- Sep 29, 2014
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- 113
There
There does have to be a first time. I remember when I started umpiring I did up to 14U, I had played, coached and been around baseball and softball my whole life. I had a really good grasp of rules and flow of the game. My buddy needed a last minute fill on for a weekend tournament 16U and 18U...I said sure how hard could it be? Well we were running late because the field was in the middle of nowhere and we got lost, I gear up kids have been waiting for 5 or 10 minutes, I do a quick shake hands grab line ups at the plate, wasn't even watching the pitcher take warm up as I talked to my buddy for a quick second then said OK let's play ball. It ended up being a 18U game, I kid you not I honestly do not think I saw the first pitch it was just a blur. I get up take a deep breath and focus make it through the first half inning walk down to my buddy at first base who is grinning ear to ear. It didn't take long to adjust over the course of the game and by the end of the weekend I was fine but it was a different world. Honestly though until your are in college and the coaches and umpires are making real money I think there really isn't much room to complain it's hit and miss on both sides.It is unfortunate for everybody on the field when a less experienced umpire is over their head in a game that goes too fast. They have to get their experience somewhere but it shouldn't be in a place where they are drowning behind the plate by themselves. Would you agree? This is what I see causes the most conflict and people questioning and start berating umpires. They are supposed to be official and when they do not have the experience to handle doing so this is when it is noticeable.