Quote:
Originally posted by wobster
Next year, obviously, I am not going to umpire for this league if I have a choice.
[Edited by wobster on Jun 22nd, 2004 at 10:16 AM]
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Wobster;
Sooner or later, umpires that want to get good, give up on kiddie ball. Some kiddie ball leagues support their umpires, and some do not.
You have run into one that does not. If it makes you feel any better, back in the 1980's, I had the same problems as you, except in my case, the kiddie league fired me. I ejected an 11 year old for hurling his bat and helmet in anger after striking out. I was told that we did not embarass kids by ejecting them because their self esteem was too fragile. (This particular kid came from a broken home. His father had abandoned the family two weeks earlier and then the mean umpire threw him out of a game.) I told them that I would not tolerate such behavior and it was not my concern what the kid's personal problems were. They told me that I was done.
It was the best thing that could have happened. I joined a real umpire group and started moving up the food chain. If you have put in eight years in the trenches, it's time to get out. There are better challenges ahead. Or,find a kiddie league that makes parents and coaches sign behavior contracts AND ENFORCES THEM.
Peter