Officially starting my little league umpire journey tomorrow

[orangebird]

9 minutes ago, 834k3r said:

Keep in mind you should be in B during warm-ups. I would suggest there are still things to track during warm-ups as well:  if your partner is chatting with coaches about subs or whatnot, you should be counting the pitches for him. During the warm-ups during each half of the first inning, I'll actually track the ball and watch the bag to calibrate my eyes for plays at 1B. After the first inning, I'll watch the players throw--especially if there's a new F4/F5/F6--so I can watch their throw and release.

Will have to check my notes but don't remember that coming up in our training, but it makes sense

[orangebird]

Also because I've seen other people do it, thought I'd join the "gear in the signature" family

(Champro had legit every item on sale on one site I checked for umpire stuff so they currently have my unwavering brand loyalty lmfao. My shoes are just a normal pair of Under Armour running shoes at least lol) 

[The Man in Blue]

When you start, cost is the major factor in your decision making.  After you've been around awhile (and start doing "bigger" ball), you will learn to consider other factors.  Your current brand loyalty will not last long.  Nor will your wallet, but there is good reason. 

At least you didn't by any upside-down golden arches.  😉

Between innings, don't be in actual B.  You should be on the grass line towards right field, out of the way.  Watch out for the outfielders warming up though, especially at that age.  

[orangebird]

1 minute ago, The Man in Blue said:

When you start, cost is the major factor in your decision making.  After you've been around awhile (and start doing "bigger" ball), you will learn to consider other factors.  Your current brand loyalty will not last long.  Nor will your wallet, but there is good reason. 

At least you didn't by any upside-down golden arches.  😉

Between innings, don't be in actual B.  You should be on the grass line towards right field, out of the way.  Watch out for the outfielders warming up though, especially at that age.  

Haha yeah standing at A between innings was a good test to see how often I could kick save a warm up throw at first

[The Man in Blue]

Just now, orangebird said:

Haha yeah standing at A between innings was a good test to see how often I could kick save a warm up throw at first

 

You're a good guy.  Now . . . NOT YOUR JOB.  😉

Yeah, 10u is not a great place to learn, but it is a great place to get your feet under you.

A between innings is also a great place to get a concussion.

[concertman1971]

11 hours ago, 834k3r said:

 

Thigh-Pros. Get nothing else. @concertman1971 is a genius.

 

Appreciate this!

[grayhawk]

11 hours ago, 834k3r said:

Keep in mind you should be in B during warm-ups.

Wait, what? Do you mean short right field?

[834k3r]

12 hours ago, grayhawk said:

Wait, what? Do you mean short right field?

On a small field, as in @orangebird's case, B and short right field are synonymous. On a big field, of course, being in B between inning halves is a bad idea.

[orangebird]

2 minutes ago, 834k3r said:

On a small field, as in @orangebird's case, B and short right field are synonymous. On a big field, of course, being in B between inning halves is a bad idea.

Not to further reveal my training is using the wisdom for 70+ feet fields but I used B/C in front of the bases and not behind them lol

[834k3r]

7 minutes ago, orangebird said:

Not to further reveal my training is using the wisdom for 70+ feet fields but I used B/C in front of the bases and not behind them lol

Well, I never advocate for going against your training, but the standard LL mechanic for 60' fields (baseball, all ages up to and including 12) is B and C are behind the infielders (usually on or just past the grass fringe).

[orangebird]

1 minute ago, 834k3r said:

Well, I never advocate for going against your training, but the standard LL mechanic for 60' fields (baseball, all ages up to and including 12) is B and C are behind the infielders (usually on or just past the grass fringe).

Noted. I think staying on the infield grass seems fine, you can get closer to the bases without needing to cross into the basepath and I'd really prefer to not accidentally truck a 10-year-old lol 

[Velho]

45 minutes ago, orangebird said:

Noted. I think staying on the infield grass seems fine, you can get closer to the bases without needing to cross into the basepath and I'd really prefer to not accidentally truck a 10-year-old lol 

I can see getting away being inside for non-high level 10U. Anything but low level 12U though, that is a very bad place to be. 70ft bases is just big enough to allow it's a different game since lead offs are allowed.

Also, it's sub-optimal (I'm being diplomatic) being inside to pick up runners leaving early (the pitch reaching the batter type, not the tag up sac fly version).

Just for awareness, this league is setting you up well for normal "big field" mechanics but not softball/LL. It's fine but I expect ss you get experience, you'll outgrow this league (at least at the 60' bases).

 

[orangebird]

22 minutes ago, Velho said:

I can see getting away being inside for non-high level 10U. Anything but low level 12U though, that is a very bad place to be. 70ft bases is just big enough to allow it's a different game since lead offs are allowed.

Also, it's sub-optimal (I'm being diplomatic) being inside to pick up runners leaving early (the pitch reaching the batter type, not the tag up sac fly version).

Just for awareness, this league is setting you up well for normal "big field" mechanics but not softball/LL. It's fine but I expect ss you get experience, you'll outgrow this league (at least at the 60' bases).

