All the more reason some leagues should not waste the time or money on an umpire for certain games.

Well, even for kids' games, I think it gives them a sense of "hey, this is for real" when a real umpire shows up and not some volunteer wearing jean shorts and a white t-shirt. If leagues want to pay for an umpire, then let them pay for one. However, if it's purely rec ball, don't expect the assignors to send their best umpires. They should require just one umpire instead of a two-ump crew.

There's one adult league here that exists purely for the fun of it. The teams even offered last year to forgo the playoffs so that they could all have a big cookout instead. Our assignor tried to convince them that if that's their goal (just to have fun), maybe they could do with only one umpire and save a bit of money. Unfortunately, the person running the league declined and insisted upon two umpires for every game.

Perhaps they do get a flutter of "for real-ness" in their tiny hearts when they see real umpires (honestly I doubt it, but perhaps). But would they really be missing anything if they didn't? Does a "for real" umpire actually add to the quality of their experience? Most of those games (and I've done my share) don't actually require anything more than the kid in the jean shorts and white t-shirt can give you.

I hear you, and 14 years ago, I was that kid in the shorts. And I'll also tell you that I sucked as an umpire back then.

No comments from the peanut gallery. ;)

If that is true, you really don't know what the peanut gallery is :rolleyes:

http://hollywood2020.blogs.com/./pho...zed/howdy2.jpg

I disagree for my area and here is why.

This puts money in the kitty to pay more umpires.

So, I can use kids/new umpires who may go on to bigger and better umpire things and have them working games that would not otherwise be available at all.

I have 3 umpires who will be working their first travel ball this memorial day and that will kick off their first foray into the "real" softball season. They are nervous! Ha :). Anyway, thurs I will meet with them all and go over some BU stuff to make sure they are ready.

Their training and proving came in this rec league though.

Well, that's your area. In my area, there are more games than umpires and that is at all levels. HS games have to be rescheduled at times due to lack of umpires. And it is not just softball, baseball is having the same problem.

Well, let's face it. It's a job that a lot of people don't want to do. You have umpires who let players and coaches walk all over them, making our jobs that much more difficult when we have to stand our ground. It's a thankless job where abuse is sadly considered "part of the game," especially when you do your job well. Consider wade's recent experience. He makes the right call, and he gets vilified by the ignorant media and clueless coaches who lack self-control.

How many times do you hear an announcer provide an incorrect "clarification" on a call? How many times do we watch coaches blow up on national TV with the crowd cheering them on in the background? How many more stories in the media will we hear about where a coach or parent attacks the ump? How many times have we all heard the excuses like, "well, we've been using this bat all season?"

The numbers of new, young umpires is dropping, and dropping fast. Hell, ASA even changed the 2-man BU mechanics to accommodate older umpires who can't move as quickly.

All we can do is stand our ground and continue to not allow ourselves to be doormats. And maybe raising the game fees might entice a few new blues.

Well, not really.

Yeah, we have the same problem at that level of officiating.

I was specifically addressing the local rec league problem here and the draw it has for bringing youth into umpiring.

So was I. There are so few umpires, the local association turns away league play.

The issue I see is that, at the same time:

a) People argue that its 'good' to put 'real' umpires at this kiddyball level so the kids feel important with 'real' umpires there, but;

b) Inconveniently, the 'real' umpires use 'real' rules and enforce them, which upsets the coaches/parents to no end because 'they are just kids' and 'dont take that _____ away from her,' ad nauseum

if they want 'play' umpires, let the parents do it. As yall say, there's more than enough 'real' games to do.

Same here!

there is that problem... I will go ahead and throw this out if anyone wants to respond.. I have 10 people that are at minimal hs quality umpires that will not come back to a rec association because of the way they were treated... meaning parents of a 10 team trying to fight the umpires calling them a-holes and everything else (ok maybe not EVERYthing) in the book as they leave. Is this happening any where else? My favorite line that i heard a UIC open a rec ball tournement meeting (UIC to Coaches) is this " Okay fellas, I have called the college scouts and they aren't going to be here this weekend so lets relax and have a good time." thats the attitude everyone is missing. this supposed "IT's for the girls!!!" comment that gets thrown around is the one that the parents let fly out of their head as they scream at the umpries

Seems that parents of newer players often pick up a phrase they heard at the ball park and mis-apply it later. On a lighter note, here are other head-scratchers I heard through the "sound-proof" chain link this spring.

From the defensive team's fans on a foul ball dribbler toward the backstop: "That's nothing but a long strike."

From the offensive team's side before a 3-2 pitch. "3 and 2. It's gotta be perfect"

From the defensive side after a three-run double. "That's OK. Nobody hurt."