[Rich Ives]

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.

POINT BY POINT:

EVERY coach I know pulls money out of his own pocket every year, for litte extras, additional gear, post game drinks, mileage on the car etc.

Most leagues around here provide basic umpire gear. LL umpires don't have to buy the latest whiz bang West Vest, or whatever is the "cool" umpire thing to have this year any more than Mom needs to buy Jr. the latest bat.

Kids Moms know how to wash their uniforms, and do. That's why they only need one. They also know how to play in a dirty uniform if there are multiple games in one day. Maybe you should learn so you don't need seven sets of stuff.


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.


Oh gee, no coach ever went to a clinic? No coach ever loaded up on training videos? Umpires don''t go to coaching clinics. Coaches don't go to rules clinics.


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).


So basically, volunteer umpires ar untrustworthy cheats? Pure unadulterated BS.