Relatives

[Mike Walsh]

For the most part it should be avoided, even at the youngest levels. However, that's not always possible. My daughter is on the HS varsity team now, and I recused myself from all of her team's games. When she was a 10-year old Little Leaguer, I did a few, and I'd love to be able to forget the looks she gave me for called third strikes. Unfortunate circumstances led to me being the "team ump" when she was 12, but I never had to call one. With 2 strikes she either struck out or hit anything close.

When my son played minors, 8-10, I was asked a few times to do his game because they just did not have anyone else. I would get both managers and tell them 1) my son was on the team; 2) he struggles at the plate; 3) I won't call strikes on him, if he doesn't swing he'll walk; 4) if the opposing coach has a hitter who struggles, I'll give him the same consideration; and 5) I understand if this is unacceptable, and they can get someone else to do it. In this, my terms were non-negotiable. They always accepted, and it always worked out well.

As a LL assignor, I would permit it only as a last resort, and even then I told the umpire not to be hard on his son to prove he was not biased - it just isn't fair to his son. Better to go the other way, if priorities are set properly.

Mike