First time on 70' bases this season.

[Umpire in Chief]

Last night was my first time on a 70' base diamond and boy was it awkward. Not to mention they had just moved the bases in on a 90' field. This threw me off a few times because the base was in the cut out, but the base line was in the grass a few times I found my "deep c" was in the base path. I found I had done my normal hustle and was on top of the play. We has one situation where the kid engaged the 60'6" rubber then realized he was not in the right place and just stepped off and went to the 50' one. The first base coach asked for a balk, I just gave him the "are you crazy look." Neither of my games were competitive. But no real issues, it was just interesting to be out on a smaller field.

[Kyle_Stevens]

I just worked my first little league, USSSA, tourny this last weekend. I agree that it is awkward. I found myself on a base hit I will leave A and run to turn and watch the runner and all of the sudden I am right there. I found that I did not have to run as much as HS, you can take 3 quick steps and be in position.

It was fun though. Little league is a blast when the coaches are there to coach and not act like Bobby Cox!

[semperfiguy]

But they really do think they are Bobby Cox and that ESPN is filming!!!!

[catoblue]

I'm going to have the opposite problem the season after next. I've been calling LL games on the 60' diamond for 25 years - never called a game on a 90' diamond. I expect I'm going to have to learn to move a bit quicker :)

[blue32]

I'm going to have the opposite problem the season after next. I've been calling LL games on the 60' diamond for 25 years - never called a game on a 90' diamond. I expect I'm going to have to learn to move a bit quicker

I work all field sizes, 60, 70, and 90, and find that I actually need to be quicker on the small diamonds than I do on the 90' ones. With the longer base paths and longer throws, the game slows down quite a bit for me, so I think you'll be pleasantly surprised to find that it will actually be a little easier working the big diamond.

[BigUmp56]

I'm going to have the opposite problem the season after next. I've been calling LL games on the 60' diamond for 25 years - never called a game on a 90' diamond. I expect I'm going to have to learn to move a bit quicker

I suggest getting yourself the Evans balk video, along with the manual on two man mechanics (red book), and study them this off season before you move up. I'd also look for a 90' Fall ball development league to work before moving up.

Tim.

[HoosierBlue]

There are about 28 reasons why umpiring on the big diamond is easier than on a small diamond.

There are perhaps 2 or 3 reasons why umpiring on the small diamond is easier than on the big diamond.

"I'll go with Big Diamond is easier for $400, Alex."

It seems that there are very few routine plays at 1B on the small diamond. They are commonplace on the big diamond.

And you really appreciate catchers who stand taller than 4'3" on the big diamond.

[Bigdog]

And you really appreciate catchers who stand taller than 4'3" on the big diamond.

Hey all,

I don't care if he is 2'3", as long as he can perform the job requirement of catching and/or blocking the ball in the dirt and prevent them from getting to me.

Bigdog:cool:

[Umpire in Chief]

Hey all,

I don't care if he is 2'3", as long as he can perform the job requirement of catching and/or blocking the ball in the dirt and prevent them from getting to me.

Bigdog:cool:

Absolutely, I've been pleasantly surprised by some small fry catchers who made me feel almost as comfortable as some of the HS guys (sometimes more so)

[catoblue]

Hey all,

I don't care if he is 2'3", as long as he can perform the job requirement of catching and/or blocking the ball in the dirt and prevent them from getting to me.

Bigdog:cool:

For sure!!!! My stepson was always the smallest kid on the team, but he was also the quickest. I'd start him as catcher, and see a look of horror on the ump's face when the little guy walked out of the dugout in equipment that was really big on him.

That look of horror was my queue to to walk out and let the ump know that it'll be OK - "he's good". And he was too. He made the tourney team every year as starting catcher - almost nothing ever got past him, and being we're talking LL here, he caught and blocked some really BAD pitches during the regular season.