If you show up at a field on-time and they cancel it after you're already there, should you expect to be paid?

[LouisB]

On 5/3/2025 at 7:36 PM, Jay R. said:

Agree with @Grayhawk on that being a typical setup.

I will say that a Little League I worked in had a standard that the half-game fee was in place until the plate meeting. 

So, is that half a hot dog and small coke! 

[concertman1971]

Why do we allow baseball coaches to continually start late? 

Varsity Football, 7pm kickoff, oh what do you know, the kickoff is at 7.

Varsity Basketball, 7 pm tip off, oh what do you know, the tip off is at 7.

Varsity Baseball, suggested start time, 345 pm. email the coach/AD a day or 2 before, typically no reply. Walk to the field 335, oh look, coach is still at 2b watering it down. 345 he strolls to the plate meeting, then wants to chat, Intros/anthem/ etc, 1st pitch 356.

WHY?

Actually had a D2 College coach tell us at the plate on Friday that Saturday was his Senior Day and we would probably be running about 10 minutes behind but "we could show up 10 min before SCHEDULED start time and 'stand over there' while they finished. "

For real. That happened 2 weeks ago. He fully expected us to just give him 20 minutes of our time for free. No lunch between the double header. nothing. We showed up at the scheduled start time. 

 

[The Man in Blue]

There is one school -- ONE -- that sends out a timed itinerary in advance.  It lists the arrival times, the times for visitors and home infield, national anthem . . . all of it.

Of course, the admin is not there to ensure it goes off that way, but I appreciate that they are aware of it.

And YES on senior nights.  We should not be standing on the field for that, yet it seems as if we always are.

[Thatsnotyou]

The late starts are killing me. This year is as bad as I can remember it. Last week I had a team show up precisely at game time. This week I had a team show up 35 minutes after game time. We started 55 minutes late. 55 minutes! And we’re just supposed to deal with it. The only one who loses is the umpires. The players play, the game gets in. The schools don’t pay anything more. Assignors get paid just the same and don’t feel any of this. It’s just us and our families that pay the price. No extra pay, no respect for our time. 

[Thatsnotyou]

On 5/12/2025 at 12:22 PM, concertman1971 said:

Why do we allow baseball coaches to continually start late? 

Varsity Football, 7pm kickoff, oh what do you know, the kickoff is at 7.

Varsity Basketball, 7 pm tip off, oh what do you know, the tip off is at 7.

Varsity Baseball, suggested start time, 345 pm. email the coach/AD a day or 2 before, typically no reply. Walk to the field 335, oh look, coach is still at 2b watering it down. 345 he strolls to the plate meeting, then wants to chat, Intros/anthem/ etc, 1st pitch 356.

WHY?

Actually had a D2 College coach tell us at the plate on Friday that Saturday was his Senior Day and we would probably be running about 10 minutes behind but "we could show up 10 min before SCHEDULED start time and 'stand over there' while they finished. "

For real. That happened 2 weeks ago. He fully expected us to just give him 20 minutes of our time for free. No lunch between the double header. nothing. We showed up at the scheduled start time. 

 

Is part of it the fact that they have a clock, can set it, and work off that? We have no clock. Seems like a huge problem to me as there is nothing to move it along. We just…stand around until they are done stretching, playing catch, and done practicing (I’m sorry, taking infield) and what have you to get started. 

[Velho]

17 hours ago, Thatsnotyou said:

This week I had a team show up 35 minutes after game time

Was there any reason given? And message along the way that they were still coming?

If no comms, I have to ask - if you're waiting 35 minutes and still playing, how long will you wait before simply leaving?

[The Man in Blue]

23 hours ago, Thatsnotyou said:

The late starts are killing me. This year is as bad as I can remember it. Last week I had a team show up precisely at game time. This week I had a team show up 35 minutes after game time. We started 55 minutes late. 55 minutes! And we’re just supposed to deal with it. The only one who loses is the umpires. The players play, the game gets in. The schools don’t pay anything more. Assignors get paid just the same and don’t feel any of this. It’s just us and our families that pay the price. No extra pay, no respect for our time. 

 

I fully understand that many schools in many areas are undergoing transportation issues . . . either in not having enough bus drivers or trying to manage budgets.  Additionally, buses break down and traffic gets stopped.

That said . . . communication.

35 minutes after gametime, 55 minutes late on the start, and then you want to play a full game?  There is a serious conversation that needs to be had if that is going to happen.

[orangebird]

Umpire shortage, bus driver shortage...I've got a perfect 2-for-1 business plan I'd like to try now

[The Man in Blue]

It's pretty hard to drive from under the bus . . . 

[Thatsnotyou]

10 hours ago, Velho said:

Was there any reason given? And message along the way that they were still coming?

If no comms, I have to ask - if you're waiting 35 minutes and still playing, how long will you wait before simply leaving?

Bus issues (waiting for a bus it seems). No comm from the team, was a fluke I found out that they were on their way and had left their school AT game time. 
 

Unsure how long I’d stick around if I didn’t know. Would have tried the home team and my assignor for confirmation they were coming. Regardless of what I think should be allowable, if I left and they showed, it’s me who is in trouble. 

[Thatsnotyou]

4 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

 

I fully understand that many schools in many areas are undergoing transportation issues . . . either in not having enough bus drivers or trying to manage budgets.  Additionally, buses break down and traffic gets stopped.

That said . . . communication.

35 minutes after gametime, 55 minutes late on the start, and then you want to play a full game?  There is a serious conversation that needs to be had if that is going to happen.

It’s a lack of bus drivers, it seems. But they know this. Don’t put down game times that you know aren’t happening. 
 

We should be compensated for the OT at that point. Something, anything to help as we’re the only ones that have to just wear it. 

[renegadewolf]

In the main 3 associations  work for if the game is not cancelled at least 1 hour in advance of start time the umpire is paid in full.

[orangebird]

You guys aren’t going to believe what scenario just happened again lol

[The Man in Blue]

That which we allow, we condone.