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Likely I'm too late with my opinion, but....
I have been training umpires for more than 30 years. I always assign the PLATE as the first game.
1. Every umpire knows approximately where to stand for calling balls and strikes.
2. Every umpire will instinctively adopt some angle for a play at the plate.
3. Every base umpire (at least everyone assigned to call with a rookie) knows how to protect third base when the UIC forgets (or doesn't know) his duties there.
4. A beginning umpire NEVER looks comfortable on the field: He makes calls on the move, can't find the correct distaince, never knows how to split his responsibilities, generally messes up his timing, etc.
A blown pitch may be simply a matter of opinion. And even a rookie learns quickly to listen to the moans and yells of the fans and players.
A blown coverage of second, or a blown call at first leaves the youngster (of whatever age) twisting in front of God and everybody.
This past week I called with three umpires who were making their maiden voyages in the Starship Umpire.
The games were 10u, all three umpires called the plate, all three umpires did well, for they all three had ample pre-game training, which did include SOME supervised cage work. (That's Peter's big bugbear.)
NEVER, NEVER let an umpire call the bases for his first game. Not even a parent volunteer. The stakes are too high.
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