[PeteBooth]

[QUOTE=ctblu40]A quick question...

I worked a 16-18 BR game last night with a relatively new partner. He's in his second year of umpiring.

Perhaps it's the shortage, but for the most part a second year umpire should not be assigned to a 16-18 yr. old baseball game. That's equivalent to being assigned Varsity games in your second year of umpiring. Yes it happens but it depends upon your evaluations.

Your partner by his dealings with the coach was not ready for this type of ball. After it was apparent that your partner could not control the situation, then you step in.

Why!

First and Foremost, the coach by being allowed to discuss Judgement calls with your partner for some 3/5 minutes a pop is now taking too much of my time.

You give your partner a chance, but once it's obvious he cannot handle the situation, step in and as David pointed out alter the situation from your partner to you. Once you get your partner "out of the picture" now you can handle the situation and if the coach persists it's a relatively easy "dump"

Umpiring in a way is like when we played.

What happened when we went from say Freshmen ball to Varsity. F1 wanted to see how much guts we had. Would we stand in there with High heat or buckle under a curve etc.

Being a young or new umpire is no different. Coaches will test you to see how far they can go or what they can get away with.

Another reason not to "push new umpires" up is not to loose them.

Bottom Line: First give your partner a chance, see what happens and then step in and get the game moving.

Pete Booth