Bad game last tuesday

[LLPA13UmpDan]

Well i was doing a LL Softball Tourney which the rules were about half-arsed..but anyways they had 7-11yr olds on the same team, so it would be about the Minor Division. We'll I did the plate and I know i wasnt doing well. But Sunday I was the plate ump for a Major Softball district championship and I did exellent. But Tuesday was different. My zone was the problem. We were asked to call a generous strike zone for this level of play. My zone was about from Shins to neck; batterbox to batterbox. Only one of the coaches was fussing about it though; after I called a girl out on strike 3 to end an inning. I ignored him and he went away. I mean, it was consistant for both teams. But I knew I have done better, even my partner said I called strikes that bounced over the plate! But what do you do when none of the pitchers can get it right over the plate? I had to call strikes. The home team (whos manager wanted to argue strikes) lost, the game went the full 6 innings, and took 2 1/2 hrs! Game started about 6pm and I got out of the park about quarter of nine. Whats your thoughts in a situation like this? (BTW, i do not wanna do this tourney again; atleast not softball) I just dont know about this game.

[mrm21711]

Originally Posted by LLPA13UmpDan

Well i was doing a LL Softball Tourney which the rules were about half-arsed..but anyways they had 7-11yr olds on the same team, so it would be about the Minor Division. Whats your thoughts in a situation like this?

I dont understand the point of your post recapping your week, but I doubt very few people on this board ever worked a Little League Softball game. Sounds like you lost focus, but then again who wouldnt?

[LLPA13UmpDan]

Originally Posted by mrm21711

I dont understand the point of your post recapping your week, but I doubt very few people on this board ever worked a Little League Softball game. Sounds like you lost focus, but then again who wouldnt?

Well it was my last game this year, and I decided to look back at this year and see where i coulda done better and so fourth. This is was my first season, and i wanna come back next year and do much better. It's easy to lose focus when they are real young. Baseball isnt near as bad; pitchers can get the ball over the plate. I havent done much softball; but im planning to next year. (not that level tho)

[LLPA13UmpDan]

Originally Posted by DG

No Fall baseball in your area?

This is PA for crying out loud. lol but no their isnt. The only thing right now is Sectionals and that, which im not eligible to do yet. But overall i done 8 games behind the plate in the reg season, about 25 in the feild, and during All-Stars and another tourney, I done the plate twice, and in the field 7 times i think.

[nickrego]

Never call a zone that is bigger than you feel comfortable with, or that is not the regularly accepted zone size for that level/league. No matter what the coaches, or anyone else asks you to do.

I have done that twice (early) in my career, and I will never do it again.

First time, was a (last) regular season game between two LL teams that were not in the playoffs. Both coaches wanted a big strike zone to keep the game moving, and to keep it from being a walk-fest. I took a major load of grief from the crowd, and the players.

Second time was a HS pre-season scrimmage. This time, I had the coaches announce to the crowd that THEY had requested a larger than usual strike zone, to get the kids swinging the bat. It was still a nightmare.

The last reason I won't do it is this;

I have spent years working on several CONSISTENT zone sizes for the different levels I work. I am not going to go throw all that out of the window, and screw up my conditioning for anybody. Plus, it is IMPOSSIBLE to have a fair and consistent, enlarged zone. But you already know that, don't you !

[Rich]

Contrary to popular belief, a big strike zone does not yield a better or quicker game. Not always.

I umpire an adult league with some pretty good pitching. Wood bat. Calling a big strike zone does not move the game along -- pitchers are good enough to throw the ball where they need to, so calling a normal strikezone forces them to put the ball on the plate. More balls get hit. More grounders and popups and fewer 8 pitch batters. I've worked 9 innings in 1:30 in this league, although 2 hours is about the norm.

With kids, expand the zone at bit in and out, sure, but don't ever put yourself in a position where you're letting the coaches tell you how to call a game. If you are calling pitches that bounced strikes and you don't know about it, your timing is way too fast and you need to slow down and relax a bit back there.

[GarthB]

http://forum.officiating.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7

[BBlanco25]

i've been given a league all to myself with 9-10 year olds who play with a softer ball because their parents don't want them to get hurt, but these pitches they throw are just lollypops and i just have to call it were it crosses the plate even if it does hit the plate, but my strike zone is usually shoulders to knees, a ball inside and a ball and a half outside. hope that helps

[LLPA13UmpDan]

Originally Posted by BBlanco25

i've been given a league all to myself with 9-10 year olds who play with a softer ball because their parents don't want them to get hurt, but these pitches they throw are just lollypops and i just have to call it were it crosses the plate even if it does hit the plate, but my strike zone is usually shoulders to knees, a ball inside and a ball and a half outside. hope that helps

Perfect case of mom worried they are gunna get hurt; and dad says go play, gettin hurt is part of sports and take the pain lol and when u say softerball do you mean a softball or a baseball that is soft? I know in our league; tee ball and coach pitch baseball use them, and from minors on up they use hard balls, and softball they use just regular softballs, since their is no coach pitch softball.