Interesting Volleyball ref

[Umpire in Chief]

My daughter plays rec league volleyball. Our league only has 1 referee, he is a former coach in the league a local business owner and a good guy overall, and everybody knows him. My daughter and his daughter are friends.

While I don't call volleyball, I have my share of rec league baseball. Maybe its the relaxed environment, maybe it's because we live in a very friendly area where everybody seems to know everybody (my entire county has <30,000 people) or who knows what, but this ref has done more than a few things I would never dream of as a baseball umpire.

After one of our matches last week we took my daughter to 7-11 for a celebratory Slurpee. We're there and in comes the ref and sees my daughter still in her uniform and makes an announcement to the somewhat crowded store about how great my daughter did. I thought it was funny and my daughter ate it up.

Then between sets on Tuesday he turns around on the stand and addresses the crowd saying, "If anybody has any rules questions or any questions about a call please feel free to come up and ask between sets or after the match."

On Wednesday, my daughter's team had their toughest game of the season to date. They lost the lead in the second set for about a minute. The first time all season they didn't have the lead. But they didn't give the lead back the rest of the night. After all was said and done, the girls are celebrating and doing their cheers and living it up and they are leaving the court the ref is giving the girls high 5s and hugs (not in a creepy way at all - just friendly) and telling them good job.

But, as an umpire I'd never even dream of doing any of these things. The most I ever to is "Good block catch." or make a comment to the catcher about a great play by the defense. If a catcher wants to shake my hand I will, but nothing more.

I just find his style interesting and it works for this level and these circumstances.

[mstaylor]

Youth sports, especially in small areas, can be interesting. You can do and say things that would never work in another area. The person has a lot to do with it. I talk to the crowd way more than I should but I seem to be able to get away with it.

[Dannytheman]

In my home league I am very close to many of the families. I see them at church, at fairs, at the supermarket, post office and around town. This time of year I see them at Football games.

I am always approachable and gregarious. While I will not talk about an umps bad call, I will talk rules with anyone interested in hearing about them. I am always happiest when I hear the now deep voice of a now young man say I had a positive influence on him. As the UIC I am always recruiting. When I am traveling and umping at other leagues, I am a by the rules ump. But home is where my heart is.