Most automatic responses are a combination of muscle memory and repetitive mental conditioning such as typing this blog. Starting your car, brushing your teeth, cooking a steak, no need to break out a training manual in order to accomplish these tasks, automatic. Right?
Delayed reactions are the mind's response to questionable things, the unknown, the confusing and problems. For instance, like should I post this tonight or let my chief editor / my wife read it first? By allowing more time to process a decision, I believe I will gain a better or safer outcome.
No action can be the end result of a delayed reaction. It is similar thinking that by allowing more time to process, a better or safer outcome might be achieved, but when the reality sets in that you have no idea what to do, you are done. You freeze. Most understand this response as the "deer in the headlights" syndrome.
Umpire's reactions must be automatic without exception, but that is easier said than done. Enter outside influences such as coaches, fans, players, weather, fatigue, and team history. Now add the controllable factors such as field mechanics, rule book knowledge, timing, physical conditioning and experience.
Inside an umpire's head he is evaluating not only the plays but also merging in factors like coaches' perceptions, players' concerns, distractions of fans, intensity of fatigue, heat or cold or past history with either team. Whether an umpire will admit it or not, all of these factors distort his ability to make a
call automatically as he should.
On top of these problems add any negative controllable factors such as lack of knowledge regarding field mechanics, rules, poor physical conditioning, bad timing or just lack of experience,
Make sure this does not happen to you when calling a game. Buy a copy of Baseball Rules in Black and White today, hell buy, two and give one to a friend, you'll be glad you did!
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