Knew it was coming

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by kylejt

The games on the final weekend will have the better guys on the dish and bases. The other folks with rotate in and out of the outfield, just to get in the game.

With the quality strike zone I've seen in the past few years, this statement doesn't add to LL's ability to find good umpires.

[LMan]

"just another tool to help him do his job." LOL

..as in instead of second-guessing you from the stands and the broadcast booth, we will do it officially on the field.

It will be interesting to see, though. Can't wait to see how this plays out...could be a 1-year experiment

[johnnyg08]

6 umpires on a LL field w/ 60 foot bases...the kids will be so happy that all of the calls will now be correct :-) LOL

[kylejt]

Two things.

Don't like it, then do something about it. I've been trading emails with Keener, letting him know exactly what I think about this. cc's have gone to the Regionals. If we, as a group, roll over on this, who knows what's next. I didn't like what they did to my Junior umpires last year, and made myself a thorn in their side. You may not do LL, or aspire to do the dog and pony show on TV, but there's a trickle down effect in this decision.

WS umpires are taken from all over. The difference in skill level is quite apparent. I know that WR sends only top guys. It's a pretty tough group of umpires that make the selections on who goes, not just some DAs. Same with getting a Regional nod. Not too many slackers there. Other parts of the country, and the world, aren't so blessed with the training you get at WR.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by kylejt

Two things.

Don't like it, then do something about it. I've been trading emails with Keener, letting him know exactly what I think about this. cc's have gone to the Regionals. If we, as a group, roll over on this, who knows what's next. I didn't like what they did to my Junior umpires last year, and made myself a thorn in their side. You may not do LL, or aspire to do the dog and pony show on TV, but there's a trickle down effect in this decision.

WS umpires are taken from all over. The difference in skill level is quite apparent. I know that WR sends only top guys. It's a pretty tough group of umpires that make the selections on who goes, not just some DAs. Same with getting a Regional nod. Not too many slackers there. Other parts of the country, and the world, aren't so blessed with the training you get at WR.

Eastern Region both regional & LLWS umpire selections are the province of the DA's.

kyle...what did the LL mucky mucks do to your Junior umpires last year? Just curious as I ran a sizable (and successful) JR Umpire program for my local league during the 10 years I was involved in LLBB.

[SethPDX]

Originally Posted by KJUmp

Eastern Region both regional & LLWS umpire selections are the province of the DA's.

kyle...what did the LL mucky mucks do to your Junior umpires last year? Just curious as I ran a sizable (and successful) JR Umpire program for my local league during the 10 years I was involved in LLBB.

Do you mean the DAs approve the Regional/World Series applications that are sent from their respective districts? It's true, you must have the DA's permission to send in an application, but in the districts around here the DAs trust the recommendations of their umpire staffs before signing off. Once the application goes to (in my case) San Bernardino or Williamsport the staff there select the umpires who actually work.

Kyle is talking about the rule change that now prevents junior umpires from working without an adult partner.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by SethPDX

Do you mean the DAs approve the Regional/World Series applications that are sent from their respective districts? It's true, you must have the DA's permission to send in an application, but in the districts around here the DAs trust the recommendations of their umpire staffs before signing off. Once the application goes to (in my case) San Bernardino or Williamsport the staff there select the umpires who actually work.

Kyle is talking about the rule change that now prevents junior umpires from working without an adult partner.

No.
Back when I was umpiring LLBB ('93-'04) if you were interested in working a regional you sent an application form to your DA. DA's then made their selection for each regional and sent the application onto the Regional office.
LLWS was handled in the same manner.

The umpire applying had to have met certain LLBB criteria to be considered. In addition to the umpire's involvement in his local league, he had to have experience umpiring in LL district, sectional, and state tournament play, have attended a LL regional umpire school, have had recent attendance at a LL regional rules clinic, be a current member of the LL Umpire Registry.
For a LLWS application, it was all of the above, plus having had previously umpired in the regional for the LLWS that you were applying.

The point I was trying to make, is that the path of each application start on the DA's desk. They only move forward with his recommendation and approval. If the DA has 10 applications in front of him that all meet the criteria, it's his call as to which umpire(s) get the assignment.