<acronym title='Infield fly'>IFF</acronym> ?

[stl_ump]

10u rec ball... and lower level rec ball at that.

No outs and there is a pop up on the infield... no one catches it.

After the play is over, one of the kids yells out to no one in particular that it was an infield fly.

Almost immediatley, F3 tell s the kid he is wrong and proceeds to quote the IFF rule almost word for word.

I tell F3 he ought to be an umpire. He just looks at me with a big grin on his face and slaps his glove a couple of times and goes back to playing ball.

[cyclonehokiece]

Keep the kid in mind and try to contact him in a couple of years to see if he would want a summer job calling some ball. Seems like a good candidate.

[umpcoachfather]

but it was an infield fly. Fly ball to the infield.

[poppyfor3]

Priceless! Get him to a clinic ASAP.

Along the lines of sharp players, I had a same age catcher watch a run score on bases loaded walk, " Blue, he missed home plate." I replied, "Yes, he did." I dusted the plate and said " The ball is alive. The ball is alive." He didn't pick up on it. Between innings I taught both sides how to appeal. Coach of the kid praised him big time.

I so wanted to reward this boy. Had his head in the game all day and caught everything he could.

[umpcoachfather]

Thats a good story poppy - how are we to act in that situation? Do you honor his "not a true" appeal? do you do what you did? Do you tell him to tell his coach? Although you pointed it out to him, most kids that age wouldnt know what to do in that sit. and if we honor it, you know its gonna blow up.

Do you say, "so the ball is live - do you know what to do?" do you keep probing him until he appeals? Love to get some take aways on this.

[KLAH316]

but it was an infield fly. Fly ball to the infield.

I heard a parent yelling that the other day with R1/R3 and 2 outs..... I was laughing to myself about that the rest of the game!

[stl_ump]

I never respond yes or no. I just say "he did? I don't want to be put in a position to make it look like I'm helping out one side or the other. (Regardless of the skill level.) But that's just me.

[umpcoachfather]

I just tell people their needs to be a force at third and less than 2 outs. I don't get into the ordinary effort thing with them.

[poppyfor3]

The comment was a straight forward remark. I never expected a 9 year old to be that aware. I was in No Man's Land as an umpire. Usually,when this happens, I wait to tell a coach after the inning since this level is a learning curve for the kids AND coaches. I felt the best ( and "fairest") was a subtle hint. Anybody who works this level that has an idea on how to deal with this unique situation, I really would appreciate the feedback. Maybe the best thing that came out of this was the big smile on his face from the coach's high praise.

[umpcoachfather]

I'm thinking catch -22. Stay out of it and do what you did. Maybe next time you have a game with that kid, ask him about another rule. If he gets it right start grooming him for PBUC. If he makes it to the bigs, maybe he'll slip you some cash.

[Dragon29]

Had a player approach my partner & I in the parking lot after a game this past weekend. Wanted to ask a question about one of the calls I made. (a balk for blowing through the stop) Well, I know he didn't pitch in this game or the game before, so I'm wondering why he cares so much, but I answer him. Then he says he has a couple more questions.

At first, I'm thinking, "Oh, no - this is not going to be good." and I'm thinking about shutting him down when he tells us he umpires for his local LL and wanted to make sure he understood everything we did out there. We held about a 15-minute rules/mechanics clinic w/this kid. It was great!

[James Walker]

This is why I talk to people after the game if they come up to me calm and collected. You never know if its someone who just wants to learn. You never know, you might have sparked something and there is always room for a educated, enthusiastic umpire. That's how I got my start so many years ago.