting players’ equipment for safety and compliance with game rules prior to the game.
5. Controlling the game and properly enforcing playing rules.”
As an umpire I suggest that during every pre-game meeting you tell the coaches that “we are going to have good sportsmanship and a safe game.” With that, ask whether the teams are properly equipped. Even though the Fed rules require it, many umpires fail to ask this simple question. Especially for softball, tell the coaches to have their players remove all jewelry. It is easy to imagine a lawsuit from an injury resulting from illegal equipment. Go over the ground rules and pay special attention to any area that may be a safety issue. Inform coaches that they are to have “buckets and bodies” in the dugout. Sure they don’t like it, but if the coach or player is seriously injured from a foul ball, the plaintiff’s lawyer will want to know why you allowed such a dangerous condition to exist on your field.
By emphasizing safety you set the tone for later penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct infractions and encourage the cooperation from the participants. Many game management issues can be handled under the pretense of safety, for instance: policing equipment, keeping gates closed, or delaying or suspending games for weather. Emphasizing safety may be the difference between spending time on the field or in the courtroom.
Further reading:
Limited Liability for Sports Officials, by Steven Ellinger
STEPPING IN TO STEP OUT OF LIABILITY: THE PROPER STANDARD OF LIABILITY FOR REFEREES IN FORESEEABLE JUDGMENT-CALL SITUATIONS, by Michael Mayer, Journal of Sports Law & Contemporary Problems
Official's Legal Liability, Arizona Football Officials Association
Monday, February 23, 2009
The Moral of the Story is: "Follow the Ball"
Beginner: LSU-UC Irvine 2008 Super Regional Hidden Ball Trick
Intermediate: Youth League Fake Throw
Advanced: Gallaudet University - this one is controversial. Watch closely, the runner at 1B runs directly at the LH pitcher and the runner at 3B goes home.
Intermediate: Youth League Fake Throw
Advanced: Gallaudet University - this one is controversial. Watch closely, the runner at 1B runs directly at the LH pitcher and the runner at 3B goes home.
New Season Resolutions
Before the season began I resolved to do a couple things differently. I want to share those things here on the blog - just to remind myself, not to preach.
First, I resolve to relax more and let the game come to me. As Yogi Berra said, "You can observe a lot just by watchin'." I will continue to remind myself of the situation, my responsibilities, and to anticipate the play. However, I will go through this mental checklist before the pitch. Once the pitcher is ready I want to clear my mind and observe things by watchin'. I'm not going to eye-ball the pitcher's feet, sneak glances at the firstbaseman to see if he may cause an obstruction, or concern myself with any number of small matters that happen once out of two hundred times and are likely not seen by anyone else at the park. I can see these things just fine if I just relax and let the game happen.
Second, I resolve to let the fans be fans, coaches be coaches, and players be players. I had an issue last year during a high school softball game that made me really stop and think about the different roles at the ballpark. The fans of the offensive team didn't like my low strike call and began complaining after the call. Finally, I turned to the coach and said, "Coach! That's enough of the hooting! No more hooting!" The coach, without missing a beat, replied, "But blue, we're the Owls!" We all broke up laughing, but it reminded me that just as owls must hoot, fans must complain. So let 'em. Only when the game is disrupted should you ask game management to take action. Likewise coaches need to voice their concerns for a variety of reasons. Let 'em. Players are competitive, so let them be competitive. When a player or coach acts inappropriately, address the issue with the coach - professionally and discretely, if possible. Focus too much on nippin' it in the bud and you'll end up acting like Barney Fife.
First, I resolve to relax more and let the game come to me. As Yogi Berra said, "You can observe a lot just by watchin'." I will continue to remind myself of the situation, my responsibilities, and to anticipate the play. However, I will go through this mental checklist before the pitch. Once the pitcher is ready I want to clear my mind and observe things by watchin'. I'm not going to eye-ball the pitcher's feet, sneak glances at the firstbaseman to see if he may cause an obstruction, or concern myself with any number of small matters that happen once out of two hundred times and are likely not seen by anyone else at the park. I can see these things just fine if I just relax and let the game happen.Second, I resolve to let the fans be fans, coaches be coaches, and players be players. I had an issue last year during a high school softball game that made me really stop and think about the different roles at the ballpark. The fans of the offensive team didn't like my low strike call and began complaining after the call. Finally, I turned to the coach and said, "Coach! That's enough of the hooting! No more hooting!" The coach, without missing a beat, replied, "But blue, we're the Owls!" We all broke up laughing, but it reminded me that just as owls must hoot, fans must complain. So let 'em. Only when the game is disrupted should you ask game management to take action. Likewise coaches need to voice their concerns for a variety of reasons. Let 'em. Players are competitive, so let them be competitive. When a player or coach acts inappropriately, address the issue with the coach - professionally and discretely, if possible. Focus too much on nippin' it in the bud and you'll end up acting like Barney Fife.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Review of The Official’s Choice Umpire Shirt
For some time I have eyed the inexpensive umpire shirts from theofficialschoice.com. Like many I have avoided purchasing inexpensive umpire shirts because of the old maxim, “You get what you pay for.” But that’s not always the case, right? Sometimes you get more than you pay for. Isn’t that the definition of a “bargain?”
