Why does an 8 year old even need to be on a travel team?

[ump570]

Last weekend, I was working with a young umpire who is learning the ropes. I generally work 14U and older, but I agreed to work with this kid in the 8U division as a favor. Never again. The coaches and parents were completely insane, and it was hard to keep a straight face sometimes because the thought would continually creep into my head, "You know they are 8, don't you? You are acting ridiculous and this game is pretty much meaningless in terms of your child's baseball skill development." Of course, I remained professional, and didn't say this, but one guy actually made me and my partner laugh. The team, who was routinely being rung up on called strikes on the outside corner had a coach who came out to warm up their pitcher and while doing so looked at me and said very sarcastically,  "Hey Blue, can we maybe keep the strike zone here." He said this while drawing an invisible square around home plate. Then he said, "I can't believe you called the one the catcher dropped a strike. That should have been a ball because he didn't even catch it." I laughed and said, "First of all, you can't argue balls and strikes, but if you expect an 8 year old to catch every strike then you are not in touch with reality." If they weren't 8 I may have dumped him for demonstrating but I just couldn't take the guy seriously. These people really need to lighten up. This is the last favor I'm doing for a long while.

[BigUmpire]

Last weekend, I was working with a young umpire who is learning the ropes. I generally work 14U and older, but I agreed to work with this kid in the 8U division as a favor. Never again. The coaches and parents were completely insane, and it was hard to keep a straight face sometimes because the thought would continually creep into my head, "You know they are 8, don't you? You are acting ridiculous and this game is pretty much meaningless in terms of your child's baseball skill development." Of course, I remained professional, and didn't say this, but one guy actually made me and my partner laugh. The team, who was routinely being rung up on called strikes on the outside corner had a coach who came out to warm up their pitcher and while doing so looked at me and said very sarcastically,  "Hey Blue, can we maybe keep the strike zone here." He said this while drawing an invisible square around home plate. Then he said, "I can't believe you called the one the catcher dropped a strike. That should have been a ball because he didn't even catch it." I laughed and said, "First of all, you can't argue balls and strikes, but if you expect an 8 year old to catch every strike then you are not in touch with reality." If they weren't 8 I may have dumped him for demonstrating but I just couldn't take the guy seriously. These people really need to lighten up. This is the last favor I'm doing for a long while.

Umpires should be paid at least $1000 for doing an 8u game unless all of the players are orphans. BRUTAL!

 

One more thing. Kids are NOT on an 8u team, their parents are, they just bring the kids along to live through.

[carolinablue]

Well, your going to feel real stupid when you see them all in MLB in about 15 years.

[ump570]

 

Last weekend, I was working with a young umpire who is learning the ropes. I generally work 14U and older, but I agreed to work with this kid in the 8U division as a favor. Never again. The coaches and parents were completely insane, and it was hard to keep a straight face sometimes because the thought would continually creep into my head, "You know they are 8, don't you? You are acting ridiculous and this game is pretty much meaningless in terms of your child's baseball skill development." Of course, I remained professional, and didn't say this, but one guy actually made me and my partner laugh. The team, who was routinely being rung up on called strikes on the outside corner had a coach who came out to warm up their pitcher and while doing so looked at me and said very sarcastically,  "Hey Blue, can we maybe keep the strike zone here." He said this while drawing an invisible square around home plate. Then he said, "I can't believe you called the one the catcher dropped a strike. That should have been a ball because he didn't even catch it." I laughed and said, "First of all, you can't argue balls and strikes, but if you expect an 8 year old to catch every strike then you are not in touch with reality." If they weren't 8 I may have dumped him for demonstrating but I just couldn't take the guy seriously. These people really need to lighten up. This is the last favor I'm doing for a long while.

Umpires should be paid at least $1000 for doing an 8u game unless all of the players are orphans. BRUTAL!

 

Yeah, the kids are great at that age. They are having so much fun. And my partner was great too. The kid is really good and I enjoyed working with him, but some of these coaches and parents are insane.

[basejester]

I agree that parents are especially ridiculous at this age.

 

But please keep in mind that whatever level you think of as Serious Business seems inconsequential to someone else. 

[NoCal Blue]

It would be a great game if the kids left their brats at home...

[jjb]

I tell my Rookie Umpires (who do 7 and 8 coach pitch):

 

1. If the coach comes out wearing baseball pants, be careful

2. if the coach comes out wearing baseball pants and spikes, be really careful

3. If the coach comes out wearing baseball pants, spikes, and, on the back of the game shirt it says "Head Coach", you may as well get a head start on the ejection report.....

 

...these guys think this is for real....

[Jocko]

Should have dumped him immediately. The douchebags hafta learn too. Draws a box in the air? No different than drawing lines in the dirt. Boom. He gone.

[umpstu]

Well, your going to feel real stupid when you see them all in MLB in about 15 years.

And every single one of them have Scott Boras on speed dial.

