I'm done...

[834k3r]

...with Little League.

It's been a while in reaching this point, but this was always going to be the result.

Contributing factors:

• Our HS association has few members and needs the coverage. Between LL and HS, I don't have the time to both, let alone adjust my zone from one ruleset to another.
• Parents. Why are LL parents so much worse than HS parents?
• Coaches. Why are LL coaches so afraid to deal with their players--especially when the kid they need to deal with is their own?
• Slim chance of progression further than the State tournament. With the identification clinics that LL does now for regionals and for the LLWS, there's very little chance of me reaching my one-time goal of going to a regional tournament or the LLWS. I will not pay $1,500 out of pocket to only have to wait decades due to the few number of LL umpires in my state as compared to others.

I'll continue to do HS and Legion, but my time with LL is done.

Thanks for joining me on my mini-rant.

[grayhawk]

7 minutes ago, 834k3r said:

Parents. Why are LL parents so much worse than HS parents?

And if you start doing college, you'll ask why HS parents are so much worse than college parents.

[ousafe]

Re: LL vs HS vs NCAA ... distance between plate and backstop makes a material difference.  I love doing games on a college field!

[grayhawk]

9 minutes ago, 834k3r said:

Slim chance of progression further than the State tournament. With the identification clinics that LL does now for regionals and for the LLWS, there's very little chance of me reaching my one-time goal of going to a regional tournament or the LLWS. I will not pay $1,500 out of pocket to only have to wait decades due to the few number of LL umpires in my state as compared to others.

And this is why I stopped doing LL after my son aged out. I was told by the district administrator that I would have to do around 30 LL games/yr for 10 years just to get a shot at going to the west region tournament.

[834k3r]

21 minutes ago, grayhawk said:

And if you start doing college, you'll ask why HS parents are so much worse than college parents.

I'm too old and too new to The Craft for me to get into collegiate games.

[Velho]

44 minutes ago, 834k3r said:

I'll continue to do HS and Legion, but my time with LL is done.

 

It's a bummer you had a bad experience but you have to go where things are best for you.

In my area, I find the HS atmosphere worse than the LL - that's said from as a former HS parent and one who will somewhat avoid problem LL leagues (though we'll see since it's AS season and I relax that).

I've not found a draw to do anything but LL and have not been concerned with Regional/WS assignments. I'd rather teach in San Bernardino (which may be harder than those assignments).

The thought of HS/WS assignments has started to creep in though. Maybe I'll do it once I retire (3:30/4pm games aren't pragmatic with work). We'll see.

51 minutes ago, 834k3r said:

I will not pay $1,500 out of pocket

Are you referring to the travel cost of doing those games or something else?

 

 

 

[834k3r]

1 minute ago, Velho said:

Are you referring to the travel cost of doing those games or something else?

The travel costs and tuition (for lack of a better term) for the "ID Clinics" needed for regional or LLWS selection.

[BLWizzRanger]

12 minutes ago, 834k3r said:

The travel costs and tuition (for lack of a better term) for the "ID Clinics" needed for regional or LLWS selection.

Thats like reverse volunteerism, isn't it? You can't make a stipend off of them locally but they want you to pay to get further ahead... interesting....

[Velho]

3 minutes ago, BLWizzRanger said:

19 minutes ago, 834k3r said:

The travel costs and tuition (for lack of a better term) for the "ID Clinics" needed for regional or LLWS selection.

Thats like reverse volunteerism, isn't it? You can't make a stipend off of them locally but they want you to pay to get further ahead... interesting....

Every league is different (and my local league has gotten their finances together after years of issues) but my league offered to pay for my weeklong school last year. I think they'd pay for the ID camp too.

 

[The Man in Blue]

7 minutes ago, BLWizzRanger said:

Thats like reverse volunteerism, isn't it? You can't make a stipend off of them locally but they want you to pay to get further ahead... interesting....

But think about the prestige and the honor . . . 
 

[The Man in Blue]

49 minutes ago, 834k3r said:

I'm too old and too new to The Craft for me to get into collegiate games.

Geography is a bigger factor than both those things.  What does opportunity look like in your area?  How far are you willing to travel?

[834k3r]

54 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

Geography is a bigger factor than both those things.  What does opportunity look like in your area?  How far are you willing to travel?

Opportunity is there, but the importance I put on my family precludes my travel to the locations that would offer the opportunity.

I'm okay with that. I was a couple decades too late coming to umpiring and completely understand my situation.

