Daddy Umpire

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

This is definitely improper, "blackmailing" the coaches like that. If I was asked to work with this guy, I would definitely turn down the assignment.

I know when I first started, I was still in HS and my superintendent wanted me to get on the right track so he partnered me up with his son-in-law, who was an experienced umpire, and we worked a few of the superintendent's daughter's games at 14U (If I remember correctly) and the son-in-law and I worked it so well the visiting team wouldn't believe it when someone told them who we were. The visiting coach said that those two umpires were the most neutral home town umpires he ever ran across.

If I wasn't working with the son-in-law, I ended up working with one of my JH football coach's brother or our district UIC. I was in good company back then, and have those gents to really thank for getting me on the right track. Sorry to get off the point, but just wanted to illustrate what a good approach does.

That is good. I'm not suggesting umpires who worked games under such conditions would be "homers", but it only takes one close call made correctly or not and the rest of the game will only go downhill from there.

I ran into that when my brother started playing in a league I worked. There were only three umpires and eight teams, so avoiding his games was tough. But the concerns were quickly dismissed when I tossed him the first game. Apparently, he was the only one who thought being my brother was going to get him a little slack.