To find out whether the shirts from The Official’s Choice are a bargain or just plain cheap, I wrote to Paul Anderson, President of The Official’s Choice, Inc. and asked him to send me a shirt to review. Mr. Anderson was very quick to respond and told me that his shirts run a little large, so he sent two shirts to inspect: a large black shirt and an extra large navy blue shirt.
Color
The first thing I noticed about the shirts was the color of the navy shirt. The Official’s Choice website describes this color as “True Navy.” The color is a few shades darker than the Honig’s Major League Shirts I ordinarily wear. The black shirt is a deep, rich, “true black.”
To find out whether the shirts from The Official’s Choice are a bargain or just plain cheap, I wrote to Paul Anderson, President of The Official’s Choice, Inc. and asked him to send me a shirt to review. Mr. Anderson was very quick to respond and told me that his shirts run a little large, so he sent two shirts to inspect: a large black shirt and an extra large navy blue shirt.
Color
The first thing I noticed about the shirts was the color of the navy shirt. The Official’s Choice website describes this color as “True Navy.” The color is a few shades darker than the Honig’s Major League Shirts I ordinarily wear. The black shirt is a deep, rich, “true black.”
Right: The Official's Choice True Navy; Center: The Official's Choice Black; Right: Honig's Navy
Size
The Offical's Choice umpire shirts do run large. As you can see in the photos, there is a difference in the shoulders and sleeve length. Here are my "unofficial" measurements:
Honig's XL: Chest 24"; Shoulder 17"
The Official's Choice L: Chest 25"; Shoulder 18"
The Official's Choice XL: Chest 25"; Shoulder 19"
Quality
The quality of the shirts is surprisingly good for the price. The mesh feels thinner and more light weight than other umpire shirts. The mesh holes are open as opposed to closed like other shirts (e.g. Honig's). Click on the photo below and you can see the difference between open and closed. There are two obvious issues with open holes: first, the open holes let in more air, so this is a much cooler shirt for those hot summer days.
The second thing is the transparency of the shirt. So what umpires really want to know: can you see through it? Many associations require the undershirt color to be the last color on the sleeve piping. To test the transparency of the shirt I chose a red Adidas shirt with white letters. In broad daylight my photographer (my wife - thanks for the help dear!) and I agreed that the red undershirt as well as the white Adidas lettering were visible through The Official's Choice shirt, but not through the Honig's shirt. With my chest protector on, the MLB logo is plainly visible.
Value
The price of shirts at The Official’s Choice tends to fluctuate. The price “as tested” was $15.84. The website advertises that the price is increasing to $19.84 as of March 1, 2009. I took a look at previous prices via the “Way Back Machine” at http://www.archive.org/index.php. Past shirts from The Official’s Choice have been advertised for:
January 23, 2008: $10.95
August 10, 2007: $16.95
January 27, 2007: $14.95
Bottom Line
I like The Official's Choice umpire shirts. There are a few issues that may make a difference in the decision to purchase, like transparency or size. I am broad in the shoulders, so I perfer the extra length in the sleeves. Also, my particular association requires navy under the baseball shirt, so bleed-through is not an issue. I like the open hole mesh for hot weather wear. I was pleasantly surprised by these shirts and recommend them to other umpires.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
2009 NFHS Baseball Rules Interpretations
The 2009 NFHS Baseball Rules Interpretations are now available here.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Weak Interference
Weak interference arises when an interference situation occurs that is not serious enough to warrant a penalty, but significant enough to require umpire intervention to maintain fair play. The term "weak interference" does not appear in the rule book, but includes different situations that arise from time-to-time that most commonly would be referred to as "accidents" or "freak plays."
The most common example is the batter calling time and (without the umpire grant) causes the pitcher to balk.
Another common/uncommon example is the catcher hitting the batter on a return throw:
In a weak interference call the ball is dead and the runners return.
Here is another well-known example of weak interference with pitcher Randy Johnson:
In this case the bird causes a weak interference call. A "no pitch" is called, the ball is dead, the bird is dead, and runners return to their bases.
Another common case is the batter "interfering" with the catcher on his backswing. Under FED rules, the batter is out for interference. Under OBR it is weak interference, the ball is dead and runners return.
The most common example is the batter calling time and (without the umpire grant) causes the pitcher to balk.
Another common/uncommon example is the catcher hitting the batter on a return throw:
In a weak interference call the ball is dead and the runners return.
Here is another well-known example of weak interference with pitcher Randy Johnson:
In this case the bird causes a weak interference call. A "no pitch" is called, the ball is dead, the bird is dead, and runners return to their bases.
Another common case is the batter "interfering" with the catcher on his backswing. Under FED rules, the batter is out for interference. Under OBR it is weak interference, the ball is dead and runners return.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)