I didn’t know what I was in for when I volunteered to umpire "a couple of games" this season for our little league. I’ve coached for a couple of years in your league, and never worried much about how things were done - I just showed up at the games and hoped my kids were ready to play. Now that the season’s almost over, I’d like to offer some thoughts - from a rookie umpire’s perspective - on the season and the league.

I’ve learned more this year about baseball than I ever thought possible, and had more fun than I thought was legal. When we had our pre-season half-day umpiring clinic and handed out rulebooks, I was confident that I knew the game - after all, I played in your league for 7 years or so, I’ve coached my son’s team, and I watch baseball whenever I can. I’ve since learned how wrong I was.

The seminar was good, but I wish now it had been longer. Watching someone get into the slot behind an imaginary catcher is completely different from being there. Likewise, going to the field for an hour to discuss mechanics and positioning is not the same as practicing with the other umpires.

Maybe next year the umpires can get on the field during draft tryouts, and let the pitchers get used to seeing Blue behind the plate. I’d appreciate the chance to get some pre-season refresher work in, and the coaches would get a better read on the pitcher’s ability to hit the strike zone. A pre-season scrimmage or two - with the expressed intent of allowing umpires to practice their positioning and get coaching from the more-experienced umps - would also help ease the jitters.

Getting the coaches and umpires together for a mandatory pre-season meeting would also be a nice gesture. We’d all benefit by knowing each other before we meet at the pre-game plate conference, and it would give the league a chance to distribute the local league rule variations and ground rules. In an hour or so, we could deflate some of the rule myths and go over changes from last year’s rules.

Once the coaches and umpires know each other and understand the rules, the season is off to a good start. Keeping the season running well becomes the next challenge. Little things can mean the difference between an enjoyable night at the ballpark and a rocky start to a rough game.

For example, give the umpires keys to the equipment shed(s). I usually arrive at the field at least 30 minutes before game time, and if I have to, I’d like to be able to chalk the lines, or at least put the bases down, before the pre-game conference.

Make sure the coaches have enough game balls, or give the supply to the umps. I bought five balls at the beginning of the season, and I needed every one of them before the tournaments started.

I know we can’t get members of the board to every game, but it would be handy to have a "Call Card" with the names and phone numbers of the Board. Called games, field problems, and discipline issues need to be addressed when they happen, and timely access to the Board is essential.

Speaking of discipline issues, what is our league’s policy on protests and discipline? Do we have a formal means of submitting, evaluating, and resolving protests? Do the coaches and umpires know what the procedures are? How about discipline? What happens to the player or coach who is ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct, or for blatant disregard for the rules? Would the Board back up an umpire who ejected a player or coach?

Back on more pleasant matters: I think our UIC did a great job of scheduling the umpires this year. Coaching my son’s team and other family scheduling kept me from doing as many games as I’d have liked, but I got to work a game every time I wanted one. He stayed on top of the schedule, and I know of just a couple of games without an "official" league umpire. I also appreciate the way he backed me up when things got tense. By the way, I don’t have any sure-fire ways to recruit more umpires for next year, but I’m sure the UIC would appreciate it if we could. If you get a chance, ask him some time how many of his son’s games he got to watch from the stands this year. I think the answer is, one, maybe if we got the word out to the high schools and colleges, or paid the umps (at least at the upper levels), the UIC would have more help.

All in all, it’s been a great season. The kids played some great ball (and some not-so-great), the managers, coaches, players and parents were good sports (mostly) and everybody had a good time. I appreciate the opportunity to umpire for you, and I look forward to working more games next year.

Thanks for the games. Still calling them as I see them,

.... written August 2, 1999