Volunteer LL umpires

[RichMSN]

I've worked six American Legion "national tournaments".  (American Legion considers the regionals and World Series to be national tournaments because they are run directly by the national office (or their appointed staff)).  At each, I've been paid.  Am I paid much?  No.  My pay has been almost the same (or a little less) than what I get paid to work one non-conference game at an ACC or SEC school.  At some Legion national tournaments I've worked 8-9 games, including 3 plate jobs, for the pay of one game at third-base at an ACC or SEC school.  [Full disclosure: when I did the World Series, in addition to my pay I was reimbursed for mileage (other umpires had airline tickets purchased for them), provided a nice hotel room, and I was paid $50 a day for food...although I never spent that much on food due to all the food we're provided in the locker room.  I was similarly reimbursed at the regionals.]

But here's the thing: American Legion is not flush with cash.  The amount they pay me (and my crew mates) is a sizable expense to them.  Legion's television rights fees and corporate sponsorships pale in comparison to Little League.  But the fact that they pay me shows me that they value the services I provide them.  Among all organizations sponsoring baseball in the United States, the American Legion could, should they want to, pull at every heart string to get volunteer umpires.  They could say that umpires should volunteer because American Legion baseball teaches young men valuable life-long lessons...including what it means to be a Patriot and what it means to be a citizen in the US.  They could say that umpires should volunteer their time in order to help teach these valuable lessons to teenage players.  The American Legion, among all baseball entities, has, in my opinion, the highest moral soapbox to stand on to justify requiring umpires to be "volunteers".  

But they don't stand on that soapbox.  They value our services enough that they feel and believe we should be paid.

Little League has far more cash than Legion.  Little League is the most valuable name/commodity in youth sports.  They could pay their umpires at their national tournaments and it would not hurt their bottom line.  Now, I'm sure that their are local little leagues in economically depressed areas of the country that would struggle to pay umpires during their "regular season" (before all-star teams are selected)...but at the national level (regionals/world series) that is not the case.  Unlike Legion, Little League (despite having far more money) choses to stand on their soapbox to justify not paying umpires.  

I, personally, believe that Little League's reasons for not paying umpires is crap.  In my opinion, Little League long ago abandoned being solely "for the kids".  I believe they're "for the money," too.  If others choose to agree/believe Little League's justifications for not paying umpires, and have no problems umpiring for free...then more power to them, this is America after all. They are free to disagree with my (and many others') objection to Little League's position...especially since I have zero desire to work Little League games for reasons other than a lack of pay.

In sum, (not to sound too egotistical, LOL), but what I bring to an organization (my umpire skill set) is too valuable to be "donated".  I will certainly work for an amount less than what I think I am worth if I believe in that organization (one example for me is Legion), especially when the amount that entity does pay me represents a sizable dent in their bottom line.

ASIDE:  The enjoyment some umpires have stated they get from umpiring Little League (such as seeing a player learn the game, kids grow as players and people, etc.) and getting paid are not two mutually exclusive items.  You can (and likely will) get this same satisfaction from working these games if you were paid.

 

You made a choice, and so do I. Neither is wrong.

[lawump]

3 minutes ago, RichMSN said:

You made a choice, and so do I. Neither is wrong.

Agreed.  As I said in my last post, others "are free to disagree".  I disagree with your view, you disagree with mine...but maybe some day you and I will work together in some mutually agreeable organization!  LOL

[Stk004]

9 minutes ago, maineump said:

 We actually did have a 4 on 4 wiffle ball league - between neighborhood teams. It was a blast. Target for called strikes, throw at the runners and we wore gloves and could use home-made bats. There were 4 teams, all of us played organized ball together, but we were enemies on the wiffle ball field.

Some baseball kids from my high school made a summer wiffle ball league. The SWBL

[maineump]

4 minutes ago, lawump said:

I've worked six American Legion "national tournaments".  (American Legion considers the regionals and World Series to be national tournaments because they are run directly by the national office (or their appointed staff)).  At each, I've been paid.  Am I paid much?  No.  My pay has been almost the same (or a little less) than what I get paid to work one non-conference game at an ACC or SEC school.  At some Legion national tournaments I've worked 8-9 games, including 3 plate jobs, for the pay of one game at third-base at an ACC or SEC school.  [Full disclosure: when I did the World Series, in addition to my pay I was reimbursed for mileage (other umpires had airline tickets purchased for them), provided a nice hotel room, and I was paid $50 a day for food...although I never spent that much on food due to all the food we're provided in the locker room.  I was similarly reimbursed at the regionals.]

But here's the thing: American Legion is not flush with cash.  The amount they pay me (and my crew mates) is a sizable expense to them.  Legion's television rights fees and corporate sponsorships pale in comparison to Little League.  But the fact that they pay me shows me that they value the services I provide them.  Among all organizations sponsoring baseball in the United States, the American Legion could, should they want to, pull at every heart string to get volunteer umpires.  They could say that umpires should volunteer because American Legion baseball teaches young men valuable life-long lessons...including what it means to be a Patriot and what it means to be a citizen in the US.  They could say that umpires should volunteer their time in order to help teach these valuable lessons to teenage players.  The American Legion, among all baseball entities, has, in my opinion, the highest moral soapbox to stand on to justify requiring umpires to be "volunteers".  

