What are my options

[bossman72]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Why in the Wide World of Sports would there EVER be an umpire who's never worked a game in his whole life be assigned to a Varsity HS game?

If i remember correctly, i think Mr. Tee Christensen's first game was HS varsity, and i don't think he's worked lower than that since.

[ncump7]

We are not allowed to do any HS Varsity games with one umpire. We can do JV, Frosh, and MS games solo if an umpire no shows, but all of these games are assigned 2 umpires.

[Justme]

Originally Posted by harmbu

FED rules; high school varsity game.

Last week I had a road game. At game time, one umpire entered the field alone. The coach of the home team explained that only one umpire had shown up. He said that he had someone in the stands who helps them occasionally that he would be fair if I wanted him to help. My other option was to go with one umpire (who happened to be calling his first game ever). I was not comfortable with either of these options. What are my options in a situation like this? I will tell later what I chose and what happened.

Around here the game would have been worked solo. Our local HS association does not allow non-certified umpires to work the games, especially a varsity game.

Personally I would rather work alone than have a 'parent' or other fan pulled out of the stands to help me.

A new umpire working HS varsity for his first game? I bet it was quite the game.

[lawump]

Around these parts...we don't play a high school varsity game without two umpires, period.

However, if its "fall ball" (over-glorified practice games with a player's dad (usually) serving as the head coach), then each team when on defense supplies an assistant coach to be the base umpire. (The team on defense supplies the umpire, because the team on offense uses both their coaches to coach the bases.)

Fall ball is so laid back that it is funny to watch a "dad" (assistant coach) blow a call and have his own players yell out "thanks for the gift" or the opposing coach yell out, "stick to coaching (John)".

Had it happen (partner no show) twice in three years of varsity fall ball.

I would NEVER EVER do this in a game that meant anything. We'll just have to play another day.

[Justme]

Originally Posted by lawump

Around these parts...we don't play a high school varsity game without two umpires, period.

I like that rule.

We always schedule 2 umpires for JV/Var games but there have been a couple of times when my partner was a 'no-show'. When there's a varsity no-show we pull one of the umpires off the JV game to work bases. The JV guy goes solo.

I hate to work any 90' field solo, especially a HS varsity game but I have done it.

[lawump]

Originally Posted by Justme

We always schedule 2 umpires for JV/Var games but there have been a couple of times when my partner was a 'no-show'. When there's a varsity no-show we pull one of the umpires off the JV game to work bases. The JV guy goes solo.

That could happen in my area...but a varsity game must have 2.

[Rich]

In Wisconsin, ALL high school games (FR/JV/Varsity) *must* have 2 umpires, or there is no game.

[SAump]

Originally Posted by harmbu

FED rules; high school varsity game.
Last week I had a road game. At game time, one umpire entered the field alone. The coach of the home team explained that only one umpire had shown up. He said that he had someone in the stands who helps them occasionally that he would be fair if I wanted him to help. My other option was to go with one umpire (who happened to be calling his first game ever). I was not comfortable with either of these options. What are my options in a situation like this? I will tell later what I chose and what happened.

Coach gave you two options. Both sound reasonable to me. You're there, so you might as well take the first option. It's much better to have two umps. Allow the UIC to take all questions. It would be better for you to recognized what you may be dealing with in the future. He will be assigned to work your games sooner or later.

JV games only pay ONE fee, so I prefer to have someone other than me cover the bases. I may work alone if I know the game pay is fee and a half for solo ump. I still prefer the experienced VOLUNTEER on the field to take those long distance calls for me.

[nickrego]

Originally Posted by harmbu

What are my options in a situation like this?

I am interested to know, "who are you with respect to this situation, and why is it your decision as to what to do ?"

As was stated elsewhere, in our area, if one umpire shows up, one umpire works the game. No one is allowed to work a game if they are not part of the association for liability reasons.

[harmbu]

I am the head coach of the visiting team. I did not have an administrator in attendance to help me with the decision. This is a FED sactioned game. Our conference plays both Fall and Spring baseball. The conference champion is determined by a combination of Fall and Spring conference records. This was a conference game.

I chose to have the volunteer help with the game. The second batter in the bottom of the first inning, attempted to steal second base. He was out by a considerable margin. Volunteer called him safe. I didn't say a word to him, I just questioned the coach about what he said before the game about how fair this guy would be. As it turned out, the other umpire arrived in the second inning and replaced the volunteer.

I may have mispoken in my original post. The lone umpire was working his first ever varsity game. I don't know for sure what other levels he had worked. I do know that when he was working the bases from the C position in the JV game, he had a close play at third on a steal attempt. He stood there with his hands in his pockets and waited for his partner to make the call.

I think if I had the same predicament in the future, I would load up the bus, take the hour and fifteen minute drive home and reschedule the game.

Thanks for all of the input.

[SAump]

Originally Posted by harmbu

I think if I had the same predicament in the future, I would load up the bus, take the hour and fifteen minute drive home and reschedule the game.

Thanks for all of the input.

If this was the worse thing to happen, no big deal. A lot of time and money is spent preparing for that ONE GAME. Hedging your bet for a better opportunity to play ball sounds impractical. You shouldn't inconvenience so many other people a second time. Winning should not depend on the quality of the umpire available to work the game. Perhaps I don't fully understand the stakes. It wouldn't be the 1st time an umpire is blamed for losing a game. I want to know why you insist on blaming the umpire for the rest of the season, before the games are ever played. So are you going to avoid this person the rest of the season?

[Old Time Ump]

This probably is of no help in an amateur situation, but in professional ball, if umpires are not available __say for travel problems__ the managers can agree to appoint coaches or even players to umpire. It has happened in the American League. On several occasions, when time permitted, local amateur umpires have been recruited.


This cannot happen, of course, when a strike or work stoppage is in effect.