terrible umpires in 10u division

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You are alright in my book Bretman... I come to your area anytime with my teams. Let me know if you would like to ump in the ASA 18 or 16U State Tournament next year. I will even pay for the room.

 

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You don't have to come to Quakerland...Just be your loss, surely not mine. You'll see the comments from teams that do attend on this website. This county and chamber is going all out for my two World Series Qualifiers. We are givng away the bank. I guarentee you that.

 

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I can make a statement for some of the umpires I know. It isn't a hobby for them. But, when they are on the field, they are professional at least the ones I know. Some are indeed terrible, but I would never say that on a field of play to anyone, of course. As I know you would not do so as well. When the economy is good, umpires are hard to find. When the economy is bad, they are everywhere. I belong to three associations and they do take pride in who they put on the field. But, sometimes are limited to the umpires they have available because of men's tournaments being taken on in that same area at the same time. I have been at one Park in Cincinnati area for over 23 years. I have seen them come and go over the years and "hobby" has never come up in the conversation, I assure you. Yes, some do it for the fun, like me, but in the end it is the money. Five of our teams from Hamilton County, Ohio and southeast Indiana are in Florida this week kicking butt and taking names on their way to shut out victories. I've umpired all of them and it is a thrill to hear that they are doing so great.But, in the end... there is nothing wrong with enjoying the game and then enjoying the hard earned money. If it is ahobby to you, then that is great. But, to most, it is the money.

 

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2 years ago when my dd was in the 10u age group, we had an umpire at the toledo tune up that wasnt just bad but horrific! Not on 1 occassion but 3 he took 3 balls off the side of his head. As the balls were coming to home he would turn his head to the side and take it right off his head. Not that it was funny cause it wasnt but after 1 or 2 shots to thehead you would think that he would have learned. The problem then became that after every pitch he was turning his head and not following the pitch thus not being able to make the right call. I feel for all those that had to undergo the horrible umpiring at toledo.

 

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I was either a catcher or pitcher growing up throughout high school and a catcher in college. ?It comes natural to me not to turn my head. ?I've seen it here as well and laugh each time they get hit. ?Laugh ?at the friends (umps) I know and wonder myself when will they ever learn. ?Last year at the World Series, we had three umpires taken away in an ambulance for heat exhaustion. Lack of cool off time between games. ?

 

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"Last year at the World Series, we had three umpires taken away in an ambulance for heat exhaustion. Lack of cool off time between games."

I see that as one of the potential problems with trying to cram in as many games as possible "for the money".

I've had TD's offer me six straight games in a day. It can be done, and I've done it before. I would walk off the field with a few extra dollars in my pocket. But do that in 90 degree weather and the few extra bucks don't outweigh the potential health risks. If at all possible, I will request to be scheduled for two or three games, then a beak, then another two, or something like that.

Give me a break between some of those games, let me cool off, grab some lunch or dinner (can you imagine an employer scheduling workers for eight straight hours without a meal break? The productivity would drop, and they would be in violation of several labor laws) and you will have a much more effective umpire at the end of the day.

Cramming in as many games as possible can also serve to short-change the teams in the tourney. It doesn't matter how good of an umpire you are, there is a fatigue factor that sets in. After three or four straight games, there is no way that you are as effective in games five, six or seven.

An umpire who is fatigued, hungry and overheated is more prone to lapses in focus, concentration and judgement. That is a recipe for making bad calls and a disservice to the teams competing in the game. I would rather give my best effort for fewer games than short-change the teams to put a couple of extra bucks in my pocket.

But that's just me...

 

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I agree with you totally. ?I can do five in a row but usually when it is exteme heat, I usually do two shifts. ?Start out in morning do three, set out for a couple or so, then come back and do three or four.
And I agree with cramming in game theory you have as well. ?Umpires, to be efficient need time off. ?The umpires who dropped. ?Two ?of them had a one game break just before they dropped, though. ?But, three games in a row before that break. ?Now, to get schedulers in line with our thinking.... then it would be good for everybody involved, including the teams. ?But, then again, you have umpires that want to do their four and go. or three and go. Then there are not enough umpires to cover the tournament because everybody else is somewhere else. It is a dilema for most schedulers in bigger cities when other tournaments are being held and the money is in that direction of the other tournaments. Then you get what can be gotten for the money available.
Personally, I like girls fastpitch. But, give me the game that has an 1hr 15 minute time limit, usually 10 and under, 8 and under.... so I figure by losing money by not going to the mens tournament to umpire, at least there is a trade off in doing fastpitch, when it comes to the time limit and the money made in that time.
This is why I said I cannot figure out why anyone would not want to do the 10 and under games. My original statement.

 

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I sure hope your judgement on the field is better than what we are seeing. Again, some umpires like the higher quality games.. that means good pitches, great fielding and hitting. While I prefer the 10U's, it is for an entirely different reason than what you are looking. Typically at 10U, you don't get the same quality as you do at 18 and 16U.
MONEY!!!! MONEY!!!! MONEY!!!!!! OR QUALITY!!!! QUALITY!!!! QUALITY!!!!!

 

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I have always noticed one thing in all my years of umpiring. The game is played with a round ball, different colors at times, but still round. It is played on a dirt field and I was sent to this dusty place to call balls and strikes, safe and out and make sure the game is run smoothly and within the rules of the game. And to do the best I can to walk away from the field after the game unnoticed. Then, I know I done my job.
And that is about the justs of it.