End of Game

[PeteBooth]

Originally Posted by Rcichon

I have read repeatedly that Umpires should avail themselves of the winning teams' side to exit from the field at games end. I have done and taught this for several years.

Tonight, a Tournament UIC/Scheduler advised me after a District LL 12u game I called that he wants me (All Umpires in the game) to form up at the mound at games conclusion, wait until all players and coaches have shook hands and then ask each Manager, "are we all set?", purportedly to await a last minute appeal or protest.

It goes against what I've learned here and practice. I'm usually the guy who is waiting at the fence exit for my partner. If the little cheese-nibblers want to protest or appeal something, they had better get it done before I get to the exit.

I suspect the District UIC knows that there is 'bad blood' or maybe just hot tempers between certain coaches and managers and wants the Umpires on the field until each team is completely seperated in their respective dugouts.
I don't feel I should have to hang around and 'keep the peace'. I also feel that if this guy [UIC] knows of a specific issue, he should just say so.

Would you do it? Am I being stubborn or unreasonable? Other thoughts or ideas? I hate the idea of missing something.

I echo TEE if you want to work these games then you do as instructed or refuse.

One of the problems is that there is no Official LL Umpire association ala a Summer or HS umpires asociation. As umpires we stick together and if a league ever requested us to "hang around" after the game my assignor would tell that league where to go meaning NO UMPIRE would work those games.

LL is different because there is no ONE association that all LL umpires belong to. It is basically volunteer (however, more and more LL associations are going to paid umpires for a variety of reasons)

In your situation there might be many LL Umpires who are "itching" to get a LL Distrct game and would do almost anything to get one so if you refuse who cares.

Personally I wouldn't work any game in which the UIC instructed me to "hang around"

Summary: If you do not want to hang around simply refuse the assignment. For what it's worth think about getting HS Certified and getting paid for your services and NOT have to hang around after the game. We simply drop the baseballs at the plate or give them to the home coach (whatever the protocol is in one's area) greet our partner and go home. If someone wants to appeal they better do so in a hurry.

Pete Booth