Tom Buist grew up playing baseball in the Kelloggsville Little League and was on the varsity at South Christian High School for three years. He didn’t quite make the cut when he got to college, but he never lost his love of the game.
He helped out with his sons’ teams as the were growing up – coaching and pitching in where he could.
About 20 years ago, Tom decided to start giving back to the community that supported him and his sons while playing ball and became an umpire.
Though he’s been an umpire for over 20 years, his schedule over the last 10 years has really been intense.
He typically works 75-80 games a season. This includes high school ball, summer ball and, for the last two seasons, fall ball for Grand Valley State University.
All of this on top of his ‘day job’ as a field rep for the Dodge Company. Tom attended Grand Rapids Junior College (now GRCC) and Worsham College where he majored in Mortuary Science. He did clinical study at, and was certified by, Wayne State University and the University of Michigan.
At the Dodge Company, Tom works with Funeral Directors, Medical Examiners, Police and Homeland Security.
Tom has twin sons who both graduated from GVSU. He lives in Gaines Township with Carol, his wife of 31 years.
Tom agreed to give our readers a glimpse of life as a high school umpire by answering our…
What’s the biggest challenge you face as an umpire?
Time! It takes very careful planning of the whole year to be able to take off time from work to travel, prep and do all the games that I am doing.
What’s the most difficult situation you have had to deal with while umpiring?
There are two schools with a string rivalry in the Grand Rapids area. Between them, they had eight assistant coaches on the benches! Every pitch and every play was contested. This really got the players and spectators going.
They played some great ball in both games of the doubleheader, but it was just out of hand. It’s the first time I ever stopped a game and told both head coaches that they were gone on the next incident, along with any players involved.
We completed that second game, but my partner refused to do games for either school for a year.
That brings up an obvious question. Have you had to eject many coaches or players?
I have never tossed a coach or a player.
I try to set the tone in the pregame conference. I lay out the rules for behavior, such as I do not allow profanity.
Last season in a high school game, I was about to eject a player for his language, but the coach beat me to him! He walked the kid out of the complex and saved me the paperwork for that night!
[ note: for a great book about life as a professional umpire, you'll want to read As They See 'Em: A Fan's Travels in the Land of Umpires
How do you prefer to be addressed by coaches – “Blue”, “Tom”, “Sir”?
In the old days, it was “Blue” and I don’t have a problem with that. Today it’s “Tom” or “Sir”. The best coaches and catchers use “Tom”. In college it’s always “Tom”.
[ note: catchers, if you aren't already, you should introduce yourself to the home plate umpire before the start of every game! ]
The NFHS Rules require umpires to check all player equipment before the start of the game. What issues do you see most often?
Bats cause the most problems. Someone spends $300 or more and the bat ends up getting tossed. By the way, I love the new BBCOR standard for 2012. We have caught teams heating bats and balls when the weathers cold – that’s a big no-no!
Catchers equipment takes a beating and over time can develop loose screws, cracks, broken straps, etc. That always causes delays.
[ note: in addition to the current BESR standard for bats, they must also not be dented, have tapered handles (eliminating the knob) and others things. See NFHS rules for more info. Also, see our article New Bat Rule Coming on January 1, 2012 for more info. ]
We all know that a judgment call shouldn’t be disputed. But, what’s the proper way for a coach to dispute a rules interpretation on the field?
The pre-game meeting can help set the tone for this, it’s so important to have that meeting! If something happens on the field, no umpire should have a problem with questions. It has to be the head coach – and this year the NFHS rules require it to be only the head coach. No committee – no players or other coaches.
If the coach thinks it’s a rules violation, never pull out the rule book (I’ve read it, thanks). That will get you tossed by most umpires! Otherwise, explain to the umpire what you think (and make sure you know the correct rule). I’ll tell you what I saw and what rule I applied – many times coaches apply the wrong rule. If an umpire needs clarification, he can call in his partner and may make a change to get it right.
That’s always the #1 goal – get the call right.
[ note: new in 2010, the NFHS has tightened up rule 3.3.1g6 which restricts the behavior of assistant coaches. See our article 2010 NFHS Rule Changes for more info. ]
What is the biggest problem you face with players and coaches today?
I have little trouble with players (I may have a reputation), If, in the heat of the moment, someone throws equipment I will make sure they know they do not get another throw.
The kids are a reflection of the coach, the parents may be off the wall yelling but most players will react the same way the coach does. I know that when I see my high school coach from the early 70′s I still call him coach.
