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Originally posted by Danny R
My son plays LL Minors ~8yr-olds. The league needs volunteer umps, so I've volunteered. I have 4 games under my belt behind home plate and a couple in the field. I think I do a pretty good job: I continually read through the rulebook and am quizzing myself so that I can give the kids a well-umped game;
I look up info on the web like this site to help make me better; I hustle out to cover plays; I have a consistent strike zone (I'm pretty strict about strikes being armpits or below, but I give 2-3 inches on the outside and inside, and I'll call strikes and pitches just below the knees if I think they're hittable);
I make all calls loud so everybody can hear them; and I'm completely impartial. Up until today it's been great. People from both sides have come up after the game and said I've provided the best umping they've seen in this league.
Today, though, there were some parents just behind me while I was umping. They were making comments to each other like "Jeez, how can he make any kind of call on that? He doesn't even have a good position!" or "Look at that! I tell you, making a Little League dad an umpire is one of the worst things you can do," and on and on. Not loud, not talking to me, just among themselves but within earshot.
I never acknowledged any of it or gave any sign that I was hearing it. Between innings when I would walk around they'd say "you're doing a good job, ump." I know you have to have thick skin to do this job. But man it really irritated me. I know I shouldn't be bothered by it, but I am. I suppose I need to get used to it. Oh well...
Danny welcome to the world of volunteer umpiring. Your thread is one of the main reasons why leagues have trouble getting volunteer umpires.
Do not let it bother you. When I was umpiring LL, it wasn't uncommon to umpire 3/4 games in a day due to the shortage. On a hot summer day it was my 4th game behind the dish and I could hear a parent constantly quibbling about my strike zone, saying all kinds of things.
I know we are not supposed to address fans, but it was very hot, so between innings I went over to this individual and said:
"You know you are right, my Strike zone is awful and you could call a better game than me. I'll tell you what, it's hot and a nice tall glass of lemonade looks really fine at this point. You can either borrow my equipment or I'm certain we have equipment upstairs that can fit you and I'll go sit down and relax."
The individual just stood there dumbfounded, and I didn't hear a peep out of him the rest of the game. In fact, he said good game blue after it was all over.
You'll find not just at a baseball game, but people in general who will complain but will not do anything about it either.
Many leagues are now starting to pay for umpires or "outsourcing" the scheduling of umpires to an association. People wonder why youth sports is becoming expensive and they have no one to blame but themselves.
Whether you call a "perfect" game or have a "bad" game people will have comments. Suggesstion: Simply do your job (pay no attention to the comments unless those comments are making it difficult to continue the game), and when the game is over do not look for any acolades, simply walk off the field.
Pete Booth
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Peter M. Booth
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