From the Umpire’s Perspective: College Game Day
It’s game day. You get hyped up, warmed up, and then take the field. The official blows their whistle to signal the start of the match.
After 60 minutes (or more) of giving it your all on the field, the final whistle blows to signal the end of the game. You walk off the field, high-five your teammates, and thank the officials.
Just like the athletes playing, the work of a college official does not start and end between the whistles – there is preparation, training, and commitment involved. It’s often easy to overlook these aspects, especially when one of the goals of an umpire is to fade into the background, only to be noticed when necessary. But during this year’s National Umpire Appreciation Week, we will dive into the perspective of a college umpire.
Veteran official Laura Barnas Paro has been in the college sphere for more than 30 years. She described some of the behind the scenes prep that goes into being ready on game day.
“It’s important to be well versed in the FIH rulebook and [NCAA] Modifications. And to review on a regular basis. I watch my own film and others matches. It’s good to learn from others and how umpires manage, positioning, etc.,” said Laura. “Staying in shape is year-round. No time off on fitness or the game.”
Another seasoned official, Frank Maisano, echoed those sentiments.
“It's also about staying in shape and staying mentally sharp year-round by working out regularly - especially when you get a little older. It is important to continue umpiring throughout the year so that you're seeing the game on a regular basis. I constantly review game film for key management and rule decisions to help me prepare for the next challenging moment.”
There is a certain routine in the days leading up to the game. The physical preparations – making sure your radios are charged and all your shirts and other apparel are ready. Then there are the mental preparations – connecting with your partner, planning your travel, and visualizing your role in the game.
For South Carolina-based Marisa Miro, the most challenging part of being a college umpire is the travel.
“I live fairly far, so almost every trip requires me to leave the day before and leave the day after,” said Marisa. “On Friday/Sunday games I'm often gone Thursday through Sunday or Monday, depending.”
“It’s a lot on your body and mind to travel hours on end for games sometimes and still maintain a good work-life balance.”
Finally, the time comes – game day. Like the teams warming up, umpires are at the field early, making sure that everything is set and ready.
Hannah Maisano, who is in her fifth-year umpiring college, explained some of those pre-game tasks.
“Part of getting to a game so early is introducing ourselves to the people working the clock, video, and ballrunners. Prior to the game my partner and I will have a pregame chat to discuss specific circumstances, things that have come up in previous games, things we are working on, areas of control, and communication styles through the radio.”
It’s a checklist of items that will ensure the game can flow smoothly. Learn the name of the person running the clock in case you need a time reset during the game. Make sure there are no issues with the field before the match starts. Check out all the possible angles of the video referral cameras so that if you do need to utilize it during the game, you already have an idea of what you’ll be looking at.
“I also like to go into each game with the goal to work on something,” commented Jenna Cutilli, who has been umpiring college for three years. “It doesn’t have to be anything big but something that can make my decision making better or quicker.”
And then, there is the game itself.
“During the game we try to serve the game in the best way possible,” said Hannah. “We do this by anticipating play, and noticing when things change (like the temperature of the game increasing in close-score situations). We work together to make sure we get the decisions right as often as possible, but also to create a degree of trust between us and the players so that the game can flow smoothly while still being exciting to watch.”
“Managing the game well and having a good rapport with the coaches and players is important,” added Marisa. “Always try to be empathetic but also firm.”
“We always want to give the players the best officiating as possible at all levels,” said Laura. “There should never be an ‘off day’ in a game. Staying physically and mentally strong is vital.”
“During the game it is constantly evaluating every situation so I can put myself in the best position to see, managing everyone’s temperament including my own and doing my best to stay on the same page as my partner,” said Brooke McGinley, a college umpire who is currently a PhD Candidate in the Biostatistics Department at Boston University’s School of Public Health.
The importance of the post-game ritual is universal.
“Post game consists of a check-in with my partner and then self-analyzing how my performance was to make necessary changes in the next match,” said Brooke.
“It is a long season so it's about managing each day so that you're ready for the next day getting enough sleep, getting the right foods and recovering as fast as possible,” added Frank.
Another important thing to remember is that umpiring college is not a full-time job. The people who dedicate their time to this craft are often using their own time to do so. Take Judy Yurkofsky, who started umpiring her senior year of high school and has officiated in the college circuit for the past six years. She is currently a full-time student at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York, and has found a way to still include the sport she loves into her weekly schedule.
“Being a part of the hockey community and continuing with the sport I love has been really rewarding,” said Judy. “I love how accepting this sport is, and how supportive we all are especially of everyone’s goals and careers. The sport has always been an outlet for me to have a platform to be myself and it’s really been the driving force for creating the type of future I want in my physician career and future practice.”
“Umpiring has allowed me to have an outlet and space to step away from the demanding schedule of school and be present in the moment. For two hours or so I get to be me, see friends, and leave behind the stress of school, rotations, and residency applications.”
At the end of the day, the challenges of being a college umpire are outweighed by the rewards. To stay a part of the sport you love, while helping to grow the game, makes it all worth it.
