Opinions Please (LL)

[SJA]

There is an "umpire" (Smitty) who also manages a Jr. BB team. He consistently ignores / disregards the Safety Rules for LL. e.g. illegal bats, use of "traditional doughnuts", no dangling throat protectors on catcher's mask and several other rules. He allows these violations as an ump and a manager.  How, IYHO would you handle this situation?

PS . . . the BOD asked for my opinion, . . . not sure they liked my answer. . . but I don't really care. . . THEY ASKED!

 

 

SJA :-(

Edited May 30, 2015 by SJA

[basejester]

I'm assuming your role is umpire for his team.  Enforce the rules seems like the answer.  I mean, what are the options you're considering?  Letting it slide because he's an umpire?  Talking to him before the game?

 

[DevildogUmp]

My suggestion to the BOD is he serves as an Umpire and Coach at the BOD's pleasure. If he doesn't want to enforce LL safety rules and by doing so places the BOD at liability they need to remove him.

[SJA]

No BJ, I was NOT the ump for his team but have witnessed his actions, and omissions to act  several times in the past after being told more than once.  I'm NOT the BOD's babysitter nor their "hatchet man" either. 

:-)

[Dbellyflop]

We get this all the time. also too many coaches on the field/ in the dugout, catchers with pro style masks and helmets and catchers during infield without a mask. I take illegal bats off the field, don't let catchers catch without the throat guard, and remind them that this is all practice for TOC and All Stars. 

[basejester]

Send an email to the league's umpire-in-chief, the safety officer, and the president enumerating the violations.  I'm not sure it's particularly important to name the offender, just the times and places of the violations.  If you don't get a response, you can escalate to the district administrator, run for one of those local positions, or give it up. 

So, what is your role?  Are you another umpire at the league?  A parent?

 

[SJA]

Long story. This LL  has no UIC, I'm just known as the "Senior Umpire" I have NO desire to be a BOD Member, or the UIC due to their lack of "organization" (?). The  "Safety Officer" is a BOD Member that is just a title. Bottom line here is that the BOD, DA etc.etc. wants to PDL (pass down the line) and responsibilities to someone else so they don't take the heat for decisions. I'm not doing it!. Just asking for opinions to pass on to them so THEY CAN SOLVE THEIR PROBLEM CHILD!

 

:-) 

[blue23ll]

First of all, shame on the umpires who let this go on in the first place. A coach doesn't have a choice about following the safety rules and umpires don't have a choice about enforcing them, in my opinion.  Why does the BOD need anyone's opinion, they should read the rule book and then encourage that everyone follow the rules. Pretty simple solution. 

[kylejt]

Volunteer umpires are at a premium. Plus, you "work" for the President, not the BoD. Tell him/her you plan on enforcing all the safety rules next game, and to put the league on notice. Either they'll heed your warning, or you can move on to a league that cares about their kids. Don't work games when they don't bother to follow the basic safety rules of LL. The inmates are running the asylum, and if you can't change things, go somewhere else. 

 

So, next game, toss illegal bats, don't allow donuts, and make sure all catcher's masks are compliant. If they can't, or won't, walk away. If you don't, it's on you. Remember, like your logo says. "No Whining". Get it done, and report back after your next game. 

 

Edited May 30, 2015 by kylejt

[maineump]

Volunteer umpires are at a premium. Plus, you "work" for the President, not the BoD. Tell him/her you plan on enforcing all the safety rules next game, and to put the league on notice. Either they'll heed your warning, or you can move on to a league that cares about their kids. Don't work games when they don't bother to follow the basic safety rules of LL. The inmates are running the asylum, and if you can't change things, go somewhere else. 

 

So, next game, toss illegal bats, don't allow donuts, and make sure all catcher's masks are compliant. If they can't, or won't, walk away. If you don't, it's on you. Remember, like your logo says. "No Whining". Get it done, and report back after your next game. 

 

​This is good advise. If that doesn't work, go to the next level - the State or even the Region. Safety issues are why these rules were written. The league has to register with Little League, and if they aren't following the rules, then they are not compliant as a league. Too bad that the kids will be the ones to 'pay for this'.

[SJA]

Let me repeat: I'm NOT the umpire, BOD Member, or UIC involved, nor have anything to do with this. If I were, this guy would be gone. PERIOD!

 

PS @‌ Kylejt, the League Pres. IS  the head of the BOD.

One more clarification: My "Senior Umpire" title just means I'm the oldest and nothing more as far as I'm concerned and I told the BOD that a long time ago. HA! 

 

Edited May 30, 2015 by SJA

[kylejt]

Fair enough. You have one guy, that umpires and manages, that won't bother to follow the rules, and the BoD want your advice on how to fix it. In other words, the league president, who can remove him from both positions, is too lame to do his job. Got it.

 

I guess it's up to the other BoD members, who ever is on duty on each of his games, to do what the other umpires are unwilling to do. As for safety equipment on games where he's a manager, why are the other umpires allowing this to happen? And if they are, the BoD member on site needs to step in. It's not only their right, but their obligation. 

Let's just take tangling throat protectors. If anyone of authority notices one missing, it's up them to fix it. Umpire, coach, manager, scorekeeper, BoD member, etc. It's no different than if the teams decided to go "old school", and play without batting helmets that day. Tell the BoD that someone needs to hike up their big boy pants, and sit on this clown. Plus, if, as a manager, he can't follow the rules, there's no way he should be in a position of enforcing them as an umpire. 

As a Senior umpire, your only leverage is to quit. If the BoD is asking for your guidance, tell them what I outlined above. But also tell them the risk he's putting your league in if they knowingly allow this to go on. Once they have the knowledge that he's allowing unsafe practices, it's now on them. 

 

Edited May 30, 2015 by kylejt

[Jimurray]

Can't do a sidebar but this is one.
While I fully enforce the dangler rule in LL, I believe it is not needed on hockey style helmets. No other code requires it on those helmets. There are, of course some older style helmets that do need the dangler and LL probably doesn't see the need to exclude hockey style helmets from the requirement to keep things simple.
Last year an umpire who let a male catcher in majors and below not wear crouch protection would be remiss. This year he wouldn't.

[SJA]

@‌Kylejt, 100% agree. I've limited my games there but still enjoy doing some of the good teams when they call me for their games.  I don't have any trouble from them either, they know I won't tolerate BS.

:-)

[webspinnre]

I agree with the suggestion to first write to the BOD/League Pres. As you mention, they probably won't do anything. I'd then follow up with something to the District Safety Officer. In my experience, this person is usually very on top of things, and will force the league to take care of it.

[ScubaUmp]

Enforce the rules during regular season, they will be at ALL-STARS. Practice like you play.

 

 

[chuck]

The "dangler" is an important piece of safety equipment. It protects the catcher's throat from a thrown bat when he looks up for a foul or fair pop fly (that's why it needs to dangle), as well as foul balls and bounced pitches. It's a rule that I enforce. I don't want to be there when a player is injured and not wearing one.