By Alex Webbe
The Umpires are the first to hear it if they’re off their game, and I admit that I have taken them to task from time to time, but aside from some early objections by one of the more outspoken members of the California polo community about officiating in the 20-goal competition at the Santa Barbara Polo Club, I have heard nothing.
Now I can guarantee you that it doesn’t mean that there aren’t disagreements about calls on the field or missed calls that are brought to the attention of the umpires, but if I’m not hearing that there are problems with it they must be doing something right.
Rick Sears has stepped into the head umpire position and has successfully implemented a program that has silenced even the harshest critics. Each week he gathers all four high-goal umpires together to review game tapes in an effort to improve their officiating skills on the field and review any areas of concern.
Additionally, he welcomes any player who would like to sit down with them (the umpires for a review. The results are evident in the fact that there have been no outbursts of protest regarding the umpiring.
The transparency of the process has allowed anyone involved to get an inside look at the process and Santa Barbara Polo Club manager Andy Smith couldn’t be happier.
“I think Rick is doing a great job,” he said, “and the coordination of the efforts of our umpires is evident by the responses of players and spectators alike.”
I know it must seem like you (umpires) never get credit for a job well done, so, Well done, Rick Sears, Corky Linfoot, Dale Schwetz and Tim Rudy. You should be proud of the job you are doing. And thank you Rick Sears for creating such an organized and transparent method of supervising and improving the effectiveness of your charges. I look forward to your continued diligence making a very positive impact on the umpire program as a whole.