[Tim C]

I live in an area where literally NO volunteer LL umpires EVER become part of our Federation, College or Summer Umpire Group.

I live in an area where NO SUMMER baseball is supported by tax dollars, in fact, players and coaches "pay-to-play".

I have over the years "tried" to watch poorly trained, out of uniform and uneducated (to the rules and game managment) umpires work games.

I poersonally detest Little League (organized National Group) and what it has done to the game.

Paid umpires are held to a higher standard than volunteers. You would not see, in my area, a paid umpire show up with gear on the outside and his hat turned backwards.

At the volunteer level we often see just the things listed above.

In my opinion people who umpire for free (call them volunteers if you want) are not umpires. They are volunteers helping keep order at a game.

There is nothing wrong with the PEOPLE that work these games, there is a problem with LL for making demands that people volunteer.

Two points to close:

(1) All playoff games in the three largest LL groups in our area are umpired by PAID members of the local FED association.

I conclude that this means that the officials of the local LL "think" there must be a difference between volunteers and umpires.

(2) My statement that for years I have "tried" to watch people umpire . . . it includes volunteers and paid umpires alike.

Rich, you ask what makes umpires different:

1) Expense of GEAR. Coaches don't have that personal expense, LL moms don't HAVE to buy their child the newest Z3000 Titanium Bat, and uniforms don't have to include SEVEN different changes for tournament play.

2) Training. In my area coaches teach with what they have learned over the years (that includes teachng "the hands are part of the bat." Testing, training classes and a committment to learn things they do not know.

3) Impartiality. MOST volunteer umpires in our area are connected in some way to teams. players or coaches. Like the legal system, this is an incestual relationship. This allows coaches to impart pressure on volunteers that just doesn't happen with paid professional (I have to watch that term - I think that umpires that work non-professional games can be called professional -- but just by a small amount).

Tee

[Edited by Tim C on Jul 19th, 2002 at 04:54 PM]