[BigUmpJohn]

Originally posted by Dakota
My 16 yo daughter has expressed a desire to umpire.

She wants to make a little money, plus even though she decided over the winter to not go out for softball this spring, she is having withdrawal symptoms and wants to stay involved.

I am looking for some advice from anyone who has been a teenage umpire, or anyone who has parented a teenage umpire, especially female teenage umpires, or has any other relavent experience with rookie teenage umpires.

I am thinking I will ask my assignor to partner me with her for her first couple of games. (These will be single umpire games, so she will either be by herself or I will be donating my time - I won't get paid as her partner).

I am thinking I would be the BU, since she needs to primarily get comfortable behind the plate (single ump games).

I am thinking I would only call the first game with her, but sit in the stands and let her go single "man" in the second (league double headers) so she can get some single ump mechanics in before she's purely on her own.

How should I deal with the coaches? Here is what I am thinking.
a) She must be in charge of the plate meeting with me as BU.
b) I'll explain to the coaches that I am there as an umpire trainer (have to explain 2 umps), but I won't tell them she is my daughter (some will probably know, since she's been a travel ball player since 10U...) As part of that, I will explain to the coaches they must talk with her for any issues with her calls; I will not overrule nor will I be their go-between. And, I'll explain that I'll be on the field for the first game only.

Overall, is this plan a good idea or bad idea?

[Edited by Dakota on Feb 23rd, 2004 at 01:33 PM]

Speaking as a current teenage umpire, I see nothing wrong with what you've presented. Let her handle most of the issues because she's gotta learn to be on her own out there and to deal with coaches/parents. I had a mentor my first couple of years and still do. It'll be a good thing for her to know that her mentor will be her dad. Best of luck.