BLarson

So what would have happened if they did protest? Bases loaded. 2 outs. D3K. Where do they go back and restart?

I see a lot of younger players (USSSA) 14U and under that wear jewelry (mostly necklaces), wrist bands, and a fit bit here and there, etc.. By the time they get to HS they have been wearing it (jewelry) for years...then for 4 years of HS they can't wear them...then they can wear them going forward (taking into consideration Sr. Azul's note).

I've had lots of youth games where I'm constantly reminding the catcher to take a step back, don't lunge for the ball over the plate, etc... I do it to try to avoid what happened in your game. So far no one has gotten hurt...but I get the occasional Catcher Interference.

Nice pics

I was doing a 9u or 10u rec game a couple years ago to help out and one of the coaches asked if I could talk to one of the boys (not his son) and his mom at home plate after the game with them facing the backstop. He wanted me to make something up "to give the boy some advice in front of his mom". I the field behind them, he had the rest of the boys line up with individual signs "Will You Marry Me".

We have tournaments where multiple teams in the same age group from the same organization will play in a tournament. The names might be different, but the uniforms can be similar in style and colors.

What age/level of games will he be doing? If it's younger 7/8/9u rec ball, I imagine his catcher chest protector would work fine.

This is a sister company of the company I work for does this: https://paymentspring.com/ They allow you to set up a 1 line url in your website to allow Credit Card, Check, both, or either as a payment option. For Credit Card, there's a percentage fee and transaction fee...I believe it's 2.9% and $.30 respectively Credit Card Example: on a $30 charge the fee would be $1.17 ($30 x .029) + .30 ACH (check) is only a .8% fee ACH Example: On a $30 charge the fee would be $.24 ($30 x .008) The website has video and I believe you can try it for free. It's supposed to be super easy to setup, configure and use. I have no idea if those fees are inline with other services. We are looking to replace our 600 Homeowner's Association dues collection where they mail checks into a PO Box and the poor treasurer (used to be me) has to continuously go to the post office and bank to collect and deposit the checks. I can put you in touch with the sales rep if you have any questions.

I wear Nike Pro tights. Base or plate. Hot or cold.

Then I'm coming out asking the PU why he's calling INT from his position when the BU (per the OP) is watching the play.

With 1 man behind the mound, I think check swings are harder to determine than behind the plate.

Umpired about 45 8U-14U games. Coached 22 games at 12U. Will have some fall ball coaching/umping opportunities as well.

I had an 8U tournament game a couple weeks ago....batter hits long fly ball down left field line. Defensive coach is on first base side. I'm straddling the line, ball hits the line bounces to foul territory. I point fair, runners are running...couple runs score. The Def coach comes out and starts to question how I could call that fair...it wasn't close...etc... All the parents on the defensive team sitting behind me yelled at the coach that it was fair. He sheepishly went back to the dugout.

Or they'll yell...scoot up to the plate...he's calling them outside.

I wear a HSM. I've enjoyed wearing one from day one. I've been hit everywhere in the front by batted balls and pitched balls not caught by the catcher without issues. I feel safe in it and to me it's comfortable to wear and easy to take on/off.

I had some games behind the mound. At plate meeting we discussed balls down each line and check swings...whatever I call is the call...even though other people (coaches) may have a better vantage point. That didn't stop some of the coaches complaining about the call. I just call time and remind them (in front of everyone) what we discussed at plate meeting. I also coach..12AAA USSSA boys...we had our state tournament this past weekend. We only got 1 ump (behind the mound) for pool and bracket games up to the semi-finals/finals, where they got 2 umps in normal position. We played in 4 tournaments. The first 3 were normal 2 man umpire for ALL games. The TD for state also runs other tournaments...his tournaments are 1 man from behind the mound even for some of the younger ages 8-10, 2 man for semis and finals. For the most part, especially lately, it's been back to normal. At 1 tournament, they removed all bleachers, but they have huge umbrella like shades and everyone packs in the shade.

