• Follow these tips to becoming a more successful softball umpire.girl playing softball image by pixelcarpenter from Fotolia.com
  
  Umpires in softball at any level can have a high-pressure job. An umpire's decisions will never make everyone happy, and he is likely to hear plenty of flack from the crowd, coaches and sometimes players. Managing the situations as they arise, staying in control of the game and retaining focus on the task at hand sometimes can be tough. Following a few basic tips for umpiring a game will help you get through it successfully.
  
  

Sell Your Calls

• When a close call happens, as it commonly does during the course of a typical softball game, one side or the other is likely to disagree with your call. One way to deter verbal objections to the call is to make the call with authority and work to effectively sell your call. Any hesitation about a call might be misconstrued as insecurity about the call’s accuracy, which will only fuel the fire of the team against which the call was made.
  
  

Keep A Consistent Strike Zone

• Every home plate umpire has his own strike zone. As long as it stays consistent throughout the game, it shouldn’t matter if your strike zone varies a little from others'. The key is making sure it is the same in each game. However, if a game is high in scoring, coaches will expect you to tighten up the strike zone a little. Reduce the allowable width for a strike. Try not to adjust the height of the zone. Most important is to do it the same way for both teams.
  
  

Command Respect

• A softball umpire should command respect from players and coaches without being overly aggressive. Let them know your decisions are final and not up for debate, and do not be afraid to threaten disrespectful conduct with ejection from the game. Remain non-emotional in any situation, and remember you are an objective party in the game. It might be necessary to turn up the aggression occasionally if you become verbally abused or threatened. Never tolerate personal abuse, and never resort to abusive language yourself.
  
  

Don’t Ignore Reason

• If someone has a point about a call or about another aspect of the game, take the time to patiently listen. Ignoring reasonable complaints or arguments might seem ideal, but it will only frustrate the coach or players as the game wears on. Listening patiently and then responding firmly but politely is the best policy in this situation.
  
  

Last Word Not Necessary

• When the occasional argument breaks out, avoid unnecessary sarcasm that might further incite anger. It is not necessary to have the last word.