Youth Rec games: do you call them?

[Umpire in Chief]

Some of the recent posts got me thinking about this:

Do you call youth rec games? Why or why not?

I call them, and yes, by all means I prefer the higher levels of ball. But I have tremendous loyalty and trust in my assignor. He needs me there so, that's where I'll go. I know I'll get another "big boy" game shortly. In the past year I've worked LL Majors and PONY Bronco games with NCAA D-I umpires in my association. I even did the district Pinto championship with a NCAA D-I umpire. I think that's just the attitude in our association. You'd probably never see a "big boy" again if you turned back a youth game because you wanted something better.

Gotta go Tony Thompson just read my experiences above and is begging me to work the dish for both the SEC & ACC championship games... I hate having to keep telling him no.

All kidding aside I think it's somewhat good for people because at the youth level they continually do things to keep you on your toes and you will apply rules you never thought you would. They don't know or attempt to make the "correct play" like R3, 2 outs, routine ground ball to F6, who naturally TRIES TO MAKE A PLAY ON R3 and ends up getting neither. These youth games can really sharpen your skills. Especially timing. If you can develop good timing in these games it will really help with the "big boys."

[LMSANS]

I don't like to work the smaller field for baseball. I don't feel comfortable with the mechanics and I don't want to learn another set of rules variations.

The LL (jr and sr) I work uses teens for the small field games. They also will partner an older teen (17 +) with me on the juniors. The kids are pretty well trained and hold their own. Coaches are pretty tame most of the time.

[BrianC14]

I do not, because I prefer the higher levels.

[UmpJM]

Warren,

Depending on what you mean by "youth rec", as a rule I do not work these games.

My community's youth rec baseball program uses youth umpires. My wife happens to be the assignor. Now, if she ever were "stuck" to cover a game, I would do it - because I'm not stupid (not that stupid, anyway). So far, that hasn't happened.

A neigboring community runs a "Colt" and "Sr. Colt" rec league for HS and older kids. I do a couple dozen of these games a year - primarily to help out a guy who helped me to get started umpring who has been involved with the program for a long time, the games are fairly easy for me to get to, and I know a fair number of the kids who play in the league.

Thankfully, my association is getting away from assigning games for youth rec leagues, though there are still a few clients in that category. If my assignor is stuck for one of these games and I am able to work it, I'll do it in a heartbeat. But I certainly don't go "looking" for them.

During the summer & fall, I'll do a fair number of U14 & U13 "travel" games. Between leagues & tournaments, I did 30 of those last year. A few of these programs are pretty good (in terms of the quality of baseball played for players that age) and I enjoy those games.

Generally though, like Brian, I find I tend to enjoy working the "upper level" games more, even though I am fairly new to umpiring. Since my primary motivation in umpiring is to have fun, I tend to gravitate towards the games I think I'll enjoy the most - which for me tends to be the highest level I can get.

Of course last year, one of the most enjoyable games I did was a 10U game. This was an "exhibition game" held during last year's USSSA World Series between a team from Puerto Rico and a "local" team that did not qualify for the tournament and that had never played a game with lead-offs, balks, 3rd strike not caught, etc. Worked it two man with a guy in his late twenties who had been to the Evans five-week school. Basically did it as a favor to the TD. We both had a blast working the game - despite the constant heckling we got from our colleagues coming off the "big boy" fields passing on their way to the umpires' area.

So I have no disdain or disrespect for those who do work those games, its just not my thing.

I kind of agree with your comments about "keeping you on your toes" because "the unexpected" can be expected in these games, and you're much more likely to have to apply some of the more arcane rules of the game. And, of course, there's the pure entertainment value of some of the screwy "local rules" they come up with - I couldn't even make up some of the screwy stuff I've seen!

On the downside, I honestly believe it can have a detrimental affect on the quality and consistency of one's strike zone for upper level games.

JM

Edited January 23, 2009 by UmpJM
Additional comments.

[BrianC14]

...So I have no disdain or disrespect for those who do work those games, its just not my thing.

...

On the downside, I honestly believe it can have a detrimental affect on the quality and consistency of one's strike zone for upper level games.

JM

My feelings to a "T".

[catoblue]

It's all I work these days (for many years).

Way back in the salad days of my youth, I used to work some LL Sr league games, along with some beer league softball for extra cash, but for the most part, it's been all LL.

[Stan W.]

Warren,

So I have no disdain or disrespect for those who do work those games, its just not my thing.

On the downside, I honestly believe it can have a detrimental affect on the quality and consistency of one's strike zone for upper level games.

JM

Its a bit like I added in the other thread...I have "been there, done that"....nothing detrimental in that comment, its just I prefer the higher levels. It has a lot to do with the quality of the players, coaches and the actual play...not to mention the parents.....

On the second quote, I absolutely agree..... a few years ago I did a HS varsity game where I was on the money, great zone, good rotations, game mgmt...felt really good about my performance.....it was a nice capper of a week or so of good quality HS games...

One of my assignors was at the game and asked me to do a PONY league game with a candidate so he could watch me do the plate......long story short...I stunk up the joint...timing, blinks, flow ....not only that game, but it seemed to take me at least 2 more games back at the HS level to get back on track.....I still do PONY, COLT, Legion in the summer....but only after my higher schedule is complete....

Just a note on assignors......I have about 4 of them....if they need me and Im available.......I'll help them out....most of my assignors will fit the games to the umpire, but often will need an umpire to move up or down a level to get a game in......when he gives me an UP, I owe him a down.......

