Kais

Yep, same here, just wouldn't load up. Glad to get in right now.

Yep. Like that.

For the 9U, and it's their first time pitching, it's the way to go. Strikes give pitchers confidence.

Our local league, 9U, no leadoff, no leaving base until ball is touched or goes past catcher, no U3K, and, thankfully, 5 runs per side at bat limit. Also, we tell the coaches at the pre-game meeting, "strike zone will be generous, but not ridiculous." Helps make the games go along much better. At 10U, full on baseball rules. It's always fun, though, to watch the circus come to town on the uncaught 3K when 1B is occupied with less than 2 outs. Actually, it's hysterical from my point of view!

I'm with a small, independent recreational league, about 80+ teams, spring (650 games)and fall (450 games), TBall up to HS age. I was once UIC, after a few years passed that on to someone else. We recruit, train, try to retain, assign, pay and monitor performance of our umpires. We are a stepping stone to the local High School Umpire Association, which about 20% of our umpires eventually succeed to. For our UIC it's a constant job to do all that to have umpires for the games. In my 20 some years with this league, I don't believe anyone from coaches down to the parents have ever asked about how the magic happens. If I did have the opportunity to explain it, it would be along those lines adding in just how much time our UIC puts in to assure every game will have the required number of umpires assigned and also maintaining a roster of quality umpires for this level.

Local leagues, low level tournaments, I'd say probably ok for short visit that doesn't slow the game down. High School and up, best to not have visitors during game. True story - I'm on plate of a 12U local league game. Between half innings I'm up toward team coming to bat side, I hear a voice from beyond the fence - "Blue". I ignore. Again, "blue", I ignore. Third time, same scenario. Then... KAISER! Yep, it's my wife! She had stopped by the park to ask me about something she had to go do. I wasn't expecting her. The folks in the bleachers got a pretty good laugh on that one.

Sometimes, not just youth league. Went to an ASU game yesterday, about 8 or so umpires behind the screen who questioned the HP umpire on every close one that didn't go the way they wanted. Finally, I just had to speak up. On an obvious ball, I called out "looked good from here, blue....45' away from the plate, with an impossible angle, 18' up in the stands." 😄 At least the other 8 stayed quiet the rest of the way. I think HP chuckled at that one.