[BigUmpire]

 

 

Last weekend, I was working with a young umpire who is learning the ropes. I generally work 14U and older, but I agreed to work with this kid in the 8U division as a favor. Never again. The coaches and parents were completely insane, and it was hard to keep a straight face sometimes because the thought would continually creep into my head, "You know they are 8, don't you? You are acting ridiculous and this game is pretty much meaningless in terms of your child's baseball skill development." Of course, I remained professional, and didn't say this, but one guy actually made me and my partner laugh. The team, who was routinely being rung up on called strikes on the outside corner had a coach who came out to warm up their pitcher and while doing so looked at me and said very sarcastically,  "Hey Blue, can we maybe keep the strike zone here." He said this while drawing an invisible square around home plate. Then he said, "I can't believe you called the one the catcher dropped a strike. That should have been a ball because he didn't even catch it." I laughed and said, "First of all, you can't argue balls and strikes, but if you expect an 8 year old to catch every strike then you are not in touch with reality." If they weren't 8 I may have dumped him for demonstrating but I just couldn't take the guy seriously. These people really need to lighten up. This is the last favor I'm doing for a long while.

Umpires should be paid at least $1000 for doing an 8u game unless all of the players are orphans. BRUTAL!

 

Yeah, the kids are great at that age. They are having so much fun. And my partner was great too. The kid is really good and I enjoyed working with him, but some of these coaches and parents are insane.

 

• “Youth sports should be played by orphansâ€.- sdandersonjr
•  
• "If it weren't for the parents...."-KLAH316

[SoCal Lurker]

Gee whiz.  With what they have to pay the picthing  coach, why shouldn't they get to play travel ball?

 

. . . I believe my son was 6 (might have been 7) when another dad very seriously told me I should be hiring a ptiching coach for him  . . .

[grayhawk]

I tell my Rookie Umpires (who do 7 and 8 coach pitch):

 

1. If the coach comes out wearing baseball pants, be careful

2. if the coach comes out wearing baseball pants and spikes, be really careful

3. If the coach comes out wearing baseball pants, spikes, and, on the back of the game shirt it says "Head Coach", you may as well get a head start on the ejection report.....

 

...these guys think this is for real....

 

If the pitch is coming from anyone (or anything) other than a kid, then there should not be an umpire on the field.  Putting an umpire there only feeds the parents' perception that it is real.

[Oldcrow]

Last weekend, I was working with a young umpire who is learning the ropes. I generally work 14U and older, but I agreed to work with this kid in the 8U division as a favor. Never again. The coaches and parents were completely insane, and it was hard to keep a straight face sometimes because the thought would continually creep into my head, "You know they are 8, don't you? You are acting ridiculous and this game is pretty much meaningless in terms of your child's baseball skill development." Of course, I remained professional, and didn't say this, but one guy actually made me and my partner laugh. The team, who was routinely being rung up on called strikes on the outside corner had a coach who came out to warm up their pitcher and while doing so looked at me and said very sarcastically,  "Hey Blue, can we maybe keep the strike zone here." He said this while drawing an invisible square around home plate. Then he said, "I can't believe you called the one the catcher dropped a strike. That should have been a ball because he didn't even catch it." I laughed and said, "First of all, you can't argue balls and strikes, but if you expect an 8 year old to catch every strike then you are not in touch with reality." If they weren't 8 I may have dumped him for demonstrating but I just couldn't take the guy seriously. These people really need to lighten up. This is the last favor I'm doing for a long while.

We decided not start travel ball with our daughter until she was 12U.....We thought that anytime before that was meaningless because she is learning very basic skills when she is 8, 9, etc.....And she has done rather well, winning a state championship in High school and she is entering her senior year playing DII college softball.

[boyinr]

I agree that parents are especially ridiculous at this age.

 

But please keep in mind that whatever level you think of as Serious Business seems inconsequential to someone else.

This why it is called a game.

[Dannytheman]

I have seen one 8 year old with his dad and his hitting coach at the tournament game.  Dad was rich, hitting coach was washed up AAA guy with issues. They both evaluated this kid after every at bat through the fence.  I expect to see this kid in the bell tower in 8 more years with a hi powered rifle.

[mstaylor]

Last weekend, I was working with a young umpire who is learning the ropes. I generally work 14U and older, but I agreed to work with this kid in the 8U division as a favor. Never again. The coaches and parents were completely insane, and it was hard to keep a straight face sometimes because the thought would continually creep into my head, "You know they are 8, don't you? You are acting ridiculous and this game is pretty much meaningless in terms of your child's baseball skill development." Of course, I remained professional, and didn't say this, but one guy actually made me and my partner laugh. The team, who was routinely being rung up on called strikes on the outside corner had a coach who came out to warm up their pitcher and while doing so looked at me and said very sarcastically,  "Hey Blue, can we maybe keep the strike zone here." He said this while drawing an invisible square around home plate. Then he said, "I can't believe you called the one the catcher dropped a strike. That should have been a ball because he didn't even catch it." I laughed and said, "First of all, you can't argue balls and strikes, but if you expect an 8 year old to catch every strike then you are not in touch with reality." If they weren't 8 I may have dumped him for demonstrating but I just couldn't take the guy seriously. These people really need to lighten up. This is the last favor I'm doing for a long while.

