[gsf23]

Hell, I was a rat and an umpire at the same time, somtimes the same day.

The first year I umpired, I was also the pitching coach for a team that played in the area that our association covered. One classic moment was after I coached the varsity team, I went upstairs, changed into my gear and was the base umpire for the JV game. My partner and I go to the plate, and as we are introducing ourselves to the coaches, the coach from the visiting team shakes my hand and then does a double take.

“Aren’t you a coach on that team?”

“Yes, but the other umpire had to leave and so I am taking his place.”

My partner had to re-assure the coach that I was indeed certified and pretty much put his own reputation on the line, telling the coach that he wouldn’t have any complaints about how I worked the bases.

I thought it was pretty easy to separate coach from umpire.