What would you expect coaches/tournament directors to do differently when we return back to play

[22Lefty]

I saw an article about how one large tournament was thinking. Let me track it down... It was a decent attempt though probably still not workable.

Most people are overlooking one big issue.

I love my fellow umpires, but many of them fall into the 'vulnerable' group just based on their age (whether they want to admit it or not). Even if you let them call balls and strikes from behind the pitcher (which has been proposed and btw is a TERRIBLE idea) I don't see how we could locally assign enough umpires to run a tournament even if we went to one per game.

In my umpire room I would have to say at least half.

Just let Joe or Suzy Parent step in and make calls from behind the plate for a game or 2. Like back in the day.

Problem solved. You're welcome.

 

[BlaineAB]

I saw an article about how one large tournament was thinking. Let me track it down... It was a decent attempt though probably still not workable.

Most people are overlooking one big issue.

I love my fellow umpires, but many of them fall into the 'vulnerable' group just based on their age (whether they want to admit it or not). Even if you let them call balls and strikes from behind the pitcher (which has been proposed and btw is a TERRIBLE idea) I don't see how we could locally assign enough umpires to run a tournament even if we went to one per game.

In my umpire room I would have to say at least half.

Yep. I'm turning 56 in June and I'm on the younger side in my Association. My 80 year old in-laws are with us from NYC indefinitely.
Unless there's a pharmaceutical breakthrough, I'm not calling any games in 2020.

 

[_MIA_]

Just let Joe or Suzy Parent step in and make calls from behind the plate for a game or 2. Like back in the day.

Problem solved. You're welcome.

No umpires, no parents, no coaches, no concession stands. Just let the players call their own game like we did in the park growing up. Only rules are "No do-overs!!" and be home before the street lights come on.. For safety sake, unlike our park games, they can each use their own bats but they have to cost less than $100.

Edit: Also I forgot, if you have to use the restroom go in the woods..just make sure you avoid the poison ivy.

 

[uncdrew]

Seems like any proposed changes are fairly ineffective. Either the girls and adults are on the field playing or they're not.

Girls in the dugout kind of negates and eclipses any attempts at cleaning balls and such.



But limiting the number of spectators makes sense. Having 20 people watching a game rather than 100 certainly cuts down the possibility of transmission. And won't that really let us know which facebook whiners are really thinking of their girls and which are thinking of themselves. As much as I love watching, if it's really about our DD it doesn't matter if we're there or not, right?

 

[marriard]

Just let Joe or Suzy Parent step in and make calls from behind the plate for a game or 2. Like back in the day.

Problem solved. You're welcome.

Can't share umpire equipment like we did 'back in the day'. $200 minimum to get gear.

You are welcome as well

 

[_MIA_]

Seems like any proposed changes are fairly ineffective. Either the girls and adults are on the field playing or they're not.

Girls in the dugout kind of negates and eclipses any attempts at cleaning balls and such.

You are right. Either it is either "safe", as in what we typically take on as a reasonable risk, to be in contact with others or it isn't. The issue that is going to come into play and possibly cause issues within teams, as you mentioned previously, is different people are going either not going to understand the risk involved or if they do, have a higher level of reasonable risk (which is their perogative) .

Before we play again, I am going to make sure we "meet" (perhaps virtually) as a team and discuss this. While the final decision whether a team plays or not is up to the HC, the choice for my own kid is going to be made by my family. If the HC is upset by my decision to not let my kid play (should it come to that), then he can go and find another SS.

 

[FP26]

I'm not sure what the answer is. Any measure that would truly be effective would be cost prohibitive at best and not possible at worst. Measures that are feasible would be mildly effective at best... And I'm not sure how many families would trust them.

 

[marriard]

Found it:

No high-fives, no fans and socially distanced dugouts: Windsor softball park preparing for modified reopening amid coronavirus

When David Rocha opened Fastpitch Nation Park in Windsor last year, he wagered that if he built the largest softball venue in Connecticut, the players would come. He was right, as thousands of play…

www.courant.com

 

[flash277]

Yep. I'm turning 56 in June and I'm on the younger side in my Association. My 80 year old in-laws are with us from NYC indefinitely.
Unless there's a pharmaceutical breakthrough, I'm not calling any games in 2020.

Right! The average age of umpires in my association is 52, and that is at that number due to a handful of umps in their 20's. Most are over 60.

 

[_MIA_]

Right! The average age of umpires in my association is 52, and that is at that number due to a handful of umps in their 20's. Most are over 60.

I wonder if having rabbit ears is a pre-existing condition? I kid, I kid