First T-Ball Games

[JaxRolo]

There is a huge All_stars Tournament this week a a local park. They have like 8 Fields. The re are several age groups going on at the same time.

So the Assignor wants to rotate us around the different fields.

So I get 2 T-Ball Games last night.

I felt guilty taking the money.

1 coach tried to argue a close call. I told him to turn around and head back. He did.

The one great thing was the GLM's in the crowd. Plus the $35.00 a game.

[ukce1861]

I don't know which is sadder - that they have an All-Star tournament for T-Ball or that they pay an umpire $35...

If my kids were in that league, I'd be ticked about them wasting my money.

[Stan W.]

I don't know which is sadder - that they have an All-Star tournament for T-Ball or that they pay an umpire $35...

If my kids were in that league, I'd be ticked about them wasting my money.

agree on the T-ball allstars.....thats sad........but I'll never be mad they are paying umpires,.........Now, what do I agree with is that they think they need umpires for a t-ball tourney.........

[BrianC14]

agree on the T-ball allstars.....thats sad........but I'll never be mad they are paying umpires,.........Now, what do I agree with is that they think they need umpires for a t-ball tourney.........

Agreed.

On the ABUA forum there's a post about someone lamenting taking a T-Ball "All Stars" assignment.... and later in the thread he said teams had to pay $300 each to participate. Talk about fools and their money... what a travesty.

[catoblue]

Umpires for a T-Ball game?!!! $35 to call a T-Ball game?!!! T-Ball All Stars?! WOW. Now we know where all the excess disposable income is these days.

I'd almost feel guilty taking their money too....

NAH - I could use some new plate shoes - Schedule me for 3 games next Saturday please!!!!!! :HS

[semper_fi_72]

What a ridiculous idea.

T-Ball All-Stars.

I guess the Coach's selected to Coach the All-Stars weren't All-Star enough to call their own games as they should be doing all season wrong.

Please don't tell me this was Little League?

If it was please tell me what District it was so we can notify WP how stupid the District is.

We also have TOC and All-Stars coming up (No T-Ball) Minors, Majors, Junior and Senior. One of the requirements to work games for pay in our District was that when it comes to Tournament time, you work as a Volunteer or you won't be invited back next year. BTW it was $25 a game per umpire on a two man crew for Majors and up and $20 for minors.

I find this a very sad story that a league or district would go this far and that umpires would actually take money for a T-Ball game.

[JaxRolo]

What a ridiculous idea.

T-Ball All-Stars.

I guess the Coach's selected to Coach the All-Stars weren't All-Star enough to call their own games as they should be doing all season wrong.

Please don't tell me this was Little League?

If it was please tell me what District it was so we can notify WP how stupid the District is.

We also have TOC and All-Stars coming up (No T-Ball) Minors, Majors, Junior and Senior. One of the requirements to work games for pay in our District was that when it comes to Tournament time, you work as a Volunteer or you won't be invited back next year. BTW it was $25 a game per umpire on a two man crew for Majors and up and $20 for minors.

I find this a very sad story that a league or district would go this far and that umpires would actually take money for a T-Ball game.

This was a Babe Ruth Tournament. I don't personally have a problem with All-Stars. There has been T-Ball All-Stars around here for over 30 years.

I do agree that they do not need a payed Umpire to work these games. But they were going to pay somebody anyway so why not do it?

The way I see it is that last Saturday I worked 3 13U Games starting at 9:00am. With all the rain delays and Lighting delays. I didn't get home until 6pm. Very long day.

So getting and extra $70 for 2 tball games made up for my all day affair.

[HokieUmp]

We also have TOC and All-Stars coming up (No T-Ball) Minors, Majors, Junior and Senior. One of the requirements to work games for pay in our District was that when it comes to Tournament time, you work as a Volunteer or you won't be invited back next year. BTW it was $25 a game per umpire on a two man crew for Majors and up and $20 for minors.

I find this a very sad story that a league or district would go this far and that umpires would actually take money for a T-Ball game.

Why is that sad? The league sets a price, and is willing to pay. So why should an umpire not accept it? Do you really hate capitalism that much?

We understand that LL is "Volunteerism over All." (Doesn't stop Williamsport from making tons of money to run the show, and to sell the TV rights to ESPN, but that's another post for another time.) And we know that your District does the whole "One day, I will ask a favor of you, and you will do it for me" thing. Others don't. Does that make every District, other than yours, and the umpires that work there, bad people? I'd argue that it does not.

In our area, LLs are paying us something like $40 for Majors games. Some leagues want one of us, some leagues ask for two. Either way, they've made the determination that the people THEY CAN GET*** for less money, or free, just aren't as good as our guys. Your mileage may vary.

***That's not to generalize on volunteer umpires; it is a simple statement, economic or otherwise, that any people they've been able to volunteer to umpire just aren't that good. Or maybe they're not trainable to get better. Or maybe the people that run the leagues have too many other things in their lives to ALSO develop a training program whilst running the league itself.

[BrianC14]

Why is that sad? The league sets a price, and is willing to pay. So why should an umpire not accept it? Do you really hate capitalism that much?

We understand that LL is "Volunteerism over All." (Doesn't stop Williamsport from making tons of money to run the show, and to sell the TV rights to ESPN, but that's another post for another time.) And we know that your District does the whole "One day, I will ask a favor of you, and you will do it for me" thing. Others don't. Does that make every District, other than yours, and the umpires that work there, bad people? I'd argue that it does not.

In our area, LLs are paying us something like $40 for Majors games. Some leagues want one of us, some leagues ask for two. Either way, they've made the determination that the people THEY CAN GET*** for less money, or free, just aren't as good as our guys. Your mileage may vary.

