Would you believe that my first ejection would come in a 8U Coach Pitch Rec Game? Unbelievable how some AAs would act in front of 7 and 8 year olds.

Yep, very believable.

Had 2 ejections this year, both in 9/10 yr old baseball. 2 last year, 1 9/10 softball, after game ended for use of very foul language.

Seens most of the stupidity comes from the coaches in the younger leagues. Not sure why, but I have my own theory.

I believe ya. Only gave out 3 T's in basketball this past season. One was adult men's rec league (OF COURSE!). Another was a high school freshman girls team's head coach. Third one was head coach of a 5th grade girls' parochial team. When 1/3 of my technicals (easy math!!!) are at the level lower than junior high/middle school, there's a problem!!!

Umpires in 8U rec softball. Incredible.

Umpires in 8U ball who are actually umpires and KNOW the rules. Priceless!!!!

I call it a waste of resources. Granted, it takes a fair amount of patience and common sense to work 10U and below. Too many veteran umpires believe it is an insult to be assigned games at such a level, but that just isn't true.

Yes, you can use these games for an umpire with little experience to cut their teeth, but s/he should be partnered with a veteran who knows how to handle these games and not become over-officious for that level of ball. If a veteran is assigned to a 10U game (at least by me), they should consider it a vote of confidence in their sensibility and umpiring capabilities.

HOWEVER, if covering an 8U game causes problems covering games at a higher level, the 8U games do not need umpires.

I worked a multi-division tournament a few years ago, and umpires were complaining if they DID NOT get an 8U game, at least one. Several volunteered to do the entire tournament! And these were veteran umpires...2 national minimum, many looking at 4 or 5...college umps...etc.

Umps had a blast.

Kids had a blast.

Coaches loved seeing good umpires on that level!

All the games down here have paid umpires, T-Ball, 8-U and on up. It's really kinda fun. You have some really unusual situations develop in the younger leagues. You have to stay on your toes and be ready for anything. Do't anticipate a single thing. The general rule is if you expect it, it won't happen.

If a shiney-shoed, full uniform blue shoes up at a kid's game, it's most exciting for the players.
...And, I think, in it's subtly, polite way, proliferates the sport.
mick

Very true! A lot of kids would say "look at your shoes. They're so shiney!" :) It was great!

Actually those games work you harder than most because they do use a 1 man system in 8U and 2 in 10U and above so while many umps can be lazy and stay put and make all calls from behind HP I try to stay in good position at all times and it gives me a really good workout doing 3 games by myself during a normal rec night. I did the U-Trip state tournament tournament this weekend and was assigned to be the relief floater so I did 8U, 10U and 14U over the course of the day and I believe I had more fun with the 8s than I did all day.

My first ejection came in an 8U machine pitch game, the fifth game I'd ever umpired. And my most recent one came in a 10U game. IMO, those games with the younger kids take more work - they are totally unpredictable. I like to keep doing them to keep on my toes, although, I no longer do machine pitch.