Pitchers becoming Umpires

[JAD]

So my 16 yo umpired her first 10U game this week. She was super nervous about how it would go and was telling me some of her concerns. At one point she messaged me and said "I'm so nervous I won't have a consistent strike zone" I assured her it would be challenging with small girls playing rec but she would do fine.

Then I get a follow up message about 10 minutes later and it says "well if my strike zone is inconsistent it's just getting them ready for real life!!! welcome to being a pitcher!!"

haha I honestly laughed out loud at my desk.

A lot of college umpires with years of experience are inconsistent, so not sure why we would expect a 16 year old umpiring her first game to be....

 

[Ajaywill]

Reading this thread gives me hope.

Please. please, please encourage these young ladies to stick with umpiring as they grow.
Our sport needs younger umpires and especially female umpires since it is predominately a female sport.
Young female umpires that show ability and keep progressing will have many opportunities to advance and work higher levels of ball.