Start Age for Officiating Debate in Pgh paper

[MRG9999]

Found this article in a local newspaper and thought that I would post it to find what the thoughts are of U-E. 

 

Here is a little excerpt from the article below:

 

Start age debated

The state's child labor law bars anyone younger than 14 from refereeing. State Rep. Brian Ellis, R-Butler, is trying to change that.

He has introduced legislation that would allow 12- and 13-year-olds to officiate youth sports. Ellis drafted the proposal after being approached by Butler County Soccer officials.

If the bill becomes law, it would ease the referee shortage and give younger children “a great opportunity to get work experience,†he said.

Supporters of the bill say 12- and 13-year-olds would be paired with more seasoned referees and would officiate only children younger than themselves.

Read more: http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/alleghenyneighborhoods/alleghenyneighborhoodsmore/7719104-74/referees-officials-sports#ixzz3TcUcIGWj
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook

 

 

http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/alleghenyneighborhoods/alleghenyneighborhoodsmore/7719104-74/referees-officials-sports#axzz3TbfqilkP

[Rich Ives]

A number of Little Leagues have Jr. Umpire programs where 12-13 year-olds umpire younger kids.  Seems to work just fine.

[bam]

Maybe there's a shortage of officials in PA because of this:

 

http://www.pasportsofficials.org/

[noumpere]

Similar topics come up periodically in various jurisdictions as the specifics of the employment laws conflict with the specifics of real life.

[Pops]

The biggest problem young kids have when umpiring are the adults who can be very intimidating to a 12 year old. I had a neighbor boy who tried umpiring, but he quickly gave it up due to coaches and parents. He looked like he was in tears after coming home from his games. Nothing I could say would change his mind.

[johnnyg08]

The biggest problem young kids have when umpiring are the adults who can be very intimidating to a 12 year old. I had a neighbor boy who tried umpiring, but he quickly gave it up due to coaches and parents. He looked like he was in tears after coming home from his games. Nothing I could say would change his mind.

Pops, you nailed it.

[LRZ]

Maybe there's a shortage of officials in PA because of this:

 

http://www.pasportsofficials.org/

 

Interesting. Although a PIAA official, I've never heard of this group. But it explains why PIAA recently sent out a letter outlining the purposes of chapter meetings and that solicitation of membership in other organizations is not among those purposes.

 

Sorry for the hijack. Now back to your regular programing. 

[umpstu]

The biggest problem young kids have when umpiring are the adults who can be very intimidating to a 12 year old. I had a neighbor boy who tried umpiring, but he quickly gave it up due to coaches and parents. He looked like he was in tears after coming home from his games. Nothing I could say would change his mind.

Umpired 11 games as a 7th grader back in the 70's.  Besides the idiot parents, the league paid the whopping total of $2.00 per game. Who in their right mind wants to put up with the abuse for that?  Especially young kids?  We have a severe shortage of umpires in our association this year, 25 down from around 35-40.  This is due to it not being fun on the field and the BS within the association itself.  The fun has been sucked out of umpiring.

[johnnyg08]

The fun has been sucked out of umpiring.

Yup! If I were a 16 yr old kid who in their right mind would challenge an adult coach getting in your face in the 10U tournament. Such a joke. The kids quit umpiring before they can get trained.

[Magic]

I don't have anyone under the age of 15 umpiring for my Pony league.

Games worked 18

[Tksjewelry]

The biggest problem young kids have when umpiring are the adults who can be very intimidating to a 12 year old. I had a neighbor boy who tried umpiring, but he quickly gave it up due to coaches and parents. He looked like he was in tears after coming home from his games. Nothing I could say would change his mind.

Umpired 11 games as a 7th grader back in the 70's. Besides the idiot parents, the league paid the whopping total of $2.00 per game. Who in their right mind wants to put up with the abuse for that? Especially young kids? We have a severe shortage of umpires in our association this year, 25 down from around 35-40. This is due to it not being fun on the field and the BS within the association itself. The fun has been sucked out of umpiring.

25!? We have like 250+ and are still short.

[Tksjewelry]

With kids umpiring, it depends on the baseball association they are working for. I work one association that wouldn't give a kid umpire crap, but they are heavy handed on the kids, parents, and coaches about respecting the umpires. If I see games on the schedule there, I snap them up. The field director nips any and all issues quickly and takes real good care of the umpires. My worst game, however, was a particular association that is known for being out of control and they need experienced hardened umpires even for their 8u. Those coaches and parents are well known for being tossed and stands cleared. I avoid them at all costs and let the hit squad take those games.

[jrewell1978]

My dad was my hometown's UIC and he threw me to the wolves when I was 13. 23 years later and I still don't know if I should forgive him or not.

:)

[johnnyg08]

As an umpire and as a parent I love umpiring and unfortunately I can't say that I would encourage her to get into umpirig as ruthless as adults can be toward minor umpires.