New to Site

[LLWS#32]

Guys,

Like many of you I'm sure I like to kill time browsing officiating sites. Learned of this one from the "Umpires Resource Center" and have just realized that many of the login names are the same.

Been umpiring baseball at different levels for 17 years-started at age 15 (organizations ranging from FED in Virginia to Summer League Wooden Bat to LL). I have mainly concentrated on LL (volunteer status) for the last several years in an effort to finish up a life time dream of Williamsport which I did this past August. Have never cared that LL doesn't pay and by now wouldn't work in a LL that does. The WS was like a dream...working in front of large crowds on nat'l television on professionally manicured fields. Got the opportunity to work the plate on the Final also.

Started working FED football four years ago and baseball experiences especially with crew-mechanics and game management have helped tremendously.

Edited November 7, 2008 by LLWS#32

[Umpire in Chief]

Wow that's some great experience and an opportunity many really would envy (even if they don't admit it).

I have a question: Do you go through any training about the language barrier and how do you handle communicating with coaches who are not native English speakers?

I have had 2 games with separate Puerto Rican teams and they speak English fine, until they get upset then it's all Spanish..

[mstaylor]

That's a good question about the language barrior. I know when I did security on World Cup in '94, we had to go to class to teach us what was unacceptable or offensive to foreign teams and fans. Does LL do something similar?

[LLWS#32]

All of the non-English spreaking international teams at the LLWS have a full-time translator. As such, there is no real training for the umpires. You just go through the translator which goes more smoothly if the person also happens to know the game. Many of the "non-English" teams understand enough baseball English that entire games can go by without needing the help. Only three situations came up for me the entire tournament--the Curacao kids stayed on base after obvious force outs at second several times waiting to see a visual signal, trying to get Italy out of the dugout on time to meet the tv schedule between half-innings (this duty belongs to the first and third base umpires--something many people don't realize and can really take you out of your game) and trying to get the Mexico pitcher in the World Championship game to make eye-contact so a ball could be thrown out after after the previous ball was fouled into the stands.

Edited May 29, 2009 by LLWS#32

[Stan W.]

welcome to the site LLWS#32...!!

I'm sure you willl be an asset!!

Edited November 11, 2008 by Stan W.