New from Glocester Rhode Island

[scobes7]

Hello all,

Just found this website while doing a search for clinics in our state...which I found none.

Background info:

40 years old.. married...Father of a son (3 months )...LOL

Started umpiring again 3 years ago after doing it in my teens. Needed to cut down on my softball play (4 teams ) but wanted to fill the void. I hooked up with our local little league and started umpiring. To my surprise, the Umpire-in-Chief decided that it was time to move on and devote more time to his girls.

This lead to the shocker....I was nominated to the little league board in our town to fill the position of Umpire-in-Chief. I accepted after much consideration and am in the process of serving my second year in this position.

I umpire all little league play (baseball,softball) along with junior baseball and big league. I have been chosen to work all-star games last year and also hooked up with an excellent partner whom was able to get us some JV highschool games in another town. Needless to say, that this has wetted my appetite to push myself. I believe that you must be qualified to work Varsity games? am I correct? I believe that you must test with Fed in our state?

I would love to start working on this qualification but do not know how to go about it or who to contact. Would anybody have a contact or knowledge of what to do in the state of Rhode Island?

I would appreciate the help in furthering my goals.

Can't wait for the new year to start...itching to get back out there.

Thanks,

Steve

[Stan W.]

Welcome back to Umpring........

40 and a 3 month old son.!..............congrats.!!!....

[Umpire in Chief]

Steve welcome aboard. Umpiring is a great way to fill that void you mentioned.

As for associations in RI I found this: http://aburi.org/ now I have no Idea if they are one of many and what quality, but its a start.

Thanks again for registering,

[scobes7]

Welcome back to Umpring........

40 and a 3 month old son.!..............congrats.!!!....

It's been a long hard struggle for the both of us...doctors and hospital were fantastic...the payoff was amazing. :clap:

[Stan W.]

It's been a long hard struggle for the both of us...doctors and hospital were fantastic...the payoff was amazing.

Agreed.!!.........been 22 years since my son was 3 months.........an amazing ride awaits you..............best wishes.........

[scobes7]

Agreed.!!.........been 22 years since my son was 3 months.........an amazing ride awaits you..............best wishes.........

Wow...can't amagine that...let's see that would make me 62 when my son is 22...oh my God..

We are lucky around here in that all little league ball pays the umpires working the games....I guess it is my small reward for putting in all the hours it takes being the Umpire-in-Chief.

I was lucky in that I got noticed by our district umpire-in-chief and asked to do a bunch of important games come all-stars and districts. Always loved the game and I am a baseball fan...although my wife says that fan actually stands for fanatic...LOL

I want to pursue this and see where it takes me.

It amazes me how many on here whom have said that they will never work little league games...I think it is a treat to get to umpire and watch the kids at their young ages. To see the improvement from year to year and the enjoyment of the game for them is priceless!

Edited January 21, 2009 by scobes7

[Majordave]

National Federation of High Schools website: www.nfhs.org

Rhode Island Interscholastic League website: http://www.riil.org

the Rules & Regs link on the right side of the page. Article 9 Officials.

e-mail links on the RIIL website should help you get in contact with the right people.

Good luck.

[scobes7]

Thank you very much for the help..

[catoblue]

Welcome aboard!!!! I'm in a similar sitchas you -lots of LL umping, looking to eventually move up... only still have one more year to coach my youngest in LL before I will be available to call HS games.

Good luck, and keep us posted on your quest!

[scobes7]

Welcome aboard!!!! I'm in a similar sitchas you -lots of LL umping, looking to eventually move up... only still have one more year to coach my youngest in LL before I will be available to call HS games.

Good luck, and keep us posted on your quest!

Very nice. We have umpire registrations going on right now...busy time of year. Then the fun begins....teaching young kids about umpiring...:clap:

[Stan W.]

It amazes me how many on here whom have said that they will never work little league games...I think it is a treat to get to umpire and watch the kids at their young ages. To see the improvement from year to year and the enjoyment of the game for them is priceless!

Scobes,

I think for a portion of us, me included , it is more of a "been there, done that" sort of thing.......when just starting out most everyone did low level youth games (LL BR, PONY ect) to get established as an umpire....

I think a good many of us still do some youth ball to this day albeit maybe a bit higher than the little kids.....(13-14, 15-16, pony colt JR legion) .....and I still do a few lower level games with probationary umpires as a teaching tool....

I have had my moments of enjoyment having done youth ball........Ive also had enough of the bad side of kiddie ball to make sure I will never completely return to the low youth leagues....

Just my .02....

[scobes7]

Scobes,

I think for a portion of us, me included , it is more of a "been there, done that" sort of thing.......when just starting out most everyone did low level youth games (LL BR, PONY ect) to get established as an umpire....

I think a good many of us still do some youth ball to this day albeit maybe a bit higher than the little kids.....(13-14, 15-16, pony colt JR legion) .....and I still do a few lower level games with probationary umpires as a teaching tool....

I have had my moments of enjoyment having done youth ball........Ive also had enough of the bad side of kiddie ball to make sure I will never completely return to the low youth leagues....

Just my .02....

Absolutely,no doubt that the little one's games can be tough....but we must remember it is always about the kids..:WTF

[Majordave]

I disagree that it is about the kids. Most kids now think the whole world revolves around them. Look how their parents cater to them and provide every imaginable thing for the little darlings even if they don't really need them.

