10U Adventures

[Daniel]

I must have made my assignor pissed off happy. Three nights in a row this week I was offered 10U solo travel ball games, and being the loyal umpire I am, accepted the assignments.

While nothing new, it never ceases to amaze me the lack of REALLY BASIC rules knowledge these coaches/parents have. Tonight I had a pop-up to an infielder that was caught, but IMO dropped when thrown to the pitcher, i.e. I have a catch. Everyone looks at me like I am nuts ruling a catch, and 3B coach says something to the effect of - "But blue, its gotta be in her glove to be a catch!"

A few innings later the same team was a bat and one of their batters bunted one that stopped inside the fair portion of the batter's box. Of course I point fair, and they throw it first for an out. Another coach this time from their dugout yells "Blue it never left the batters box!! That's a foul ball!"

As I am exiting at the end of the game, I am greeted by an older gentleman who introduced himself as an experienced Little League coach and umpire. He promptly tells me that the ball was infact foul as the foul lines do not extend back to the plate. He also said it was NOT a catch by the infielder on play #1. I tried very hard not to enguage him and say - "Perhaps that is why you're still umpiring LL games?"

Wish me luck, I have one more of these games tomorrow night, and I believe one of the same teams as tonight is playing.

[cyclonehokiece]

No one should be confronting you after a game, just keep walking to where you need to be next (hopefully the car or umpire's room if you are lucky). If it is a problem, let the assignor know, this should be addressed by the league.

[johnnyg08]

He promptly tells me that the ball was infact foul as the foul lines do not extend back to the plate. He also said it was NOT a catch by the infielder on play #1.

Douche. I always remind myself to not walk up to random umpires and inject myself into conversation about their games.

[24sdad]

Whenever I pass a crew exiting my son's game, or any other game I am a spectator at, I always make it a point to speak to them....and I always tell them the same thing: thanks for coming out, working hard and good job. Whether they think I am a quack or not, whether they suck or not, they always get my thanks. Funny thing, my son was in Arizona at the 16u JO's and retrieved a foul ball while he was on deck. The PU held up his hand for him to toss him the ball. Instead, my son run up to him and handed him the ball. He has been taught to respect the boys in blue and knows I will tolerate nothing less.

[T-Rav]

Whenever I pass a crew exiting my son's game, or any other game I am a spectator at, I always make it a point to speak to them....and I always tell them the same thing: thanks for coming out, working hard and good job. Whether they think I am a quack or not, whether they suck or not, they always get my thanks. Funny thing, my son was in Arizona at the 16u JO's and retrieved a foul ball while he was on deck. The PU held up his hand for him to toss him the ball. Instead, my son run up to him and handed him the ball. He has been taught to respect the boys in blue and knows I will tolerate nothing less.

We need more parents and umpires like you. I always thank the umpires or say a positive comment on any game I am a spectator at when they pass by me.

[johnnyg08]

Instead, my son run up to him and handed him the ball.

This is my new conquest in my area. One team at a time hopefully for all of my umpire colleagues up here, but I can't drive that change, at least they'll run them out to me when I'm on the stick.

[umpcoachfather]

I do the same at games, usually all the parents know I'm an ump so they always ask me my take when a call goes against them, I always say "he made the right call". On all judgement calls.

If they ask I tell them the rule, if I feel they are getting unruly and are wrong about a rule, I tell them, usually, sometimes they are so wrong I let it go because they just sound dumb, and as an ump I enjoy that.

If a friend of mine is umping, and he makes a basic call, usually a clear foul ball, I sometimes will yell out "Great call BLUE!!!" Just to see him smile.

As for the above when someone follows me after a game, such as the old timer above, I would have said, "I appreciate your feedback, if you would please follow me to my truck, I will show you the field diagram and all the rules around fair and foul balls. We can discuss them while I change"

[johnnyg08]

As for the above when someone follows me after a game, such as the old timer above, I would have said, "I appreciate your feedback, if you would please follow me to my truck, I will show you the field diagram and all the rules around fair and foul balls. We can discuss them while I change"

Yeah but those people already think they're right.

[Welpe]

As for the above when someone follows me after a game, such as the old timer above, I would have said, "I appreciate your feedback, if you would please follow me to my truck, I will show you the field diagram and all the rules around fair and foul balls. We can discuss them while I change"

There is no way in hades I am inviting a fan back to my car to discuss rules and mechanics. Maybe that's just me.

[ukce1861]

I had a guy tell me the other day after a game that he umpired college baseball for 25 years and he just wanted to help me out.

[umpcoachfather]

pointing out their ignorance would be well worth it.