LLWS Umpires

[UMP45]

I am researching what the LLWS Umpires are given at WS. Clothes and equipment in particular. Trying to find out so I can have ammunition when asking for compensation if going to the Colt WS. Anyone know or can findout will be helpful.

[Rich Ives]

I am researching what the LLWS Umpires are given at WS. Clothes and equipment in particular. Trying to find out so I can have ammunition when asking for compensation if going to the Colt WS. Anyone know or can findout will be helpful.

Colt isn't related in any way to LL so I don't think they'll care what LL does or doesn't do.

[UMP45]

Duh!! I would never have known that if you hadn't told me! I've only been with PONY for 24years! Just curious. Just trying to get some info to maybe get more out of PONY. Years ago you got a bunch of stuff. Now we get 2 shirts (which are cheap) and an adj. cap. Anyone else? Just want to be able to ask if LLWS umpires det this why not us?

[Fittske24]

From what I know......

2 shirts

1 Pair of plate pants

1 Pair of base pants

1 pullover

1 pair of base shoes

[Rich Ives]

Duh!! I would never have known that if you hadn't told me! I've only been with PONY for 24years!

DUH - and how should I know that?

And do you think PONY gives a RA what LL does?

[UMP45]

Hey Rich guess what? I don't care if they give a RA or not. I didn't mean to bother you. All I wanted was some info. Sorry to disturb you. Go back to sleep now!

[semper_fi_72]

Who really care what either gives to Umpire when the work the WS.

Umpires should not be doing it because they will get some goodie bag.

They should be umpiring because they worked to get there, where invited and want to do it.

[UMP45]

True Semper FI.... if it were that easy. If me and my crew are asked to work the Colt WS it will be the 5th year in a row. The first couple of years it was an honor. After that I think some perks need to come our way. When we go we have to pay for everything. The van rental alone is around $800.00, our game fees pay for our rooms, we have to buy our food, wash our clothes, and put gas in the van. Our league dosen't help us with anything.Even the coaches that go their rooms are comped and they have acces to a rental car. We get $25 a day per deim and we don't get that until 3 weeks after we get back home. Don't get me wrong we have a blast. But last year was the first time we broke even.

[mstaylor]

LL does nothing to help with rooms or travel, as I recall. Soounds pretty comparable except LL gives no game fees at all.

[Mike Prince]

Sounds like it may be time for your crew to step aside and allow someone else to enjoy the honor of being selected.

[UMP45]

I know MS. I know I will be ripped for this but I feel more times then not you get what you pay for. To use volunteer umpires at this level of play is a disservice to the game. I know I know. LL has been doing this for years. And that is why you have IR now. I just feel that when you reach this level the umpires, no matter what organization, should be taken care of as well as, if not better, then the players and coaches. My crew has approximately 120 tears of experience. I know it won't happen but just having the right person aware could change things. One of the selling points of PONY is they say a league is only as strong as its officials.

[NovaScotiaBlue]

True Semper FI.... if it were that easy. If me and my crew are asked to work the Colt WS it will be the 5th year in a row. The first couple of years it was an honor. After that I think some perks need to come our way. When we go we have to pay for everything. The van rental alone is around $800.00, our game fees pay for our rooms, we have to buy our food, wash our clothes, and put gas in the van. Our league dosen't help us with anything.Even the coaches that go their rooms are comped and they have acces to a rental car. We get $25 a day per deim and we don't get that until 3 weeks after we get back home. Don't get me wrong we have a blast. But last year was the first time we broke even.

No to sound too harsh here,,,But...You are free to decline the invite. I'm sure there is a large list of umpires who the organizers can slect from who do not share you sense of, "entitlerment"

So, decline the invite, I'm sure you won't be missed

[UMP45]

Are you kidding? I get to spend a week away from home! We have too much fun to give it up. We aren't the only crew. there is another crew. We are the only crew asked back the past 4 years, Half the fun is the ride up and back ( 10+ hours)! I'm not trying to sound like I"m crying. Wouldn't you try to get some kind of comp? Not trying to brag but we ahve been asked back because of the job we do. I was just trying to get some info. Like I said in the past PONY gave their WS umpires quiye a bit of gear. Not trying to gouge anyone just trying to make it easier for the ones that come after us.

[mstaylor]

My crew has approximately 120 tears of experience

You do know there is no crying in baseball. :)

[Stan W.]

I am researching what the LLWS Umpires are given at WS. Clothes and equipment in particular. Trying to find out so I can have ammunition when asking for compensation if going to the Colt WS. Anyone know or can findout will be helpful.

When I did the PONY World Series......we received:

One Embroidered Jersey

One pair of Pants

One Embroided Jacket

One adjustable Hat.....

[JaxRolo]

My crew has approximately 120 tears of experience

You do know there is no crying in baseball.

Very Funny! :clap:

[NovaScotiaBlue]

Are you kidding? I get to spend a week away from home! We have too much fun to give it up. We aren't the only crew. there is another crew. We are the only crew asked back the past 4 years, Half the fun is the ride up and back ( 10+ hours)! I'm not trying to sound like I"m crying. Wouldn't you try to get some kind of comp? Not trying to brag but we ahve been asked back because of the job we do. I was just trying to get some info. Like I said in the past PONY gave their WS umpires quiye a bit of gear. Not trying to gouge anyone just trying to make it easier for the ones that come after us.

Since I am unfamiliar with the PONY league WS, who determines the umpires for this event?