[PeteBooth]

Some of the recent posts got me thinking about this:

Do you call youth rec games? Why or why not?

Warren my answer is:

As long as they pay market rates.

With the exception of BIG LEAGUE which my assignor has the contract for I do not umpire LL anymore. First and foremost my schedule does not allow for it unless I want to give up a $60.00 game FEE.

I agree with JM in that it becomes difficult to get a good consistent strike zone when going from Rec ball to say a CBL (Collegiate Wood Bat League) game because you go from seeing pitches in the 40-50 mph range to the 80-90 mph range and that is an adjustment HOWEVER,

IMO, for most umpire associations LEGION (we get approximately 50 -60 games in the summer plus another 12-16 games in the Fall plus tournaments) and REC Ball (By Rec ball I mean all age groups from rug-rats to 16 and 17 yr. olds, we get the Spring/Summer and Fall Season, Playoffs and Tournaments) are the "Bread and Butter" Leagues

Therefore, if you only want to work higher level games there is not enough to go around "for everyone" and the REC Leagues (excluding LL) pay market rates so we have a decent Spring/Summer and Fall scehedule to keep everyone who is availabale very busy.

I equate the aforementioned to any BUSINESS. In the Casino business they have their BIG Clients but it's the every-day bus crowd that they also need. They cannot survive on BIG Clients alone.

For the most part my days for working games for FREE are over. I did "my time". I was involved in my local LL organization in just about every capacity for 10-11 yrs. I had to umpire my kids games which is something I regret doing

In Summary: As long as I have work and get paid market rates for my service I do not fuss or have "an ego" that says I will only do upper ball.

In fact there is nothing like doing a 10-11 yr. old Double DIP. This age group plays 6 innings with the Mercy rule. For 6 inning games we charge $50.00 per game. I have done many a Double Header in less then 3 hours and was paid $100.00 for my time.

I realize FEE structure varies with location. I live in New York so our rates are on the high side becasue of the cost of living.

Pete Booth

[Jeff C.]

Yes I work youth games in our local community. We use adults on the dish and kids on the bases. Our teams our U10, U12 & U13 all PONY affiliated. It is tough getting a good strike zone but I enjoy the games and it certainly keeps you on your toes. I don't make a whole lot ($25/game) but I give it my best for the kids.

[scobes7]

For our little league games. Pu=$35 Bu=25..usually a kid... this includes the softball portion.

Junior and big league get $40 for plate and 30 for bases.

[jim knight]

I do not work the youth (10 to 15) games... we really dont have much rec baseball / I enjoy the higher caliber of play for many reasons. It is better baseball...

[Kyle_Stevens]

I prefer HS as opposed to LL. The traveling LL teams around here are are generally coached by the second coming of 'Sweet Lou' who is more worried about having something to say about every play rather than actually coaching, yadda, yadda, yadda, we all know the drill.

What I am going to try to do is 'umpire' some tee ball this summer. This is where I can get back in touch with what baseball is all about, watching kids having fun. Kids asking what the after game snack is while up to bat. The kid who is picking clovers in the outfield when the ball rolls out to him. The kids that hit the ball and run to third. It's just fun. What baseball should be. It's not about 11 year old whose dad thinks his kid is ready to be drafted.

[LMSANS]

:wow:

Umpires for T-Ball????????????

Isn't the ball always in the strike zone?

[DonInKansas]

Yes, I prefer working HS/JUCO ball.

That said, I did some work last summer with the community rec league. Realize that I am the only HS Certified umpire that lives in my town since there's no organized Baseball above the 11/12 year olds that play in this rec league. They have to drive an hour 1 way to play any older, which is incredibly sad. Our city has a complex with a couple of fields that could be REALLY nice if utilized.

I liked working with the little kids in this league because it was fun on a lot of levels. I got to work with some high schoolers that were new to umpiring and wanted to learn more about it, the kids and coaches were having a ball, and I'm hoping the community will get fired up enough about baseball to get the High School fielding a team.

[Dragon29]

I prefer HS as opposed to LL. The traveling LL teams around here are are generally coached by the second coming of 'Sweet Lou' who is more worried about having something to say about every play rather than actually coaching, yadda, yadda, yadda, we all know the drill.

What I am going to try to do is 'umpire' some tee ball this summer. This is where I can get back in touch with what baseball is all about, watching kids having fun. Kids asking what the after game snack is while up to bat. The kid who is picking clovers in the outfield when the ball rolls out to him. The kids that hit the ball and run to third. It's just fun. What baseball should be. It's not about 11 year old whose dad thinks his kid is ready to be drafted.

I'm sorry Kyle - I hate it when I see 'umpire' & 'T-Ball' in the same post, much less the same sentence. If you think the 11 year old's dad is bad, just think about the mind-set it takes for a league to decide they need umpires for a T-Ball game.

Repeat after me - I will not umpire T-Ball, I will not umpire T-Ball, . . .

& to answer the OP - Yes, I do youth ball. I cannot get off work in time to work anything but youth ball. Around here, HS & above all start between 3:00 & 4:00 - just can't get there.

[Umpire in Chief]

& to answer the OP - Yes, I do youth ball. I cannot get off work in time to work anything but youth ball. Around here, HS & above all start between 3:00 & 4:00 - just can't get there.

I feel your pain. We serve 3 HS districts 2 start at 4:00, just too early for me typically. The 3rd district starts @ 5:30 which is about as early as I can get. My commissioner works well giving me the best he can, but I typically get more rec ball than others because of it.