[The Man in Blue]

Put it on the shelf, don’t throw it out.  😁

[834k3r]

14 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

Put it on the shelf, don’t throw it out.  😁

Don't get me wrong:  if someone were to watch one of my games and tell me they want to help me get to JuCo or NAIA, I'd listen. But the reaction I get most at my games is groans or laughs.

[love to ump]

I am still loyal to doing LL games....my kids played it and I coached in a younger life... but,....now when I am assigned

at 9-10 year old walk fest...I feel like I am doing community service for some past crimes!

Find an adult rec league....it's the most fun I have plying the Umpire trade...no concerns about jewellery...don't care when someone drops the f-bomb...and get some really good baseball plays to go with some really bad baseball plays!

[Velho]

10 minutes ago, love to ump said:

I am still loyal to doing LL games....my kids played it and I coached in a younger life... but,....now when I am assigned

at 9-10 year old walk fest...I feel like I am doing community service for some past crimes!

I hear that and am the same (fyi - open your zone 😉 , I've worked on that and it's been great)

11 minutes ago, love to ump said:

Find an adult rec league....it's the most fun I have plying the Umpire trade...no concerns about jewellery...don't care when someone drops the f-bomb...and get some really good baseball plays to go with some really bad baseball plays!

Really? By reputation they are horrendous - in our area at least. Players sound like a bunch of hosers.

[love to ump]

Hey Velho....I open the zone and then some....but when the pitch in not in same time zone....had 33 pitch half inning last year...32 to walk in the 5 runs...one strike was a gift!

Did 13-14 year olds on weekend....had a 4  pitch half inning...thought I had found Jesus!

My third year in Mens...and it is great...most guys just happy that semi-official looking umps showed up, after playing Sandlots with players self umpiring.  Had to raise my voice this year to a player, defending one of my Teenage umps we were using that game....Gave my best Tom Hanks (A League of their Own) impression..."This is Rec League Man-There's No Yelling in RecLeague"

[Velho]

22 minutes ago, love to ump said:

but when the pitch in not in same time zone

I didn't say which zone to open up 😁

[MadMax]

On 6/17/2024 at 1:57 PM, BLWizzRanger said:

but they want you to pay to get further ahead... interesting....

You're dangerously close to pulling back the curtain on a machine – a very lucrative machine – that rhymes with "Follage Lamps and Slinics". 

[HokieUmp]

2 hours ago, MadMax said:

You're dangerously close to pulling back the curtain on a machine – a very lucrative machine – that rhymes with "Follage Lamps and Slinics". 

Man, the money I've spent on Follage Lamps, I tells ya .....

[dumbdumb]

5 hours ago, MadMax said:

You're dangerously close to pulling back the curtain on a machine – a very lucrative machine – that rhymes with "Follage Lamps and Slinics". 

now mm6, are you sure you didn't leave out a tennis implement to end that quote.

[SeeingEyeDog]

I've got a couple of LLs around me who will call me for a spot start to work some Juniors and Seniors and occasionally a district all-star game and I'll work them but, I refuse to jump into the cesspool of LL as an umpire full-time. It's simple economics...there is better baseball in my market that pays more than LL does. Why would I take less consistently to work lesser baseball if I'm not on a Williamsport track?

~Dawg

[MadMax]

1 hour ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

Why would I take less consistently to work lesser baseball if I'm not on a Williamsport track?

And frankly, Williamsport is a turnip, gussied up to look like a carrot. 🥕 Not to diminish the accomplishments of guys like @Aging_Arbiter, but if your aspirations are to be on TV, there’s other chann… er… avenues. 📺 

1 hour ago, dumbdumb said:

now mm6, are you sure you didn't leave out a tennis implement to end that quote.

[Umpy]

My Little League experience has had mostly polite and pleasant coaches and parents (with a few memorable exceptions here and there).  Kids and coaches, all eager to learn and willing to accept any explanations I give them.  Even the ones that think I blew a call won't comment more than "Man, I really thought my runner got under the tag on that one" to which I always reply "yeah, it was a close one alright"

 

The quality of baseball is definitely not always there.  I did a 10U Little League game Monday where a kid could not find the strike zone.  Complete blow out, Little League Home Runs, obstruction everywhere.  THAT game drove me to madness and had me with second thoughts on doing Little League.

[Velho]

1 hour ago, Umpy said:

10U Little League game Monday where a kid could not find the strike zone.  Complete blow out, Little League Home Runs, obstruction everywhere.  THAT game drove me to madness and had me with second thoughts on doing Little League.

I only do 10u if it's the only thing that fits my schedule or I want to challenge myself on the bases