[IRISHMAFIA]

Joel,

If there is a tournament UIC, as an umpire I believe you have a duty to tell him what is going on. You might also tell him that you daughter's coach is aware of the misapplication and intends to protest the next time this occurs.

This seems like a seedy way to deal with this, but the UIC really has no choice, but to sit down with him and review the rule. He will also remind the umpire that if a protest is filed, he will be the one subjected to public ridicule as the UIC has no option, but to make the correction.

The idea is to get the point across to the umpire that he is being paid to enforce the rules set forth in the tournament he is working.

Don't feel bad about doing this because the umpires need to retain their integrity and we don't try to provide them with the best officiating available and this umpire's failure would threaten that integrity if left uncorrected.

Every association has an umpire like this one. Probably a nice guy, easy to get along with off the field and can hold a good rules conversation. But when he gets on the field, things just get goofy and he becomes his own worst enemy.

You never know. Maybe getting corrected by the UIC with the threat of embarrassment might make him a better umpire.