We decided not start travel ball with our daughter until she was 12U.....We thought that anytime before that was meaningless because she is learning very basic skills when she is 8, 9, etc.....And she has done rather well, winning a state championship in High school and she is entering her senior year playing DII college softball. Yeah, and if you had started at U8 she would have been D1.

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[johnnyg08]

Amen

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[DVA7130]

I work this stuff fairly often being young.

One motiff is definitely coach interference on the bases.

They act like they honestly can not tell the difference between a clueless kid running into his coach and a coach nearly ripping his arm off trying to get him going home.

And God help you if they step completely on the plate while batting..

[BigUmpire]

I work this stuff fairly often being young.

One motiff is definitely coach interference on the bases.

They act like they honestly can not tell the difference between a clueless kid running into his coach and a coach nearly ripping his arm off trying to get him going home.

And God help you if they step completely on the plate while batting..

Change in Georgia USSSA rules this year. They have now have book rules for 8U Hybrid that I wrote 3 years ago. You might want to read up on on this.

[DVA7130]

I work this stuff fairly often being young.

One motiff is definitely coach interference on the bases.

They act like they honestly can not tell the difference between a clueless kid running into his coach and a coach nearly ripping his arm off trying to get him going home.

And God help you if they step completely on the plate while batting..

Change in Georgia USSSA rules this year. They have now have book rules for 8U Hybrid that I wrote 3 years ago. You might want to read up on on this.

Kid pitch then coach pitch as no walks. I have seen this before in the LL tournament.

[BigUmpire]

 

 

I work this stuff fairly often being young.

One motiff is definitely coach interference on the bases.

They act like they honestly can not tell the difference between a clueless kid running into his coach and a coach nearly ripping his arm off trying to get him going home.

And God help you if they step completely on the plate while batting..

Change in Georgia USSSA rules this year. They have now have book rules for 8U Hybrid that I wrote 3 years ago. You might want to read up on on this.

Kid pitch then coach pitch as no walks. I have seen this before in the LL tournament.

 

Better read up! More than that AND I expect this age group to expand greatly this year.

[zm1283]

My brother-in-law has three boys, the oldest of which played on an 8U "travel team" last summer. My wife said they are absolutely nuts and take it far too seriously. Of course this is in Omaha where they have indoor facilities booked up all winter for little kids teams to practice.

 

He helps coach and ended up getting dumped at one point during the season. When I heard this story I just looked at him and said "You're THAT guy, huh?". He is a well educated person too (defense attorney). People just lose their freaking minds when their pride and joy is involved. 

[johnnyg08]

My brother-in-law has three boys, the oldest of which played on an 8U "travel team" last summer. My wife said they are absolutely nuts and take it far too seriously. Of course this is in Omaha where they have indoor facilities booked up all winter for little kids teams to practice.

 

He helps coach and ended up getting dumped at one point during the season. When I heard this story I just looked at him and said "You're THAT guy, huh?". He is a well educated person too (defense attorney). People just lose their freaking minds when their pride and joy is involved. 

 

 

Yep, that pretty much sums it up.

[BigUmpire]

 

 

Last weekend, I was working with a young umpire who is learning the ropes. I generally work 14U and older, but I agreed to work with this kid in the 8U division as a favor. Never again. The coaches and parents were completely insane, and it was hard to keep a straight face sometimes because the thought would continually creep into my head, "You know they are 8, don't you? You are acting ridiculous and this game is pretty much meaningless in terms of your child's baseball skill development." Of course, I remained professional, and didn't say this, but one guy actually made me and my partner laugh. The team, who was routinely being rung up on called strikes on the outside corner had a coach who came out to warm up their pitcher and while doing so looked at me and said very sarcastically,  "Hey Blue, can we maybe keep the strike zone here." He said this while drawing an invisible square around home plate. Then he said, "I can't believe you called the one the catcher dropped a strike. That should have been a ball because he didn't even catch it." I laughed and said, "First of all, you can't argue balls and strikes, but if you expect an 8 year old to catch every strike then you are not in touch with reality." If they weren't 8 I may have dumped him for demonstrating but I just couldn't take the guy seriously. These people really need to lighten up. This is the last favor I'm doing for a long while.

Umpires should be paid at least $1000 for doing an 8u game unless all of the players are orphans. BRUTAL!

 

Yeah, the kids are great at that age. They are having so much fun. And my partner was great too. The kid is really good and I enjoyed working with him, but some of these coaches and parents are insane.

 

Some?

[johnnyg08]

Some?

yeah, they're all pretty nuts.