In many sports games, officials are needed to call the plays and make sure
that the game continues in a fair manner. Soccer, basketball, volleyball,
boxing and many other sports require officials. In some of these games, the
official is called an umpire.
The most common games to have umpires are baseball, softball and their
variations. However, officials in football games and cricket are often called
umpires.
In baseball, umpires stand behind home plate, at bases and sometimes in
the field. Umpires at home plate call balls and strikes. They also watch runners
coming into home plate and decide whether they're safe or out.
It's estimated that an umpire makes about 400 calls per game. The most
common types of calls are interference, obstruction, award of bases, appeals
and balks. A balk is when a pitcher moves to pitch and then hesitates before
throwing the ball.
Umpires work in rural areas, small towns, big cities and in different countries.
They can officiate for a variety of games and a variety of players. "I work
any game, from little girls who barely understand ball to adult men and college
women," says Sherry Winn, an umpire in Colorado.
Umpires have to love the game. "Most umpires are players or ex-players
themselves," says umpire Ed Dressler. "That gives them a better understanding
of the game."