Force out AND attempted tag at first base

[JA10726]

8-9 year old Fall Ball, local Little League with a developmental emphasis. 
Slow ground ball to first, first baseman fields it and steps on the base before the runner arrives (by a couple of seconds). However, the first baseman remains on the base and also tries to tag the runner but loses the ball when he makes contact with the runner. Umpire called the runner safe at first. Correct or incorrect?

 

[grayhawk]

1 hour ago, JA10726 said:

8-9 year old Fall Ball, local Little League with a developmental emphasis. 
Slow ground ball to first, first baseman fields it and steps on the base before the runner arrives (by a couple of seconds). However, the first baseman remains on the base and also tries to tag the runner but loses the ball when he makes contact with the runner. Umpire called the runner safe at first. Correct or incorrect?

 

Sounds like he was tagging an already retired batter-runner. 

[JA10726]

Seemed that way to me and many parents along the first baseline. I can only assume the umpire did not see the first baseman step on the base with the ball before there was any attempt at a tag and he did not want to hear anything different. 

[Coach Carl]

7 hours ago, JA10726 said:

he did not want to hear anything different. 

Was he not willing to listen to his partner or was he trying to ignore the peanut gallery?  I suggest avoiding being critical of an umpire who is resistant to information from the crowd, the coaches, the players and anyone else there other than an umpire who is working the game with him. 

If an umpire kicks a call but then changes his mind because of what anyone says (again, other than his partner) then he is opening a BIG can of worms that will make the rest of the game a ****show.  Every close call, every possible miss or bad angle will be subject to everyone else's opinion.  It'll be a mess.  It is better for the game if you give him grace and move on to the next play.  

[JA10726]

15 hours ago, Coach Carl said:

Was he not willing to listen to his partner or was he trying to ignore the peanut gallery?  I suggest avoiding being critical of an umpire who is resistant to information from the crowd, the coaches, the players and anyone else there other than an umpire who is working the game with him. 

If an umpire kicks a call but then changes his mind because of what anyone says (again, other than his partner) then he is opening a BIG can of worms that will make the rest of the game a ****show.  Every close call, every possible miss or bad angle will be subject to everyone else's opinion.  It'll be a mess.  It is better for the game if you give him grace and move on to the next play.  

He was working alone behind the plate so no partner in the field. I totally understand not changing a call due to outside influences, especially fans or an angry coach.

My issue was his explanation to me when I questioned why he ruled the runner safe, as if it was simply a matter of the ball getting dislodged. When I said the first baseman stepped on the bag before the runner even arrived and a tag was attempted he said it didn't matter because he stayed in the base path and the runner has a right to that space as well so if the ball becomes dislodged the runner is safe. On a bang bang play I could see that being the case as possession isn't fully attained but the kid took two steps to first base with the ball in his glove and then waited for the runner.