Is it based on performance scores from local supervisors combined with test scores to show merit?

Or is there some other way of getting an invite?

Also to be honest, No I would not be looking for some kind of comp.

In Canada, where I umpire, you are selected by an association committee to work a national championship. That's based on passing an annual exam followed by successful on field evaluations.

You have to work hard to get selected, and you don't get a championship assignment every year so to me I do it for the honour.

When you work a national championship assignment there is not a lot of comp at all...

You are given a per diem, your accomodations are covered and your local association will help cover travel costs. That's about it

You are required to purchase your own uniform and supply your own equipment.

And yet, there are no shortage of veteran officials fighting for a selection every year.

[Fittske24]

LL does nothing to help with rooms or travel, as I recall. Soounds pretty comparable except LL gives no game fees at all.

Not entirely true. WS umpires are responsible for travel to and from Williamsport. Each umpire can share a room with another umpire in the dorms at Williamsport. If an Umpire has family needs, hotel accommodations are secured at the umpires expense. Food in the cafeteria is free to umpires during the tournament.

[Fittske24]

our game fees......

Many youth sports organizations find it difficult to provide anything "extra" when you receive game fees for your time spent on the field. Be lucky if you get a bottle of water during the game.

[soapbox]

Ump45, I don't know what the problem is with your question. Everybody on this board considers us Professional Umpires of Amateur sports. PONY, Little League, and every organization are businesses that pay their employees. It's not a charity. While it's nice to be asked to work a big tournament, why should you be expected to work for free? I have a hard time listening to some of the comments. Every step of the way as you climb the ranks, umpires get paid. Why shouldn't you be fairly compensated for doing the big games. Maybe I'm missing something. Maybe our "profession" (though just part time to most of us) is for the rich or elite. I enjoy it, but make no mistake, as I mentioned before, I do it for the additional income. I'm sorry if my thoughts aren't politically correct, but unlike a couple that I have read in posts, they are very genuine and honest.

[UMP45]

NovaScotiaBlue I'm glad you want to umpire for free. You go right ahead. I can't speak for the other organzations but PONY you are selected then you have to be approved. I wish our accomidations were picked up and our league helped with travel. It costs us $2,000+ to go to the Colt WS. The gear is not really a problem as what they give us is not of good quality. And MS I'm sorry about tears instead of years. I type using the Biblical system...."Seek and ye shall find".

[yawetag]

the umpires, no matter what organization, should be taken care of as well as, if not better, then the players and coaches.

There would be a lot more people trying for PBUC if the MLB umpires were paid $30 million a year.

[Rich Ives]

Ump45, I don't know what the problem is with your question. Everybody on this board considers us Professional Umpires of Amateur sports. PONY, Little League, and every organization are businesses that pay their employees. It's not a charity. While it's nice to be asked to work a big tournament, why should you be expected to work for free? I have a hard time listening to some of the comments. Every step of the way as you climb the ranks, umpires get paid. Why shouldn't you be fairly compensated for doing the big games. Maybe I'm missing something. Maybe our "profession" (though just part time to most of us) is for the rich or elite. I enjoy it, but make no mistake, as I mentioned before, I do it for the additional income. I'm sorry if my thoughts aren't politically correct, but unlike a couple that I have read in posts, they are very genuine and honest.

You're right of course. So we in LL will from now on pay you the same as the managers and coaches get paid. OK?

[soapbox]

Rich, I'm not the one who said that. What I said is, Little League pays it's employees. I'm glad for those who love the privelage of taking their vacation to go work at a Tournament. I'm not sure why the umpire wouldn't be paid. Maybe I am in the minority, but I officiate both for the enjoyment and for the money. I donate my fair share of games to worthy Charities, but let's not mistake this as one. I certainly don't think we get overpaid to work the games we do, I just don't know why you jump on a guy who has basically worked for nothing asking a question. However, reading so many of your posts in the past, I'm sure you are one hell of a charming umpire.

[Fittske24]

This debate is had every year....it usually coincides with the LLWS. First off...Little League International does not pay it's umpires. Local Little Leagues that do use paid umpires, do so through a local umpire association. I am a paid umpire. I get paid for high school, Calripkin Baseball, Pony Baseball, and College Baseball. I also work Little League baseball. Whenever I step onto a Little league 60 ft or 90ft diamond I do so as a volunteer. I do not accept one dime form any of those games. Because of this, I have been rewarded with various district, state and regional tournaments at various age levels of LL. LL has a strict rule that no paid umpires are to be used at the State, Regional, and WS level. I am sure there are some that might slip through the cracks once and a while, but LL does do a good job at rewarding its volunteers. The Little League WS is a reward to those umpires that have volunteered their time to the LL organization. For any umpire that has worked the LLWS, they will be the first to tell you, the 12 day experience far outweighs any game fee they have ever gotten.

Everyone always wants to make this a discussion between paid vs. non-paid and who has better umpires. Just because you make money umpiring doesn't make you a good umpire. Like it or not, every other youth baseball organization would sell their souls to get the exposure that LL gets every August with the LLWS. No other WS for youth sports come close. As umpires we should all strive to work "the best there is." For a small few that is MLB. Unfortunately we all can't be Major League Umpires..... But for the rest of us who umpire amateur baseball that leaves only two other choices.... In my humble opinion those two are the College World Series and the LL world series. Both are goals of mine and I'm well on my way to achieving both.