Umpire with shirt not tucked in

[cc6]

Originally Posted by kylejt

It's really tough for some kids to tuck these umpires shirts in. First, the chest protectors are pretty huge, and getting an umpire shirt small enough isn't easy. So they're wearing a big shirt, and big gear, and trying to fit into a pair of pants that were designed to handle one, much less two shirts tuck into it.

Plate pants for a 10 year old? Not happening. Just roll with what you've got, and be happy they're out there.

As for training, he's just emulating what he's seen adults do. Could he do better? Sure, but couldn't we all? At 11, I was gunning Caps kids out like Ron Luciano, so which is worse?

What I dig is his enthusiasum. You can't train that.

That said, I DO require my 11 and up umpires to wear some sort of gray pants, and the shirts are always tucked in. Black shoes, belt and socks. Hats forward, etc.

Any uniform standards is better than no uniform standards. I don't expect this kid to have plate pants, but I would expect the league to give him some small shinguards that can fit under a cheap pair of grey pants. For the chest protector, he might be better off using an outside one for these little kids. The shirt should be easy enough to tuck in and use a belt.

I would expect better from an umpire at any age, even doing 5/6 year old t-ball games. The fact that he's a kid doesn't matter. Once you step on that field, you're an umpire, and you represent your league, the game of baseball, and the umpiring profession. If he is not ready to dress with a modicum of professionalism, his parents shouldn't have signed him up.

[UmpJM]

cc6,

And I would expect anyone posting on this forum to have the common sense (not to mention consideration for fellow members of this forum) not to post a link to a YouTube video of a 10 yr. old in order to criticize him for his appearance.

Just goes to show you how easily expectations can lead to disappointment.

Why don't you post some video of yourself working the plate, and we can all offer you some constructive criticism - instead of picking on some little kid.

JM

[umpjong]

Kid is having a good time. Kid is apparently doing a good job.
So lets screw that up and criticize him about trivial crap. Geesh.....
(I really dont think the players care how he's dressed)

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

cc6,

And I would expect anyone posting on this forum to have the common sense (not to mention consideration for fellow members of this forum) not to post a link to a YouTube video of a 10 yr. old in order to criticize him for his appearance.

Just goes to show you how easily expectations can lead to disappointment.

Why don't you post some video of yourself working the plate, and we can all offer you some constructive criticism - instead of picking on some little kid.

JM

cc6, AKA Candaump6 did post a video of him calling balls and strikes in his Grandmother's dining room...remember?

What I find interesting is his statement: "The fact that he's a kid doesn't matter. Once you step on that field, you're an umpire, and you represent your league, the game of baseball, and the umpiring profession."

When a similar argument was made about him (he was around 19 or so) he complained loudly that he was being picked on by coaches and posters because he was a kid.

He may have changed his name, but that's all.


__________________

From cc6's profile:

About cc6
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Formerly canadaump6

[cc6]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

cc6, AKA Candaump6 did post a video of him calling balls and strikes in his Grandmother's dining room...remember?

What I find interesting is his statement: "The fact that he's a kid doesn't matter. Once you step on that field, you're an umpire, and you represent your league, the game of baseball, and the umpiring profession."

When a similar argument was made about him (he was around 19 or so) he complained loudly that he was being picked on by coaches and posters because he was a kid.

He may have changed his name, but that's all.


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From cc6's profile:

About cc6
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Formerly canadaump6

Mr.Umpire,

Very good observation. Yes I changed my name, as I clearly stated in my profile.

CoachJM,

I did post a couple videos of my umpiring, used the feedback I recieved on here and incoporated that into my game.

When a similar argument was made about him (he was around 19 or so) he complained loudly that he was being picked on by coaches and posters because he was a kid.

Wrong. I said age affects how one is percieved. I don't know where you came up with what you said.

Nonetheless, this isn't about me. Why can a person not tuck his shirt in and find pants to fit smaller shinguards before he goes on the field? We are so quick to attack lack of professionalism (most recently the mask clip-on thing). We all agree that age is irrelevant when it comes to umpiring. So why has what I have said generated so much anger?

[Kevin Finnerty]

You miss the main point, which is to encourage a kid to join the ranks and express general approval of everything and raving about what he does right, with a healthy dose of overlooking what he does wrong.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by cc6

We all agree that age is irrelevant when it comes to umpiring. So why has what I have said generated so much anger?

No, we never all agreed that age is irrelevant. Certainly there is a difference between a ten year old and a 19-20 year old.

I guess Shakespeare was right....What's in a name...

[Kevin Finnerty]

The same allowance that is made of a 10-year-old player versus a 20-year-old must be likened to the slack you give an umpire of equal seasoning. A hell of a lot is expected of a 20-year-old.

[bob jenkins]

In an ideal world, the umpire would dress better.

In the real world, he needs to meet the standards of his league. Does he? We have no way of knowing. He generally meets the standards (as I remember them) of youth umpires in my local league.

So, if there's any criticism, it should be directed to the league.