alcrisp

I use this mask. I like it. Got mine from Epic Sports for $42.99. Like the pads versus the black leather pads.

Yes I have received 5 HS games so far and most of my college schedule as well. My association for HS started assigning games early starting this year instead of early March as they did before. Makes life so much easier since I'm dealing with multiple assigners.

Last Sunday I had a coach ejection in a 14U fall game. Background is the Coach A's team is losing 10-0 and this is the coach that was dumped. The pitcher was consistently throwing pitches above the letters and I was balling them all game. I have not heard a word. In the 3rd inning she throws the same pitch and I ball it again. Coach A asks, "Where was that?" (first time he asked) and I replied, "Up." He threw up his hands from the dugout, no big deal...It was dropped. Top of the 4th and Team A coming to bat, I'm on third base line extended (softball in between innings mechanic) and Coach A comes from the third base dugout and asks, "Where is your strike zone at?" I replied, "Same place its been all day." He says, "I've umpired two years and now the zone," and starts explaining to me where its is. I stop him off and tell him, "You asked where a pitch was, I told you. You are not coming out here on balls and strikes. This is your warning on arguing balls and strikes." He turns and starts walking back to the dugout and he stops, turns to me and says, "How ling have you been umpiring?" (while gesturing where that high pitch was. I eject him and he leaves. Sounds like he just wanted to go since his team was losing. Reason for posting is I am a frequent on here reading, but thought I would share since I don't post that often.

I know Between the Lines use to carry flat front in Charcoal as combos. I don't know if they still do, but it wouldn't hurt to check. www.btlofficialsgear.com

You need to find a different person to work for if he is going to kiss the coaches rear and not stick up for umpires when they do the right things that are defendable, as you have done, in this case. I am an assigner myself for summer ball and it will be a cold day when a coach is going to dictate the officiating of my umpires. You were within your rights and the assigner is the jack wagon.

The coach should have been ejected when he decided to make things personal when he said you are horrible. Anytime the coach uses any form of the personal pronoun "you" in reference to you, he just punched his ticket for an early beer...unless of course he says, "You are a terrific umpire." Try to nail that quickly because if you don't then it's going to be a long game for you. Good job on trying to defuse things before the horrible comment.

You gave him every opportunity 2 walk away. i dont think it got 2 far. you told him that you werent tolewrating that talk and gave the coach an opportunity to do his job...he didnt so he fair game.

This is my 9th season umpiring and I umpire 7 days a weeks. Number of games vary due to tournaments on the weekends. The last 5 years I have work just below 500 games, baseball and softball combined at all levels in both sports (High school, summer ball, travel ball and college). Of course I am 23 years old so my boydy can take the wear and tear...for now.I dont think i will be working that many games down the road as I become elogantyly refined in age lol :meditation:

I use the West Vest triple knee shin guards and had the same problem with the metatarsal guard. By the way, I use Honigs plate shoes and have a pair of the Riddell plate shoes. I love my west vest gear...no not like that :rollinglaugh:

I use the Honigs brand low cut plate shoes and love them. I bought them this year after my spotbilts gave out. The Honig's are light, supportive and very comfortable.Never tried the NB450 or the Reeboks though

I don't agree with that at all. Stepping on his hat, whether he recognizes you doing it intentional or not makes you just as low as him for throwing the hat in the first place. FUNNY Though

my bad about commenting on what you shouldnt have said if you didnt say. Good to hear about other young umpires who love this advocation as much as I do!

Well IMHO you let it get to far. As soon as the coach came out of the dugout and you told him the conversation was done ans you weren't talking balls and strikes, if he did not walk away, chuck him. He should have definitely been EJ when he called you a profanity. But you should not have infused the confrontation with comments like "read your rulesbook," etc. To stop the chirping about B/S if F2 isnt complaining is ask F2 if there is anything wrong on those close pitches (he will say no) and then ask him why he is letting his coach eat you up about it. I guarantee you the catcher will take care of his coach in between innings and you won't hear a word rest of the game. Remember too, call pitches, don't explain them. I too am a young umpire (22) and am used to the comments about my age, especially when I work college games. Get used to it, it's a fact of life and embrace the they hand you of umpiring at a young age...I do!

Your out on the ball, make the catch/no catch, let your partner make the call from 127 feet away, and then have a serious talk with him in between innings. Thats if WW III doesn't happen because of the blown coverage on your partner. He needs to live and die by his responsibility and if he ask you for help after the call, tell him you can only help if he's missing information about the play (ball, tag, etc.) because thats his judgement call. If this happens, make sure you tell him that he will reverse the call if needed and explain he will tell the coach that he changed the call based upon what info changed the call if the coach comes out on you. :kissass: