Could of handled situation a little better

[tidefanintenn]

This situation happened to me while I was the firld umpire in a local youth league. I was hoping for solid suggestions on how I might could handle this situation better in the future.

R! and R2 with no outs. R2 tries to steal third on the pitch and catcher throws ball into left field. R2 gets up and tries for home. Left fielder throws home way in advance of runner. Catcher has ball in glove held with bare hand in front of his face. R2 slides in at home catcher nevers attempts to tag him. Plate umpire calls him out (was way out of position). Offensive team yell at the runner to touch home plate, he does and returns to the dugout. Play is over and his head coach asked plate umpire if he saw a tag if not would he ask for help. This is a young umpire who paniced and looked at me like a deer in headlights. I jog in and ask him what he wanted to do, but he said he did not know. I told him it was his call and I was available if he thought he needed any help. He asked me for help and I told him there was not a tag, so he changed his call to safe. Which, you guessed it upset the defensive coaches and fans. I know if he had not seen a tag he should not have made a call and then confered with me to see if I had anything, but he did not and it almost cost fan a trip to the parking lot with police escort because he would not let it go. What tips do you guys have for me to help out this new umpire? I am the chief umpire for a youth league that has a couple young guys trying to earn a little extra cash doing something they enjoy. The other guys are well respected umpires in th youth organizations around here and we would like some tips. Thanks. Before anyone posts the first tip is to quit doing youth level games. I think the kids deserve good umpires just like the pros. Thanks guys in advance.

[UmpJM]

tidefan,

How the he!! do you get away with rooting for Alabama when you live in Tennessee?

I think the kids deserve good umpires just like the pros.

I think I agree with the basic sentiment behind this statement. Right now, I'm mostly doing 14U Travel, Frosh & Soph HS games, and MSBL games.

When I'm doing 14U games, I try to make them feel like they've got a HS umpire.

When I'm doing FR/SO games, I trey to make them feel like they've got a Varsity umpire.

When I'm doing MSBL games, I try to make them feel like they've got a pro Ump.

One of the best pieces of advice I ever got about umpiring was to treat every pitch you umpire, no matter what level, as if it were the last pitch in a World Series Game 7. Hard to do, but good advice, nonetheless.

In regard to your question, given the context, it sounds like you handled it just fine. I hope you told the young man to really "sell it" when he announced the reversal of a call. In terms of expressing supreme confidence in his final ruling and giving a brief explanatory such as, "SAFE!!! NO TAG!"

JM

[Rcichon]

Ditto UmpJM (errr.....Coach).

One addition; encourage your junior Umpires to only call What They See. It's a little intimidating for younger guys to assert themselves with older Managers & Coaches.

Teach them to call what they see and to position themselves properly to see everything they should.

[PeteBooth]

I know if he had not seen a tag he should not have made a call and then confered with me to see if I had anything, but he did not and it almost cost fan a trip to the parking lot with police escort because he would not let it go. What tips do you guys have for me to help out this new umpire? I am the chief umpire for a youth league that has a couple young guys trying to earn a little extra cash doing something they enjoy.

You said it yourself No more youth league baseball.

That's why in many cases these Youth Leagues are now paying market rates for umpires. Yesterday I had a double header 12 and under 70 ft. bases 6 inning games. Started the Double Dip at 2PM, both games completed by (including a 20 minute break in between) 5:35. $120.00 in my pocket (we get $60 / game)

You asked for tips so I will give you the Number 1 Tip

1. Adopt a ZERO TOLERANCE Policy if you want to keep young umpires etc. A zero tolerance policy is exactly what it means. Once you get anybody that is acting like a complete jerk, it's see ya your done PERIOD. Even before the call the kid was nervous because my gut is that coaches have gotten on "his case" before and no-one did anything about it.

IMO, once you adopt a zero tolerance policy, and the umpires have backing you will see an improvement. Kids will not be "scared to death" to make a call.

2. You also need a good traing session for these young umpires as well.

Pete Booth

[tidefanintenn]

Thanks guys. I have really had my hands full starting out the year. I was recruited to help curb a lot of this type of behavior and so far after 19 games we have only had this one big flare up. The park adopted a code of conduct for all participants and their parents and this has helped cut soe of it out. I also try not to eject anyone unless really necessary because they are volunteers that are trying to help kids out as well. I do not however allow anyone to run over the other umpires. I really appreciate you guys helping out. I have learned a lot from just sitting in the dark and reading the posts.


CoachJM,

When your are 6'3" 285 and bald headed you can root for whoever you want wherever you want. Actually, I hide it very well. Createsless flack that way.

[Justme]

Originally Posted by tidefanintenn

When your are 6'3" 285 and bald headed you can root for whoever you want wherever you want. Actually, I hide it very well. Createsless flack that way.

The way the Tide has been football wise since what, 1992?, it's sometimes better to hide the fact that you root for them. But I still find my way from SoCal back to T'town for a game or two. My wife is a Professor of Medicine at UCLA but I just can't make myself root for them Bruins.

Signed:
Alabama Engineering Grad Class of '73