What happened to me (Suspended)

[LilLeaguer]

Originally Posted by GROUPthink

I've umpired Little League at the local level all the way up to a World Series tournament. Trust me when I say we do *not* allow this at the minors level.

Perhaps you are using Little League like everyone does to refer to a league that's not affiliated with LL. Or perhaps your local LL allows this. Ours does not, nor does LLI.

I've never seen it either, and the LL rule book is a muddle:

Section XIV

(d) A manager or coach shall not leave the bench or dugout except to confer with a player or an umpire and only after receiving permission from an umpire. (EXCEPTION: In Minor League and Tee Ball, managers and coaches may be on the field for instructional purposes, but shall not assist runners or touch a live ball. At least one adult manager or coach must be in the dugout at all times.)

Rule 2

A COACH is an adult appointed to perform such duties as the manager shall designate. NOTE: if two(2) coaches are
appointed, the second coach may be age 16 years or older.
[MINOR BASEBALL/SOFTBALL: Option may be adopted to allow Manager and coaches on field.]

The definition of MANAGER has similar wording.

So, does this mean that the local Little League has to explicitly adopt the option to have Minors coaches on the fields?

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by GROUPthink

I've umpired Little League at the local level all the way up to a World Series tournament. Trust me when I say we do *not* allow this at the minors level.

Perhaps you are using Little League like everyone does to refer to a league that's not affiliated with LL. Or perhaps your local LL allows this. Ours does not, nor does LLI.

You would agree now though, that LLI does allow this?

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by GROUPthink

I've umpired Little League at the local level all the way up to a World Series tournament. Trust me when I say we do *not* allow this at the minors level.

Perhaps you are using Little League like everyone does to refer to a league that's not affiliated with LL. Or perhaps your local LL allows this. Ours does not, nor does LLI.

Regulation XIV(d) A manager or coach shall not leave the bench or dugout except to confer with a player or an umpire and only after receiving permission from an umpire. (EXCEPTION: In Minor League and Tee Ball, managers and coaches may be on the field for instructional purposes, but shall not assist runners or touch a live ball. At least one adult manager or coach must be in the dugout at all times.)

Somehow you missed it. It is most certainly allowed in the Minor level in Little League

Rita

[WWUmp]

The story in the OP is exactly why LL International developed such a complicated set of rules. We all remember the days when playing LL was not much different than the story in the OP, either when we were playing or when our kids were.

I've been doing LL for years, and I don't agree with the suggestion by some that experienced, qualified umpires should do only upper levels of ball. That's like saying, "oh their just 12 year-olds, who gives a $hit." So umpires who thumb their nose at youth ball can get off their high horse in my opinion.

Rules, and the umpires that enforce them, that make for a consistent and level playing field (pardon the pun) are just as important at the youth level as they are at the MLB level, and in some ways even more so. I assure you that LL rules spell out, in great detail at times, exactly what the responsibilities are for the league board, the coaches, the umpires, and even spectators (parents); and who has what jurisdiction and what authority. And local leagues are not allowed (by rule) to circumvent the rules unless the rules explicitly allow them to do so (usually minor level and below). LLI has made it so (agree with it or not) if there is a disagreement, consult the rules. If the local league ignores the rules then get out of the league, unless you’re good with it.

All that said, I would not have contributed to the ugliness that developed in the OP. I don’t think kids and parents need that, nor is it my job as an umpire to dictate to the board how to run their league. I would have left the game never to return.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by WWUmp

The story in the OP is exactly why LL International developed such a complicated set of rules. We all remember the days when playing LL was not much different than the story in the OP, either when we were playing or when our kids were.

I've been doing LL for years, and I don't agree with the suggestion by some that experienced, qualified umpires should do only upper levels of ball. That's like saying, "oh their just 12 year-olds, who gives a $hit." So umpires who thumb their nose at youth ball can get off their high horse in my opinion.

I work LL as a volunteer late in the summer, but I do not begrudge anyone who simply refuses to work lower levels of baseball. We all make choices in what we want to work. We should spend our time working exactly what we *want* to work -- nobody, IMO, owes any particular level any of their time.