Ok...when I read the OP, the umpire didn't call anything...so if he doesn't call it (based upon his judgement) you can't protest it. I guess that's what i was getting at.

Isn't obstruction/interference a judgement call? Can you really protest based on that? I thought you could only protest based upon rules interpretation.

Funny...I had almost the same situation the first weekend of umpiring with 8 year olds. Foul tip for the 3rd strike. I call the batter out. Coach: "That's a foul ball" Me: "No, that's a foul tip" Coach: "He hit it with his bat...foul ball." Me: "C'mon coach, you should know better than that" I'm always (but probably shouldn't be) surprised on how many people actually don't know the difference between foul tip and foul ball.

They need help doing base work too. Had a junior umpire (18) this weekend on the bases. Ground ball to 3B. Throw was close at first and he watched the play, then turned to me without making a call, like he was looking for me to tell him what it was. The coaches started chirping, which I told them to relax, called time and we got together and I explained that basically the bases are your call. (no, I didn't go into plate covering 3rd right then and there). And as a partner I can help with RLI, potential tags, and pulling of the foot. I told him he has to make a call. He called him safe. We discussed it more after the game.

In Nebraska for travel ball, it's basically normal except umpires are instructed not to handle baseballs, bats, catcher masks, etc...and to stay out of the dugouts. For travel ball, the umpires are in their normal positions for 1 or 2 man. For Rec ball, some if not all leagues are having the umpire behind the pitcher. In Omaha, the 2 umpire organizations I'm familiar with, 1 required a waiver and the other one did not. The kids and their equipment can be spread out utilizing the dugout, stands, or extended dugout down the baseline.

Not sure if this protects anyone but USSSA is making all guardians sign a waiver before they can participate. One of the local umpire association is asking umpires to sign a waiver.

It seems #6 needs another option like the mechanics does not need to be modified and the game needs to be played.

Nebraska is opening up youth baseball and softball. June 1 - practice can start June 18 - games can start Our state tournaments were pushed to the 2nd and 3rd weekends of July. Both with restrictions, which can be read here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/hn7gy2de7efaqhv/Baseball Softball Guidelines 5.11.20.pdf?dl=0 We're having a webex meeting with the 12U team I volunteer coach to review with the parents. I have mixed feelings...no baseball for LL, HS, College, MLB, but it's ok for 4/5-14 kids to practice and have games? There was nothing in the restrictions from the governor about umpires. I'm waiting to hear from our local umpire organizations to see if they are requiring us regarding masks, gloves, calling games behind the plate/mound.

I'm an IT guy as well working for the largest Student Load/Payment plans companies in the US. I'm a DBA and working towards AWS certification as we migrate to the cloud. Our whole team (which is spread all over the US) has been working from home since March 16. It's really no different than working in the office for me. My wife, like others, works for the school district part time. She is getting paid until the end of the school year without really doing very much (She works in the health office, ironically) I have 3 kids. Son - Sophomore in college. Son - Senior in H.S. Daughter - Freshman in H.S. The 2 boys had nice gigs working 30+ hours a week. Both were furloughed, but as Omaha opens up slowly, both are back to work. Which is good for them as boredom is a real thing. I feel sad for my Senior...no Prom, not Track/Field (where he was on course to go to State in 2-3 events and push school records), no graduation, no parties. I've been involved in coaching baseball since my boys were 4 and also involved (baseball equipment) in the organizations that ran baseball. Since they moved on Umpiring fills that void. I also have been a volunteer coach the past 3 years for a select ball club. Basically every day in spring/summer I was either attending games, coaching or umpiring for the past 17 years. This makes it the most weird for me...all the free time. I get to spend every night with my beautiful wife of almost 24 years. This pandemic has definitely made our relationship stronger...not that it was bad or anything before...just everyone going different directions all the time. My parents are both gone, but my in-laws have been retired for awhile, but are healthy and active and in town. Overall...I'm just going with the flow. It's hard to clearly see how this shakes out one way or another...or when or how. We'll all adjust to whatever the future brings.