Your assigner remembers how you handle assignments. Are you teaching them that you’re dependable, or that clicking your name means more work?
In this episode of The Pregame, Patrick Faerber takes you behind the scenes of assigning for Youth League Officials to explain how your response time, availability, communication and follow-through affect your opportunities.
An assigner’s number one responsibility is getting every game covered. When three qualified umpires are available, the one who responds quickly and follows through becomes an easier choice. Over time, those choices turn into more games, more experience and more opportunities to move up.
You’re training your assigner with every interaction. What are you teaching them?
📄 READ AND SHARE THE ONE-PAGER
“How You Train the Assigner”
https://canva.link/w38ak6t4yq64uaj
In this episode:
• What assigners see when they open the schedule
• Why updated availability and quick responses matter
• The difference between declining and letting a game automatically turn back
• How your off-field habits shape your reputation
• Why some umpires get the last-minute calls
• How reliability leads to development opportunities
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Your assigner remembers
01:00 Behind the scenes of assigning
03:00 Every game, every slot, covered
05:00 Availability and assignment decisions
06:00 What your response time teaches me
08:00 Three umpires: Who would you choose?
09:00 The message behind automatic turnbacks
11:00 Your reputation is being tracked
13:00 Who gets the last-minute call?
14:00 More games, more experience, more opportunities
15:00 Who gets the investment?
17:00 What are you teaching your assigner?
🛡️ JOIN NASO
If you’re a sports official, you should be a member of the National Association of Sports Officials. NASO membership provides insurance protection, educational resources, Referee magazine access, member discounts and advocacy for officials.
Join through Umpire Classroom:
https://join.naso.org/NAS/?f=DISCAFF&S=C25PFN
⚾ KEEP LEARNING WITH UMPIRE CLASSROOM
Find on-demand baseball umpire training, courses and more educational content:
https://www.umpireclassroom.com
📩 QUESTIONS OR EPISODE IDEAS?
Email patrick@umpireclassroom.com.
👍 Like this episode, subscribe to Umpire Classroom and share it with your association or a partner who could benefit. Assigners, what makes an umpire someone you can count on? Tell us in the comments.
This episode is for educational purposes. Umpire Classroom is not sponsored or endorsed by MLB, NCAA or NFHS. Any third-party materials remain the property of their respective owners.
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