NSA WORLD

I'll agree with that 100 percent!!

 

AMEN BROTHER!!!

All involved in Travel put their hearts and souls into this, not to mention wallets, vacations, time, etc.........at the very least we should demand professional and competent umpires who also have the same passion for Fastpitch. That means they know the rules, how to call a game, and have the physical ability to be in position, see, and understand that 10 yr olds with skills should get the calls just like at the showcase level.

 

I agree 100%. The game should be played by the rules.

If an umpire is unable to perform their duties they should not umpire.

But in many games about half of those involved think it was the officials that cost them the game. If the original complaint was from the winning team I'll have a little steak sauce with my crow, please.

As far as plate corners are concerned I would hate to see it become like the WCWS. Their plates seem to be as wide as the pitching plate.

 

Agree with Ucballer

I have seen more this year than in previous years -- out of shape, overweight, or folks simply looking for a check -- calling games. It is a shame that with all the money that we as parents put into our kids wind up with someone who doesn't give a rip about the game itself or the development of the kids as it relates to understanding the rules of the game. FN - Not to include all umpries as there are many quality umpries out there -- just seems to be more above mentioned in the younger ages.

Its not just at the 10u level -- I have one kid in 10u and another in 12u and there were several pitches last night that I though were good quality pitches that were called balls -- and we were batting. The other coach did a very good job at controlling not only his emotions but his pitchers as well.

If I understand the game right -- I believe its a hitters game -- one batter and nine defensive players -- seems like the object is to hit the ball -- when you get a tight strike zone -- it becomes a walk feast which brings the game to a halt. At the younger ages -- the strike zone should be larger -- this will promote aggressive behavior at the plate - as the kids get older and the pitchers learn to throw picthes that moves there will be a lot of looking at third strikes because the kids learned to let the person calling balls and strikes determine if you should be on base or not.

 

....hey Dad...I know you are frustrated. Trust your Fishpal, I've been there too.

So, if you and me and others over the years continue to sling snot and bitch about what we think is a ball or a strike, things will change right? ...of course not.

With respect, I know you get my point. These umps are not out to get your pitcher...no more than they want to undermine a hitter.

Learn this and be done with the backseat driver gig...let the kids play and win , lose, succeed and fail on their own!!!

Our job as a parents is to support them, ALL of them, and let them grow up on their own.

I know its hard

Last, enjoy your kids playing ball while you can, it goes by fast!

Fishbuddy

 

One thing that I'm wondering after reading this thread... the OP posted a lunch time on Monday. Does this mean that he was complaining about a game played Monday morning?

If that is the case, then the reason you probably have so many older umpires is that for most umpires under retirement age, umpiring is their second job. Sure, some quality umpires take vacation time to umpire prestigious tournments (ASA 16U Gold Nationals, WCWS, etc.). However, calling a 10U game at the NSA World Series, IMHO, wouldn't be a prestige assignment.

So, you're getting the umpires who aren't at their day jobs. And most of them are older.

I know many quality older umpires. And I've seen several who look like they've had 1 too many bad hip replacements and the game has to be held up as they move from B to C position. I have no problem with the former and I share your distaste for the latter.

 

Thanks Fish pal I do feel a lot better about it.The thing that really surprise me is that the kid pitching knows she isn't getting the call and just continues to keep trying and not letting it get to her.Maybe I should take a few lessons on patience from a couple of my girls.It sure does go by fast when my kids grow up and we have grand kids I don't know if I should be ready to coach football or softball.Love to watch football be love coaching softball even more!!!

 

I have to say that some of the best umpiring I ever saw was two summers ago in PONY tournaments. There were very few calls I would have disputed. The tournaments were in Ohio and included PONY Nationals. It made the summer so much nicer for all of us.

 

DEFINITAELY agree with JeffPal here ....BUT at $600 a Pop I would want some quality umps I have seen several games Monday and Tuesday and Retirement age is saying the VERY least at what I saw and some of the younger umps that were there acted as if they were LOST ....No dog in this fight just my observation !!!!!!

 

I don't blame you for wanting quality officiating at those prices. I'm just telling you why the TD has his work cut out for him. It can be hard enough to staff weekend tournaments when several large tournaments are going on in the Carolinas at the same time.