 

Yeah they promote umpires to the older-aged leagues based on years working with them where next year I could work base for 70-foot 11-12s and year three would let me work base for 80-foot 13-14s

[orangebird]

And also this will probably not be my primary league, unless I brain fart my way to not passing an open-book test, but that org also has spent very little time on mechanics so far so who knows where they'll want me to stand lol

[834k3r]

On 3/13/2025 at 10:20 AM, Velho said:

I'm in the West and no one in my Districts (incl multiple San Bernardino instructors) and all the West Region level umps I know have never been paid.

Locally, youth umpires get paid regularly and the only time I've heard adults getting paid is when Leagues have gone to the local HS/College Associations for coverage. Those are umps who would never do LL otherwise.

Somehow, I missed this comment--sorry. My little (the general area where I'm at is about 15,000-20,000 people) area pays LL umps a small amount. $25/game to PU for 8-10 year olds, $40 to PU for 12+ year olds ($25 to BU). It's not much, (with game fees like that you're solidly in the jeans-and-hat-on-backwards-PU territory) but I'm not sure how they'd get anyone to work the games otherwise.

 

[834k3r]

8 minutes ago, orangebird said:

And also this will probably not be my primary league, unless I brain fart my way to not passing an open-book test, but that org also has spent very little time on mechanics so far so who knows where they'll want me to stand lol

UmpireBible.com is your friend.

[orangebird]

Just now, 834k3r said:

UmpireBible.com is your friend.

Oh I am more than aware of their resources, trust me haha

[Velho]

1 hour ago, orangebird said:

eah they promote umpires to the older-aged leagues based on years working with them where next year I could work base for 70-foot 11-12s and year three would let me work base for 80-foot 13-14s

You're on a path to doing High School before that.

[orangebird]

9 minutes ago, Velho said:

You're on a path to doing High School before that.

Haha I'd like to get a few more LL games under my belt before thinking about that...but I can admit I'd probably want to contact the org that assigns for my county to ask for a general overview of how everything works with them

[834k3r]

7 minutes ago, orangebird said:

Haha I'd like to get a few more LL games under my belt before thinking about that...but I can admit I'd probably want to contact the org that assigns for my county to ask for a general overview of how everything works with them

You'll be ready more quickly than you think. My first year of doing Legion baseball was the year after I started LL.

[grayhawk]

3 hours ago, orangebird said:

Haha I'd like to get a few more LL games under my belt before thinking about that...but I can admit I'd probably want to contact the org that assigns for my county to ask for a general overview of how everything works with them

Honestly, HS games are easier to work than games with little kids. High schoolers tend to do things that are more predictable than the youngsters. The game management is about the same, given that frosh and JV games are mostly led by just baby sitters acting as coaches. They don't know the rules any better than your typical daddy coach, and the parents are just a smidge better than most LL parents.

When I was in the HS association, we trained people that had never umpired before and some of them, especially the ones that take their craft as seriously as you do, started out pretty well.

[orangebird]

1 minute ago, grayhawk said:

Honestly, HS games are easier to work than games with little kids. High schoolers tend to do things that are more predictable than the youngsters. The game management is about the same, given that frosh and JV games are mostly led by just baby sitters acting as coaches. They don't know the rules any better than your typical daddy coach, and the parents are just a smidge better than most LL parents.

When I was in the HS association, we trained people that had never umpired before and some of them, especially the ones that take their craft as seriously as you do, started out pretty well.

Yeah I think I'd feel pretty nervous about a HS varsity game having genuine stakes but if JV games are looking for bodies that know the rules I'd like to think I could handle that 

Not entirely sure I'd want to work the plate though, don't want to learn what it looks like umpiring a kid with 80 mph fastball with minimal control repeatedly missing up and in lol

[The Man in Blue]

39 minutes ago, grayhawk said:

Honestly, HS games are easier to work than games with little kids. High schoolers tend to do things that are more predictable than the youngsters. The game management is about the same, given that frosh and JV games are mostly led by just baby sitters acting as coaches. They don't know the rules any better than your typical daddy coach, and the parents are just a smidge better than most LL parents.

When I was in the HS association, we trained people that had never umpired before and some of them, especially the ones that take their craft as seriously as you do, started out pretty well.

 

Precisely why I said 10u games are terrible places to learn, but good places to get your feet under you.  You will never see enough decent baseball to learn the game.  You can practice basics and learn basic positioning, but that's about all.

If you are enjoying this and want to get better, I'd suggest jumping in with JV or junior high games.  

[orangebird]

3 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

 

Precisely why I said 10u games are terrible places to learn, but good places to get your feet under you.  You will never see enough decent baseball to learn the game.  You can practice basics and learn basic positioning, but that's about all.

If you are enjoying this and want to get better, I'd suggest jumping in with JV or junior high games.  

Yeah I'll have to see if my second game is any different but it was kinda funny realizing the fielding quality meant I had like 0.5 bang-bang plays the whole game. I will at least give the kids credit, they had enough spatial awareness that I didn't see any obstruction/interference situations

[Richvee]

The one thing I can say of the years I worked small diamond games, is, you’ll see more crazy stuff that you won’t see in high school every day. The little guys helped me learn obstruction, interference, base path  calls… all kinds of crazy stuff. Then that once in a while you see it on HS or above. It’s like “I got this”.