Your Secret Weapon to Getting Better Behind the Plate

If you’re serious about becoming a better umpire, you need to keep a journal. Not just a notebook where you scribble down how many games you worked and how much you got paid, but a real, structured umpire journal that tracks your performance, challenges, and growth over time.

Whether you’re just getting started or you’re a veteran chasing perfection, a well-kept umpire journal is one of the most underused tool in your toolbox. It’s about refining your instincts, locking in lessons learned, and building confidence game after game.

Let’s break down why every umpire should keep a journal, what should go into each entry, and how to turn your notes into performance gold.

Why Keep an Umpire Journal?

We all know that the best umpires are learners. They reflect, study, and adjust. A journal is how you capture the real-time feedback you can’t get from a rulebook or even from your partners.

Here’s what a journal gives you:

• • Self-assessment: Helps you identify patterns and recurring mistakes.

• • Growth tracking: Shows how far you’ve come over a season.

• • Pregame prep: Lets you review past experiences at specific parks or with certain teams.

• • Post-season review: Makes your annual evaluations way easier and more accurate.

It’s like having a coach in your pocket, one that you train yourself.

Choosing the Right Umpire Journal

There’s no one-size-fits-all option here. Some umpires prefer the traditional pen and paper method, while others opt for digital solutions. The format doesn’t matter nearly as much as staying consistent. Personally I prefer the pen an paper option, and use the 100% Every Pitch Every Play Journal.  Call me old school but this system works best for me.

Here are a few solid choices to consider:

 

• • 100% Every Pitch Every Play. This blank-lined journal allows you to take notes immediately after the game. I keep this in my gear bag so I can jot down important notes immediately after the game, ensuring I don’t forget anything.

• • Become An Umpire Game Log Template (Download) A free, printable PDF designed specifically for umpires. It’s got structured sections for every key part of your post-game reflection, so you don’t have to start from scratch.

• • Rocketbook Fusion: Prefer writing by hand but still want to go digital? This reusable notebook lets you jot down notes, scan them with your phone, and instantly store them in the cloud.

• • Evernote: If you’re already glued to your phone or tablet, Evernote makes it easy to journal right after the game. Use it for free or upgrade to premium to unlock extras like tagging, custom templates, and offline access.

When to Journal

The best time to write in your journal is right after the game, while it’s still fresh. If you wait too long, the emotions fade and the little details vanish.

Here’s a good rhythm to follow:

• • Before the game (optional): Log expectations, field conditions, and partner notes.

• • Immediately after: Reflect on decisions, interactions, and overall performance.

• • Weekly: Summarize trends, wins, and areas for development.

Make it part of your routine, like cleaning your gear or texting your assignor.

What to Include in Every Journal Entry

This is where the magic happens. The more detail you log, the better you’ll get. Let’s break it down into core sections you should have in every entry:

1. Game Info (Basics)

Start each journal entry with the core data:

• • Date & Time

• • Location / Field

• • Level of play (e.g., Little League Majors, JV, Adult Rec)

• • Game type (Tournament, regular season, playoff)

• • Teams

• • Score

• • Positions worked (Plate, Bases, U1, U3, etc.)

• • Partner(s) names

2. Gear Worn & Conditions

You don’t need to track gear daily unless you’re testing new stuff, but gear notes can help identify trends. Include:

• • Uniform combination (e.g., powder blue, black slacks)

• • Plate gear used

• • Mask style (Hockey vs traditional)

• • Weather (windy, humid, cold)

• • Field surface/lighting

This helps with future preparation. For Example, you’ll remember to bring turf shoes to that awful field with the painted concrete plate.

📎 Related Post: Removing Your Umpire Mask Like a Pro

3. Game Flow & Pace

Describe the overall tempo of the game:

• • Pace (slow, average, fast)

• • Number of innings

• • Game time duration

• • Offense-heavy / Pitcher’s duel

Was it a 9–8 slugfest with tension or a crisp 2–1 defensive battle? That affects how you manage and focus.

4. Situational Awareness

This is where the honest and real review starts.

Log any complex or unique situations that required quick thinking or teamwork. Some examples:

• • Interference or Obstruction

• • Dropped third strike with runners on

• • Rule interpretations

• • Appeal plays

• • Balk calls or no-calls

Include the rule reference if you looked it up after.

📎 Bonus Module: [Advanced Rule Scenarios] (coming soon to the course)

5. Calls You Were Proud Of

Don’t just beat yourself up—celebrate the wins.

Record:

• • Tough calls you nailed

• • Big moments you managed well

• • Great communication with coaches or players

• • Times you stayed calm under pressure

This is confidence fuel for your next game.

6. Calls You Struggled With

This is the section that makes you better. Don’t skip it.

Be honest about:

• • Calls you missed or were unsure about

• • Mechanics that felt off

• • Angles or positioning you didn’t like

• • Situations you froze on

Then, include what you learned or what you’d do differently next time.

🧠 Example: “Missed a pulled foot at 1B—need to hustle up the line quicker and get a wider angle.”

7. Partner & Crew Notes

Umpiring is a team sport. Reflect on how the crew worked:

• • Did you pregame effectively?

• • How was coverage on rotations?

• • Did you back each other up?

• • Were there any missed responsibilities?

• • What did you learn from your partner(s)?

Also, log if you have any scheduled games to work with them again.

🗂️ Example: “Worked with John again—great communication. Cleaned up a missed tag with a crew discussion.”

8. Coach & Player Behavior

This section helps with context and memory later on.

Include:

• • Coach temperament

• • Unsportsmanlike incidents

• • Ejections (who, why, what inning)

• • Positive interactions or compliments

This can be valuable if a coach gets testy again later in the season or if you need to report behavior to your assignor.

9. Fan and Spectator Notes

You don’t need to obsess over fans, but it helps to record anything unusual:

• • Crowd control issues

• • Parent heckling

• • PA announcer issues

You may need this if there’s ever an incident report.

10. Takeaways & Action Plan

Always end with a short takeaway:

• • What’s one thing you’ll focus on next game?

• • What’s one thing you improved today?

✅ Example: “Focused more on keeping my eyes level at the plate—strike zone was better as a result.”

This transforms your journal into a coaching session rather than a diary.

Other Tips to Maximize Your Journal

Create Monthly or Seasonal Summaries

Every few weeks, review your entries. Look for trends like:

• • Am I struggling with the same type of call?

• • Are the same teams or coaches creating issues?

• • Are my confidence or mechanics improving?

This kind of reflection adds long-term value.

Store Supporting Documents

Attach or log:

• • Game assignments (Arbiter, Excel, etc.)

• • Photos (weather, gear)

• • Rulebook notes

• • Video clips (if available)

Apps like OneNote or Evernote are ideal for this purpose.

Use Tags or Color Codes

If you go digital, use tags like:

• • #plate

• • #balk

• • #gamecontrol

• • #mechanics

• • #weatherdelay

You can easily filter by topic later.

Keep It Real—But Keep It Respectful

This journal is for you, not to roast coaches or vent your frustrations. Don’t turn it into a complaint log.

If you need to mention a coach or player issue, stick to the facts, not feelings.

✍️ Instead of “Coach was a jerk all game,” write: “Coach questioned the strike zone consistently in innings 3–5, warned in top 6, calmed by game end.”

Final Thoughts: The Journal Is Your Edge

Keeping a journal isn’t glamorous. You won’t get applause for it. However, it will quietly and consistently make you a better umpire.

If you’re not logging your games, you’re leaving improvement up to luck and memory. And that’s not good enough if you want to level up.

So grab your game log, your favorite pen, or your favorite app, and start logging today.