I have always had a great time with the players and never even if they lost it for a second did it affect our long term interaction.
I was hit twice in the first game of double dip last year and was developing a nasty bruise, as I was changing between games to work the field the catcher and pitcher from one team came to check on me. Two very cool kids.
As for coaches, this isn’t really a problem from an umpiring standpoint, but if I had to be critical I believe that in many games they over coach. Let the kids think and make the mistake and chances are it will only be a one time mistake.
As for arguing, etc – I try to remember how much time they put into preparation for games. The pressure they feel to excel all the time is very strong. When the game gets tense and the coaches get a little on edge – I try to remember this.
What kind of training do you go through as an umpire?
Any good umpire is a member of an association. I belong to the West Michigan Umpires Association (WMUA).
We start in January and go through March with meetings on rules, attire, and baseball case studies. I go to two meetings a month during the preseason, take online testing on rules and situations that is graded, and I attend a rules and training clinic prior to the start of season. I travel with my case and rules book reading and re-reading for the entire preseason.
Our organization’s mission is to promote and maintain a high professional umpiring standards and to engender the spirit of mutual respect between athletes, coaches, athletic directors, parents and umpires.
I am the board secretary and document all activities, I help plan training and work as an instructor at our clinic, correspond with the MHSAA keeping us on pace with changes, and I work with umpires with 1-3 years experience by taking several games per year at the sub-varsity level.
What advice would you give someone considering becoming an umpire?
Commit to a 3 year trial period. It is the most expensive sport to become an official. It takes time to develop all the skills needed and you need to perfect the verbal art of Judo. After 3 years you can not wait for the first pitch – you will be so ready for the games to begin!
Finally, what’s your favorite memory of your years as an umpire?
Well, a few times every season I see this: I love it when a kid who is not the star comes up in a critical situation and performs. The joy on his face, the coach, parents, and teammates in unforgettable. It may change that kids life because he now knows – he can do it!
Best experience with a catcher: GVSU game and Bobby W. was catching for GVSU. In the 6th, I called a 3-2 pitch inside and high for ball 4. Next batter grounded out.
After GVSU batted, next inning I was cleaning the plate and said to Bob: “do you think I missed the 3-2 last inning?”
He never hesitated and said: “No, Tom, if I knew how to frame a ball it would have been a strike.”
My favorite catcher ever – he got the next inside fastball!
Best experience with a coach: during a play at the plate an out was called. A lady on the home team was using a softball rule for baseball (the rule has now changed) and would not let up on the call for 3 innings.
I walked down the line between innings, called the coach out on the home side and pulled my line card to make it look like I had a question.
I said: “you or I have to take care of this lady, it needs to stop, it is affecting the game”.
He looked me in the eye and said: “You do it.”
I asked if he had a reason and he said: “That’s my wife and I am not going to tell her she is wrong!”
Thanks to Tom Buist for taking the time to talk to West Michigan High School Baseball.
And, thanks to all the umpires out there! Without them, there would be no baseball. Players, Coaches, Parents: remember that the toughest job in sports is officiating. Please thank the umpires after each game!
Outstanding article, I hope you get alot of coaches and parents to read and understand the article.
I will say, after 3 years of umpiring in Michigan, I registered and finished my 1st season in FL under the FHSAA. Did some JV games down here that the teams played better than some northern MI varsity. I was also shocked at the speed levels of varsity games down here, along with the amount of college and pro scouts at the games here. I was reminded these young men get to play baseball almost year-round. My assn. down here does extensive training, which was outstanding, our website is http://www.southgulfumpires.com
I’m very excited about getting up there and using some of the skills I learned down here, as I was very happy that I attended the camps I did up in MI over the years.
Keep getting the outstanding journalism out there about high school baseball!!!! The All American Game!
Found 5 or 6 umpires who umpire in the east coast states and winter in FL, umpire here until season starts up there. I stayed till the end and will be back to MI in few days. I’ve got a few double headers up there
Thanks – as a long time coach who always taught my players “you’re OUT because he called you OUT” I have a soft spot for umpires and what they go through.
More coaches/parents/players/fans need to learn to be thankful for the work umpires do…
[...] sorts of shameless “what’s it like…” questions. Well, the guys over at WMHSB.com have done just that. One excerpt has umpire Tom Buist claiming the necessity of verbal judo. [...]