[PeteBooth]

[QUOTE=TussAgee11]I had to forfiet the game I was scheduled to work today because one team only had 7 players. I asked the coach if anybody else was coming, and he said no. I called both managers to me, and notified them that this was a forfeit.

As Umpires per rule we can DECLARE games a Forfiet but the ultimate decision to actually Forfeit the Game lies with the President of that particular league. The President may decide to replay the game.

In my association we make sure we get paid and then tell the coaches Not enough players game is cancelled. I then either call or E-mail my assignor and tell him the circumstances. My assignor will then contact the president of that league.

If the league does re-schedule it's another game FEE.

I collected my game fees (pretty easy money I may add), and then was asked to stick around by one of the managers, because they were going to play anyway.

They can play all they want but do not officiate the game. The coaches should be pissed off at the players who did not show. That's their problem not ours.

I tried to be really nice, but it was clear this pissed both coaches off. As I was leaving the field, I noticed they started to play their scrimmage.

As Leo Derosure once said "Nice guys finish last". Our responsibility is to show up at the field preferablly 1/2 hour before game time. The coaches job is to insure that he/she has enough players.

You met your responsibility, the teams didn't. Do not be "NICE". Simply take your FEE and go home. let them moan and groan all they want.

Example: It was raining pretty hard one afternoon. All games were cancelled except mine (for some ukknown reason). I went to the game site and the field was simply unplayable, however, before the game starts it's the coaches decision as to whether or not he wants to play. Once we take the field it then becomes ours.

I tried to save both coaches money. If the game doesn't start we get a travel FEE, however, if we take the field the game is under our control. Therefore, I said to the coaches, the field is unplayable and me and my partner will take our travel FEE save you some money and you can play another day. The coaches were vehement and said no no the field is ok.

Therefore, at that plate conference, we now got paid a FULL game FEE, exchanged line-ups and went over ground rules. After warm-ups I pointed Play, F1 threw one pitch and I called TIME - Game over due to unplayable conditions. You should have heard the moaning / groaning but who cares. Simply head for your car, do not engage in any conversations and go home. Inform the assignor and get ready for another day.

The only Time you do scrimmages is if it is a Scheduled Scrimmage in which the assignor sends umpires.

Pete Booth

It's unfortunate but you cannot be "NICE"

Side NOTE: Make certain there is something in the local rules that stipulates how long you must wait, otherwise in the future a coach might want you to "hang around" for an hour in trying to field a team. Normally it's 15-20 minutes after the official Start-Time.