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I call anything below the chest and above the bottom of the knee a strike for all age levels. I call the black and an inch on the inside, I call the black and 2 ball widths on the outside for all age levels.
If the game dictates that the strike zone is unreasonable, I open it up for both teams. Some new umps have the impression that their job is to keep games close and they pinch good pitchers and help weak pitchers. The job is to keep the game fair.
Younger players are difficult because the ball often comes in with arc. It starts at the eyes and then it hits the dirt. Just remember that in order for the ball to go from too high to in the dirt it had to go through the strike zone.
The most important thing I learned as an ump calling strikes is to watch the ball all the way in to the catchers mitt, replay the pitch in my head for a second and then call the pitch. On all calls, don't rush!
Good Luck.
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