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Originally Posted by wadeintothem
Any UIC's out there with any tips on dealing with the 10U teams.
9/10 problems come out of the 10U teams in my experience.
1) Thats the training ground for new and usually younger teenaged umpires
2) Thats the training ground for coaches who in most cases probably last touched a ball 20 years ago in little league and think the way to coach is to scream at the umpire.
3) The very few and simple rules differences seems to throw everyone, including new umpires for such a loop that a monster is created and the most creative rules are suddenly invented minute by minute for "10U".
Many many umps refuse 10U.. and the reason cited most - the coaches. Of the ones that do take it, they usually end up hating it.
One problem is the 1 man system.. this year we were authorized two man for the first few games.. which made it a little better .. but the stories rolled in as the season went on..
Contracts are used, the coaches (and parents) are still abusive.
We offered the coaches to attend the rules clinic.. well only one showed up, and he was a 14U travel ball coach who is pretty good at the rules already.
The only thing i could think of by the end of the year was me taking the 10U games and holding an ejection fest every time they ran their yap.. but thats not good either..
Any good creative solutions that could be implemented before/ at the begining of season to perhaps lesson of this impact these new coaches have on the new begining umpires.
Or maybe its only are area that has trouble with the 10Uers
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Nope.
10u is a special creature for the reasons you mentioned. One thing I would suggest is that you DONT use younger umpires there if you can help it. Those coaches NEED veteran umpires to control them and answer their questions.
We start our younger umpires at 12u (its tricky enough that anything can still happen) Our assigner tries to rotate people through the 10u so umpires dont get burnt out on it. If at all possible use 2 men for your 10u games also..
I also spend a little extra time with the coaches at the plate. I tell them that if they have a question during the game, CALL time, and ASK the umpire who is responsible for the call. I tell them that yelling from the dugout (or anywhere else) will NOT be tolerated. This keeps the acting out to a minimum.
Parents are an issue that can be handled by the tournament staff.