***That's not to generalize on volunteer umpires; it is a simple statement, economic or otherwise, that any people they've been able to volunteer to umpire just aren't that good. Or maybe they're not trainable to get better. Or maybe the people that run the leagues have too many other things in their lives to ALSO develop a training program whilst running the league itself.

I think he's talking specifically about T-Ball needing/using paid umpires. I, too, find it patently ridiculous that T-Ball has an All-Star team, for starters... I mentioned earlier that there's a similar thread over at the ABUA site that stated the teams are charged $300 each to participate. Remember, this is T-Ball, for crying out loud. :jerkit:

[HokieUmp]

I think he's talking specifically about T-Ball needing/using paid umpires. I, too, find it patently ridiculous that T-Ball has an All-Star team, for starters... I mentioned earlier that there's a similar thread over at the ABUA site that stated the teams are charged $300 each to participate. Remember, this is T-Ball, for crying out loud.

Oh, I don't disagree. I've had some Pinto games this year, for once, and wondered what in the hell I was there for. I can only guess those levels of games ask for umpires because the various Daddy coaches fought with each other too much.

But if a league wants people, and will pay them, I would hope my association is out there to bid on them and get them for our guys. That's all.

Most of my thoughts were addressed to the rest of the post, with the way their district is run. It's basically extorting work out of people; I know that's a harsh word, but I'm too lazy right now to figure out another word in its place. Luckily, it's not a concern for me - our association doesn't cover that much LL.

[JaxRolo]

I think he's talking specifically about T-Ball needing/using paid umpires. I, too, find it patently ridiculous that T-Ball has an All-Star team, for starters... I mentioned earlier that there's a similar thread over at the ABUA site that stated the teams are charged $300 each to participate. Remember, this is T-Ball, for crying out loud.

If coaches and parents are stupid enough to Pay $300 or more for an All-Stars Tournament they might as well pay and Umpire to do the game. I will be glad to take the money!

Associations make a lot of money in concessions when they hold these tournaments. The T-Ball Fields are always the crowdest (is that a word?) All the parents, grandparents, siblings are all there.

[BrianC14]

If coaches and parents are stupid enough to Pay $300 or more for an All-Stars Tournament they might as well pay and Umpire to do the game. I will be glad to take the money!

Associations make a lot of money in concessions when they hold these tournaments. The T-Ball Fields are always the crowdest (is that a word?) All the parents, grandparents, siblings are all there.

Yeah, that's a real feather in the cap of anyone's umpiring career... T-Ball experience. :WTF

[dumbdumb]

The latest filings, open and go to page 7-8 schedule 990 Part VII, also schedule J page 2 & 3, you may or may not find that interesting, but at least you know.

http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2009/231/688/2009-231688231-05c0e121-9.pdf

Edited June 12, 2010 by dumbdumb

[semper_fi_72]

If coaches and parents are stupid enough to Pay $300 or more for an All-Stars Tournament they might as well pay and Umpire to do the game. I will be glad to take the money!

Associations make a lot of money in concessions when they hold these tournaments. The T-Ball Fields are always the crowdest (is that a word?) All the parents, grandparents, siblings are all there.

There is a difference between Umpiring and Umpiring to just take someone's money. To just take the money is not Umpiring, especially T-Ball.

When I work LL Minor games this season I always worked as a Volunteer.

I would not take a game fee unless it was Majors and above.

My way of giving back to the leagues and kids while assisting them with quality umpiring.

[kylejt]

But they were going to pay somebody anyway so why not do it?

Self respect.

[yawetag]

The latest filings, open and go to page 7-8 schedule 990 Part VII, also schedule J page 2 & 3, you may or may not find that interesting, but at least you know.

I see nothing earth-shattering. A CEO making $300k a year isn't too bad.

[semper_fi_72]

Self respect.

That's the answer I was looking for.

Well said.

[jnazz]

Helping kids and calling safes and outs (as a volunteer) is one thing. Having a paid umpire on the field at a T-ball game is another. Adults do not umpire T-ball, period. I can see financially supporting 1st year umpires as a training method in T-ball (which was posted in another thread earlier), as long as the league knows the developmental aspect of the assignments. On the other hand, experienced umpires, making money, working T-ball is rediculious.

[JaxRolo]

There is a difference between Umpiring and Umpiring to just take someone's money. To just take the money is not Umpiring, especially T-Ball.

When I work LL Minor games this season I always worked as a Volunteer.

I would not take a game fee unless it was Majors and above.

My way of giving back to the leagues and kids while assisting them with quality umpiring.

Everyone's situation is different. Maybe doing free games is your way of giving back and that is perfectly fine.

My situation is that I give all I can to the American Cancer Society. I have 2 members with cancer one of which is having major surgery tomorrow to try to remove some of the cancer and hopefully live a little longer.

So do not be quick to judge why others do things that are not like you do them.

I do not take the money just to take it. I love the the game of baseball. Been involved pretty much my whole life with me playing as a kid and my 2 sons playing from t-ball through High School.

[JaxRolo]

Self respect.

WOW It has nothing to do with self-respect. I enjoyed doing those games. I brought me back to when my boys played t-ball. It was one of the best times of our lives.

Some of the kids talked to me about being a real umpire and I had a lot of fun.

If you don't want to work t-ball then dont but don't flame me for it. In all likely-hood it won't happen again but I will not refuse to do it if asked.

[JaxRolo]

I worked the 14u championship game on Sunday. The t-ball championship was being played on the field next to us an they had 2 umps working that game.

I work with the coach that won that game. He praised the umps. Said the kids felt like big kids with real umps.

[th3]

self respect? thats insulting....for whatever reason leagues pay professional umpires, and for whatever reason umps choose to accept or not accept pay - who are you (whoever it was) to question it?