But they don't stand on that soapbox.  They value our services enough that they feel and believe we should be paid.

Little League has far more cash than Legion.  Little League is the most valuable name/commodity in youth sports.  They could pay their umpires at their national tournaments and it would not hurt their bottom line.  Now, I'm sure that their are local little leagues in economically depressed areas of the country that would struggle to pay umpires during their "regular season" (before all-star teams are selected)...but at the national level (regionals/world series) that is not the case.  Unlike Legion, Little League (despite having far more money) choses to stand on their soapbox to justify not paying umpires.  

I, personally, believe that Little League's reasons for not paying umpires is crap.  In my opinion, Little League long ago abandoned being solely "for the kids".  I believe they're "for the money," too.  If others choose to agree/believe Little League's justifications for not paying umpires, and have no problems umpiring for free...then more power to them, this is America after all. They are free to disagree with my (and many others') objection to Little League's position.

In sum, (not to sound too egotistical, LOL), but what I bring to an organization (my umpire skill set) is too valuable to be "donated".  I will certainly work for an amount less than what I think I am worth if I believe in that organization (one example for me is Legion), especially when the amount that entity does pay me represents a sizable dent in their bottom line.

ASIDE:  The enjoyment some umpires have stated they get from umpiring Little League (such as seeing a player learn the game, kids grow as players and people, etc.) and getting paid are not two mutually exclusive items.  You can (and likely will) get this same satisfaction from working these games if you were paid.

 

I agree with you there. I want to work Legion ball where you do - they pay us $60 per game. I wish the Legion season was longer, but they cram the entire season in 4 weeks here. I agree the money isn't the issue, and I would donate to the Legion as I like their cause. Here the legion guys have to be experienced VARSITY umpires to get asked to work the games.

Would I do these tournaments and USSA games for no pay? No way in h%$#. They sound like a bunch of wanna be dad/coaches with no respect for the umpires or the game. Just trying to get their kids scouted for the show.

I will never tell someone else what he needs to do for games or levels - that is a personal choice. If they want to work LL for a hotdog, go ahead. I think there is something for everyone out there, the goal no matter what league you work, have fun and get better at what you do.

[lawump]

1 minute ago, maineump said:

I agree with you there. I want to work Legion ball where you do - they pay us $60 per game. I wish the Legion season was longer, but they cram the entire season in 4 weeks here.

Well, they can't let it interfere with hockey season, right?!?  

[maineump]

Just now, lawump said:

Well, they can't let it interfere with hockey season, right?!?  

True  actually there is summer hockey here.

To be honest, not sure why it is so short. I think it is because it starts a week after HS States (near middle of June) and has to get the whole thing in for zone tournaments and the States.

I am not sure why, but I hear that the teams in our zone pay a very big fee to be a team. Not sure where all of the money goes, as we only work a 2-man crew and it doesn't come to the umpires. GM's just like to complain I guess.

[lawump]

1 minute ago, maineump said:

True  actually there is summer hockey here.

To be honest, not sure why it is so short. I think it is because it starts a week after HS States (near middle of June) and has to get the whole thing in for zone tournaments and the States.

I am not sure why, but I hear that the teams in our zone pay a very big fee to be a team. Not sure where all of the money goes, as we only work a 2-man crew and it doesn't come to the umpires. GM's just like to complain I guess.

Our high school season starts at the end of February (scrimmages start at the beginning of February) and the state championships are the first full week of May.  By the time of the state championships, Legion is underway.

[GPblue]

I think everyone on here has made valid points to this discussion.  I guess me opening this can of worms has brought out some emotions, and educated opinions.  I think my two concerns stem from training and commentators.

We as officials know that when a problem on the field occurs, the umpire will get the first blame. 

I have worked with several umpires who have gone to the LL run clinics in Williamsport, and honestly feel they have come back with sloppy mechanics and poor game management skills.  So problem one is they are having the "experts" be volunteers who probably don't have high level umpire experience, or their high level experience is considered working LL regionals or WS.

 

Problem two is commentating.  As long as I can remember watching the tournament on ESPN, at least ONCE a game the play by play or color guy will at some point have to justify a call or play with "The volunteer umpires........" If you have to justify a situation, why put yourself in that position?

One last point(I know I said 2).  When I work a tournament game where a kid's parent has paid x amount of dollars to be on that team, they know what they are receiving for that fee.  I know if I were a parent, if I was spending money for my child to be in a tournament, they are going to have an understanding of what they are being provided.  One of the services is trained qualified umpires who are EARNING(and I'm sorry smiles and thank you's aren't earning) while providing their service to the game.

 

I truly think even 45 bucks a game to the LLWS umpires won't break the bank.