What are my options

[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.