For me, it is about THE GAME. Nothing but the game. The players and coaches and especially the parents must adjust and capitulate to the rules and customs and traditions of the game. If I am the umpire that is all that matters and all that I will allow. The reason I don't like doing anything under 14 year olds is that the parents are the adults that are most involved with that age group. They indulge the kids too much, indulge their own fantasy and relive their youth too much and take every play and call way too seriously. I played it, my kid played it, I coached it and I have umpired it. IT being the monster known as Little League Baseball (Cal Ripken and any other under 13 league included). It IS a monster that has been created. You cannot deny it.

There are some happy moments and some great things. Almost everyone who works and plays into high school age and beyond started out there so the love of THE GAME begins at Little League age for most but the reality now is that it is way out of control at most parks and in most leagues. I have not seen one that does not have more screaming, arguing, temper tantrums, ejections, etc. than not.

Sorry but your "for the kids" comment is a cliche for me that gets way over used. You struck a nerve. I am sure your intentions are good. Do a few higher level high school and Legion/College level games and then come back and let us know how you feel.

My two cents. Your mileage may vary.

[scobes7]

I have done some HS JV and some adult rec games and see just as much BS if not worse that what goes on in LL...Only stating that it is nice to see a kid who has struggled all year at the plate finally get that one big hit and to see the parents, coach and kids cheer him on while he is smiling a mile wide.

I feel that I can expose them to the umpiring side of the game as well...if they remember, hey that umpire was cool and did his job well, they might think about giving it a try themselves...

I played my college ball back in the late 80's and still to this day love the game,not that it felt like a game back then. When I do play adult rec leagues from time to time...I know whats its like for blue and can only laugh and smile.

To this day, it is a game and saying that someone will not work the lower leagues is just depriving them of good quality umpiring and someone who can have a positive influence on them.

Besides, it is funny to listen to the coaches and parents spit out their stupid thoughts...I just think to myself,been there and said that myself over 20 some years ago.

Sorry to have hit a nerve..just comments for thought.

Please remember that as Umpire-in-chief for the town...it is my duty to actively recruit youngsters and adults to get involved with umpiring.

Edited January 22, 2009 by scobes7

[Majordave]

I appreciate your comments and your position. You are correct but my personality just doesn't suffer fools very well and the parents and daddy coaches just get to me. Too close to the fans I guess.

[mstaylor]

I am like many here, I started in LL as a teenage, moved up the ranks and now call HS and college. I am the interpreter for my group but I still enjoy going back and doing the 60ft games. I can't do a lot because I can't justify my preseason expenses and volunteering. I still teach LL guys and am well known in those ranks. I generally don't have a problem with coaches because I've been around and they know I won't hesitate to dump them. Of course, I can't remember ever dumping a 60 ft manager. I have gotten rid a quite a few Jr and SR managers. Overall I still enjoy it.

[willv28]

Hi, I'm new too. But don't live far from you. Nice to meet you.

[scobes7]

Hi, I'm new too. But don't live far from you. Nice to meet you.

Nice to have you here. Where abouts?? I still need umpires.....

[widac]

Please remember that as Umpire-in-chief for the town...it is my duty to actively recruit youngsters and adults to get involved with umpiring.

You are the UIC for a whole town? That's pretty awsome.

[AirForceBlue]

Hello all:

I'm a third year ump and I've been bitten by the ump bug--hard. Three years ago I was pulled out of the stands by the local LL Chief Umpire after hearing how his volunteer umpire pool was at condition critical. The next night I was on the bases and two weeks later I was behind the plate with an Air Force B4bag full of hand-me-down equipment.

I'm still getting started and I haven't worked anything beyond a 60 foot base. I know some of you will laugh at that, but I'm not interested in getting paid, I'm interested in performing a much-needed service for my community. I also believe the little guys look up to a clean cut, sharp, no-nonsense umpire. I'd like to coach, but as an airline pilot and a Lt Col in the Air Force Reserve, my schedule is way too unpredictable to be a coach, certainly a head coach. But it's amazing, our local LL ump scheduler always has an opening on a weeknight or a Saturday. Call me crazy.

I'm be asking you all lots of questions, so help a brother out. Nice to meet you all.

AFB

[Umpire in Chief]

Welcome aboard AFB! Don't worry you won't catch heat here about being happy being volunteer Little League Umpire. The world needs them and while they often catch a bad rap because many personify Smitty just see the training the videos that are posted here. But there are some very good ones.

[mstaylor]

Welcome AFB. Many guys that have umpired at many levels and have moved up the ranks don't like to work 60ft. Understand that for most that it isn't that they feel they are too good to work that level but a problem having to justify the investment in equipment and training.

[scobes7]

You are the UIC for a whole town? That's pretty awsome.

Yes I am....awesome....I don't know....we have 168 games scheduled in the next two months....and only myself to schedule and pay umpires...:agasp_:

[widac]

Yes I am....awesome....I don't know....we have 168 games scheduled in the next two months....and only myself to schedule and pay umpires...

What level are the games that you assign?

[scobes7]

All the way from AAA baseball to major to junior/senior and big league baseball....along with two divisions of fastpitch softball (major & junior).