love to ump

gotta give some love to the catcher backing you up!...so many times in youth baseball, they are the sharpest baseball mind on the team

love the Bob & Doug reference....I am in Edmonton, birthplace of that SCTV comic skit...we actually have a park bench statue of those two in our downtown.... Ahhh..Poutine...now it's gone all crazy, with exotic versions

beer guys explanation of "force" being the status of runner really works well...I had a "trainer" last spring in LL clinic getting confused on what constitutes a timing play, he was stuck on the myth of tagging the base for the force.

but we do have BEAR PAW snacks by Dare...not available in USA

Don't get me started on Oreo's....when me and wife take roadtrips to Montana...we have to check out Walmart for different editions of Oreo that might not make to the Great White North...the grandkids expect it now.

you are correct..no run scored

Canada: No highschool ball, just LL and men's league....oops, just remembered they pay me in Canadian pesos, and hurts my head to figure the difference!

you must have missed the "news" story of the father and son who drove many hours from the USA to Canada to load up on KETCHUP chips...

Hello All, This forum seems to feel ignored, so thought I would throw up some thoughts. Besides LL, I do a small 4 team men's rec league in western Canada....and find it way more fun. #1..Playing in a former Triple A Ballpark #2.. Of course you get the usual whining on calls and zones...but for the most part, they are just happy you are there. #3.. Catcher's protect you much better than LL. #4..LL for grown men....you get the WOW plays...and you get UGH plays....best players playing the key positions and trying to hide the worst guys in right field. Yeah, the score is important, but individual glory many times rules the day.....had a few games end where some guys thinks he can steal a base or stretch a single, when his team is down by 4! Before becoming member on Ump-Empire I had posted in the spring, asking for ideas in helping to refine rules for the league....replies and ideas I got were great.

think I saw it on different topic post about equipment checks.... then versus now....I do remember an umpire who wanted to do a cup check with a bat...very few if girls played back then....but still....I sure hope he wasn't driving the white van!

the shortage of Umpires is also a change. Do not remember have any teen umpires back in the "old days". Our district is doing a pretty good job recruiting them....because without them the shortage would be dire...lacking adult umpires....becomes issue during some crazy tourney schedules.

Changes...oh yeah Skill level down in younger ages....blame it on Covid. Police checks and anti-bullying training....good things, but new to me. Pitch counts...when I coached, I had 2 pitchers to trust (one my son, of course)...so they pitched till there arm fell off! Too many games!!!....not sure if this is bragging or admitting insanity...tourney had 90 minute games, in 2 hour windows..I did 6 games a day in a row on Wed/Thurs and Saturday.....thank Jesus for rain on Friday...and yes I am sixty plus...and yes I still ache......but shows what an umpire shortage there is when you have a weekday tourney.

I too came back to the Umpire fold in 2022 after a 20 plus year gap from coaching/umpiring. The name thing, I think is good....respect the coach who makes the effort to get it and use it. Story from just last week...did way too many games over a 4 day period for an tourney ...U15 & U18 Gold medal team in U15....the coach got my name and used it.....and here's a first for me..the starting pitcher and catcher combo, introduced themselves pre-game as I handed them the game ball.