Quote:
Originally Posted by kylejt
It's really tough for some kids to tuck these umpires shirts in. First, the chest protectors are pretty huge, and getting an umpire shirt small enough isn't easy. So they're wearing a big shirt, and big gear, and trying to fit into a pair of pants that were designed to handle one, much less two shirts tuck into it.
Plate pants for a 10 year old? Not happening. Just roll with what you've got, and be happy they're out there.
As for training, he's just emulating what he's seen adults do. Could he do better? Sure, but couldn't we all? At 11, I was gunning Caps kids out like Ron Luciano, so which is worse?
What I dig is his enthusiasum. You can't train that.
That said, I DO require my 11 and up umpires to wear some sort of gray pants, and the shirts are always tucked in. Black shoes, belt and socks. Hats forward, etc.
|
Any uniform standards is better than no uniform standards. I don't expect this kid to have plate pants, but I would expect the league to give him some small shinguards that can fit under a cheap pair of grey pants. For the chest protector, he might be better off using an outside one for these little kids. The shirt should be easy enough to tuck in and use a belt.
I would expect better from an umpire at any age, even doing 5/6 year old t-ball games. The fact that he's a kid doesn't matter. Once you step on that field, you're an umpire, and you represent your league, the game of baseball, and the umpiring profession. If he is not ready to dress with a modicum of professionalism, his parents shouldn't have signed him up.