Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1901-11-07
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THE roor HALL UMPIRE.

THE FOOT BALL UMPIRE.
In many ways the position of umpire
In the western and eastern football
games is difficult one TO fill. writes
Phil Allen. the noted umpire. Having
been out of the game as a player for
several years. | cannot explain the
fact that | still find myself on the
field as an umpire. except on account
of my real love for the sport. It's the
only game of an athletic nature that
I've ever cared for or had any sue
cess in. and the positions Of umpire
and referee are the only ones open to
an old player not professionally inter
osted in which he can be right on the
field and in the game.
1t IL unfortunate for the sport in
the west-and in the east as well, |
think-that there are so few old play
ers who have had any extensive prac-
tice on the field as umpiros. There are
several reasons for this. One OF these
results from the modern system of de-
veloping the players into parts of
machine which the magnificent group
of coaches we now have in the west
has worked out. According to the old
system In the east, a man would be
apt to work out as an indivldualist A
sentimental interest in such man
grows up readily. and he is naturally
called on now and then TO act upon the
/ field. Still, | cannot understand why
such men as Gale. Herschberger, Ken
nedy and Hamill-to name some with
whom | am best acquainted-are not
at work upon the field today as UNI
| pires. But in general the result of
the western system is that there are
but few men who have worked out as
umpires. Most of the old players who
| have continued their active interest in
the game. even as side issue to more
important teaching or work, are
coaches.
UnpppuIarity of the Position.
Of coarse, one OF the important rea-
sons why many men avoid accepting
invitations to umpire a big interuni-
versity football game is the unpopular
ity of the office. Football rooters may
be sometimes more choice in their lam
guage than the rooters at a National
League base ball game. but their
thought is about the same always on
decisions against their own men XIII
the umpire!"
For the development of umpires, and
by the same token for the improve
ment of the game. there must be,
among the players, coaches and even
partisans of the teams-speaking, of
course, OF the ideal-implicit trust in
the umpire. The rules committee real
ICES this fully. All the changes in the
rules for this year are made with a
realization of this fact The changes
are only changes of wording, and as
the rule book states, are given to make
the existing rules more explicit and
to give an added power to the umpire.
Implicit Confidence Needed.
do not care to umpire game in
which | do not have the implicit con-
fidence of the coaches OF the opposing
teams. And they all tend to be sus-
picious In the interests OF their teams.
very naturally. For instance, last year
the managers for each OF two import
ant middle western teams at about the
same time sent me letters requesting
my services as umpire at their game.
accepted. answering each manager
simultaneously. But later they secur-
ed another umpire. | learned after
ward that each rnember had become