Magnitude of Stress Experienced by Baseball and Softball Umpires

Abstract

This study surveyed 782 certified baseball and Softball umpires from randomly chosen umpire associations in one state to assess how much stress they experienced while officiating. The mean stress score was between “very little” and “a moderate amount,” although 4.5% of the respondents reported “quite a bit” or “a great deal” of stress. The mean stress score may have been attenuated by the umpires' reluctance to admit stressful experiences or by collection of data after the season was over.