help with new league

[tidefanintenn]

Dixie is the only youth baseball in our area. The leagues pay the umpires around $25-30 a game. Their are plenty of good umpires this league just never used them. They always tried to use kids from the local high school. This year tey had two incidences where coaches almost fought on the field becuase the kid umps did not know how to settle the sitch. I have started putting together a group of umpires that are well qualified and knowledgeable about baseball so nextyear the quality of umpires will be as good as could be expected. HOw can we rein in these coaches that have pushed kids into reversing calls and changing their minds because someone's dad got mad?

I know how I can handle it but do not want to be complete hard a$$.
Thanks Tuss for the info. I have got some of the local High school umps coming in as well.

[TussAgee11]

Start with making an apperance at the pre-season coach's meeting. Introduce yourself, talk about what will be different this year.

Obviously, get rid of the kid umps... I was once one, and owe that league credit and thanks for the opportunity, but now during regular season, occassionally there is a kid ump and its just not even worth it.

Tell the coaches that this year, adult certified umpires will do the games. Tell them that these are the guys who do the AAU, the Legion, (whatever you have in your area). Rules and ejections will be enforced, reported and dealt with by the league.

Go over some POE's that you want to try to get out of this league that the coach's do. Go over the things in the Dixie rulebook that normally give the most confusion (make sure your umpires are told about these things as well).

Monitor the league closely and make it known you will be an active and proactive UIC. Be at the field some if you can, to observe. Before long, the coaches will get to know you, and will be glad with the pro job you are doing for them.

[TussAgee11]

This is what I would want you to do in order to clean up this league if I was a coach, league prez, or umpire working for you anyway.

[tidefanintenn]

Thanks, Tuss. I had a few of those ideas. I will be an active UIC due to me loving to being involved. I will set up a coaches meeting with all of the umpires befor enext season. Do you think we can still help bring along a big kid ump in order to help keep good ones coming into the leagues later. I was thinking maybe we could use them for some of the coach pitch games and help them learn game management before putting them on the fiel calling older kids. Thanks for the Information you shared. From reading alot of your posts I think we react to situations in the same manner alot.

[TussAgee11]

I mean, I was a kid ump - but I was good

Some LL's in the area will pay a kid 15 or 20 bucks to go do the bases. I thought it was good for the league if the Plate Ump didn't just ignore the kid all game but would work with him, talk in between innings, etc. I doubt they will learn much unless they get that experience. Doing coach-pitched doesn't provide game management skills, and thats the last thing that an umpire should learn anyway. If developing umpires is important to you or the league, then you should meet with them preseason as well to talk about curling in, being in the saddle, confidence, timing.

Then have a mid way through the season meeting as well with them. I was talking with a fellow umpire who is in a similar position to you, and he meets with the kid umps twice a season, just to reinforce these things (teenagers are forgetful )

[bigwes68]

Originally Posted by tidefanintenn

Dixie is the only youth baseball in our area. The leagues pay the umpires around $25-30 a game. Their are plenty of good umpires this league just never used them. They always tried to use kids from the local high school. This year tey had two incidences where coaches almost fought on the field becuase the kid umps did not know how to settle the sitch. I have started putting together a group of umpires that are well qualified and knowledgeable about baseball so nextyear the quality of umpires will be as good as could be expected. HOw can we rein in these coaches that have pushed kids into reversing calls and changing their minds because someone's dad got mad?

I know how I can handle it but do not want to be complete hard a$$.
Thanks Tuss for the info. I have got some of the local High school umps coming in as well.

Dixie isn't the only youth baseball in West Tennessee. In fact, I'd say close to half the leagues are playing Cal Ripken now. I know Dyersburg, Jackson and a few places south of Jackson still play Dixie, but most everything north of Jackson is Cal Ripken now (Martin, Milan, Newbern, Lake County, Greenfield, etc.). I like the Ripken rules better (closer to OBR) but Dixie seems to be a lot more organized.

[Blue37]

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[tidefanintenn]

bigwes,

Yes there are alot of places that play different leagues, but the closest one to me is over and hour away. Dixie will remain in our area for the next several years. I have no problem with Dixie, but I do have some issues with cooaches in this league. I was just looking for suggestions in how soe of the older guys have handled these situations in the past. I have been umpiring for 6-7 years and love being involved with youth sports. My career keeps me from doing much higher level stuff as I put in alot of hours. Thanks for the help. I also agree with you the Dixie org seems to be better organized but I they get carried away with some of their rule interps as a group. I grew up playing BabeRuth, but that was a long itme ago now.