What to do

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by DaveASA/FED

Ok, I was asked this question and I have no idea how to answer it. Deals with letting people umpire for a small rec league.

Situation 17year old girl that umpired last year for this league has expressed interest in returning to umpire again this year. Problem is she is pregnant and will be approx 5-6 months pregnant during the heart of the league season.

Concern the individual has is what if the girl or her baby get hurt while umpiring on the field, what would be the leagues liability? Other issues incur in is it a chance for the girl or her family to come back on some sort of discrimination toward the league for not letting her umpire?

My opinion is that I would request/require her to get a letter of clearance from her doctor stating that, in his professional opinion, it would not be physically harmful to her or the baby to umpire, and under what conditions (or time frame) that would change. Then I would keep that letter on file, and follow it as the guidelines to scheduling her.

[mcrowder]

I think she's nuts. But I'm not sure her pregnancy is enough reason to prevent her from umpiring, from a legal point of view.

However, if you CAN insist on a doctors note as suggested above, you might save everyone a headache (and that baby a tragedy). She may not be able to get one, since I doubt that any doctor in their right mind is going to sign something saying that a 5-months pregnant woman is able to sprint and pivot without endangering the baby.

I honestly don't know what might happen if she refuses to get a note and you refuse to let her work because of it. Might want to talk to an actual lawyer on that, if it comes to that.