OK, so sue me. I didn't call it.

I got a call at ~6:25 last night from my assignor asking if I could hustle over and call a 10U double header. Some kind of scheduling mixup, and since I am only 5 minutes from the field, and since game time was 6:15...

I agree to help him out. Jump into my uniform and gear and get to the field by ~6:45.

Fast forward to the second game of the DH, 2nd or 3rd inning of a semi walk-fest. Coach brings in a new pitcher.

Here is her mechanic:

1. Brings hands together while off the plate.
2. Steps onto the plate with both feet.
3. Does a little nervious jig - hopping back and forth rapidly from one foot to the other - probably 6-8 little hops from side-to-side.
4. Takes a back step (NFHS style)
5. Delivers the pitch.

After a couple of these, I call time and go have a word with the coach, something like this, "Coach, don't say anything to your pitcher during the game, but she has a lot to work on before her next game. She can't hop around once her hands are together, and she can't take a back step." Coach says, "Yeah, I know; it is her first game ever to pitch."

She was actually not too bad in getting the ball over the plate, so we have some pretty good batted balls and 10U style defense.

But, I didn't call the IP. Ron would be so pi$$ed. ;)

Attaboy !
 

Great decision!
mick

If no one was complaining & you were getting strikes, stay with whatever was happening !, good job. You could have ruined her WHOLE life if you tried to teach her the correct way now that the season is probably 7 weeks into it.

I don't call the IP at 10U unless it's causing the batter harm (like taking an extra step forward, or double-revolutions...). I do just what you did - talk with coach between innings.

I called TIME to talk with him, since it was within a "10U inning time" of the time limit (i.e. I wasn't sure she would get another inning to pitch) and I wanted the coach to have a chance to observe what I was telling him. IOW, I didn't want to wait until the half inning.

I took Steve's solution.

Just don't call 10U.....

I don't, usually, although I have done more 10U games so far this year than the last 3 complete seasons combined... but that is because I have been "mentoring" my DD for a few games.

I only took this one because my assignor is a really good guy and he was in a pinch.

Tom.

You won't have to worry about that <u>w h e n</u> you
come to the Nationals. :D

Why not?

Did a 10U Tuesday by myself. I loved it! Both pitchers illegal, told both coaches, they're working on it. End of story. No one screaming about strike zone. Coach actually wanted to to call shin to shoulders, but I just came off of our FED state tourney, with a girl who supposedly throws in the mid-60's with precision...hard to get my zone to go that big.

When I took games for this league, I asked for all the 8U and 10U games...assignor wanted me on all the 12u and 14U games...just can't resist doing the 10U game.

To be completely honest, UIC never assigns me to the 10U.
Probably easiest game in town. Rarely have to get in the D
position. Just watch the lil darlings steal their one base,
and stand ready for the next pitch. Watched one the other day
waiting for my game, and the pitching was pretty darn good.

Just to clarify... I don't refuse 10U, but I don't ask for it either. I am rarely assigned 10U, since my association puts our rookies there (like my daughter) and they fill the commitments with the younger umpires (no room left for us old guys).

We have a veteran umpire who must be 6'8", if not taller. It is a real hoot to see him call a 10U game (he doesn't refuse them, either)!

We don't have 8U with umpires. Those kids play in various so-called in-house programs using coach-pitch, etc., and mostly coach-parent umpires. Personally, I question the value of an umpire at that level.

Yeah, I'm 6'2" and it's hard enough...it would be interesting to see "stretch" get down for that strike zone.

Unfortunately, most of the 10U are done by rookies. It's a good learning experience, but I'd rather see rookies working 12U/14U league games to get experience at "how" plays are supposed to happen.

I like to work veterans on 10U, just for kicks.

Since I'm on a roll tonight posting. Working a 10-U from time to time is a real joy. No pressure, No stress, Players learning how the play the game or better yet...Players STILL HAVING FUN playing the game.

Damn, they are supposed to be having FUN!?!? Sure wish you would tell the coaches and parents about that part.

No pressure, No stress? Well it SHOULD be that way, but I have had 2 ejections this year, both coming in 9/10 year age group! It seems that coaches tend to act more like Earl Weaver in that level.

It's been said before on this board that lower age coaches tend to mimic what they see on MLB games, and try to win at all costs rather than teach kids how to play ball.

In our local rec league, 9/10 is basically count the walks till you get 7 runs, switch sides and do it again! Few hits, fewer plays in field. Glad for the 12/8/6 run rule and 90 min time limit. I still enjoy 9/10 age bracket, but a steady diet of that is NOT conducive to becoming a better umpire!

Effective 9-10 Rec ball rule
 

To eliminate the "walkfest" that many rec leagues experience, we implemented a unique twist to the "kid-pitch" league of 9-10 yr olds.

Since the 7-8 yr old league is coach pitch, the pitchers that come to the 9-10 year old league are marginal at best. Therefore, we let the pitcher pitch, and, if he throws 4 balls to the batter, we do NOT let the batter take first base. We have the offensive coach enter the game, and assume the number of strikes to the batter. The coach may throw up to 3 pitches to the batter (depending on the number of strikes the player assumes), and if the batter does not put the ball in play by the third pitch, he is called out. If he fouls off the final pitch, he continues to get 1 additional pitch until he swings and misses, puts it in play, or lets it go by.

We feel that in this manner, pitchers will get the chance to pitch, batters the chance to bat and run (not drop the bat and walk to 1st, then walk to 2nd, etc.), and the fielders the chance to field, throw and catch. It seems to work pretty well, and coaches have become very fond of this change.