Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer General Forum Little league umpires?

Are they paid or volunteer?
We’ve played 2 games this week and both umpires were not up to par with previous ones. We played the #1 and #2 teams this week. I am biased but I did noticed a huge difference in the game calling and vocals of the two umpires. The one from tonight was more interested in texting than calling at the beginning of the game. So much so that my mild mannered self let the whole ball field know that he needed to speak up and call the game. Ones a fluke, twos garbage. Whether they are paid or volunteer, you owe it to the teams to call a good game.

Umpires are paid at every local park that is worth a crap. I don’t know a single umpire that would put up with parents and coaches that don’t know what they are talking about for free.

The umpires that do the Little League World Series are volunteers that have their expenses paid from what I understand.

I was always paid. But if you don't love the game don't go out there. Why aren't more people into passing on the game of baseball? Because it's actual work day in day out the money isn't worth the physical toll on your body nor is it worth Daddy&Mommy not understanding Junior isn't the next Ohtani. Best place I ever worked was Kentucky where the coaches were 250 yards from the field and the parents another 750 behind that the base coaches were kids who were 15-16 years old and the kids were 12. Easiest games I've ever had.

How can you coach a game from 250 yards away? And why would a parent even come to watch if they are 750 yards away? You can’t even watch that game with binoculars. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of.

Actually the parents were 1000 yards away. Judge issued an order to keep both sides apart from each other one parking lot was for home another for away and Deputies to direct traffic. Too many fights and problems so the judge put an end to that foolishness. You'd call a pitch and have a six second delay before the boos or cheers. Each coach had a cb radio on a channel and communicated strategy pitching changes etc. No controversy no cussing just positive reinforcement for the kids. Asked one of the older kids why no coach would come argue he looked at me pointed to the gaggle of Deputies and said "Those Suburbans up front are the K9 units who wants a fur covered razor blade chewing on your azz?" $37.50 a game for 10 games one at 5 other at 7. Free cheeseburger after game one concession stand people local culinary students working with a catering company as apprentices they kids have stress-free games the concessions got Ojt and I never had to run anyone. Not the highest level of play but basically free money for me and never saw a child have a mental breakdown or heard an overzealous parent scream what a terrible pos umpire I was and how I'd missed this that the other.....

Who did the coaches talk to on the CB? If I was the judge I would have just issued a cease and desist order. Imagine what that whole thing cost taxpayers with all those deputies there. That’s ridiculous.

It’s gotten to be a sport in itself. Verbally harassing the refs and umps.

Always been that way. I just didn’t like the lack luster effort last night.

When I played little league it wasn’t. Now that was long ago and before it became “ballin life”

Honestly ask, why would someone. In today’s climate, it’d take some serious pay or love of the game.
When I closed my business and went to work for a friend at his youth sports photography business. I was intrigued by all the warning signs in the parks about being nice. I was like is that necessary and he laughed. You’ll see how serious this is now. That was 15ish years ago

Yep. Paid between $50-$100 per game.

Yeah, dumb x 1,000. Did they charge admission for that foolishness?

Came here to agree about the pay. My brother, age 58, has called high school football, basketball, peewee football and such his entire adult life in North/NE Alabama. He is pretty well known in that circle. His pay is meager considering the time spent and the physical demand of him and the horrid abuse from parents but he simply loves the games. We cannot plan anything with my brother during ball season on the weekends, it's a given. He is devoted as most of the guys on his team of refs.

They couldn't pay me enough to put up with little league Parents & their spoiled azz kids !!!

I have called baseball games from High school playoff games all the way down to coach pitch 8U and like has been mentioned already, if the park has any means of income possible (usually gate fees and concessions) they are getting paid per game. No one is going to do that for free or volunteer their time for this in todays sports climate - short of maybe Tball that is. Not being smart, but sometimes quality officials (no matter the sport) are very hard to obtain and sometimes their level of knowledge/experience or professionalism just isn't there. I don't know the OP's situation, and not taking up for the umpires in question but sounds like they were probably either very young, or lacked needed training or a course in at least "looking the part". One suggestion I would have would be to contact the park director and express your concerns. They may tell you that's the best they can do, or it may go the other way and they will look into it themselves. If this is standard rec ball you're talking about, then it may be what it is.

Agreed! That’s why the quality of umps has gone down. People that KNOW the game and rules, are tired of listening to parents who THINK they know the rules. They could never throw another baseball again and that would be just fine with me. Parents, and their entitled kids, has made me absolutely hate the sport.

Whatever they are paid, it ain't enough! I wouldn't do that for $500 per game but I have kind of a short fuse too. Bless the dudes who do that cause they have more patience than me.

Its been 45 years since I've played LL Baseball. I only remember one incident of a parent getting out of hand. Someone stood up a yelled "Mr. Umpire, what the hell do you think you're doing?"

He was immediately removed...

Of all the shitty jobs on earth, that's one of the last ones I'd consider. I'd rather clean construction site outhouse shitters than do that.

PSA for whatever it’s worth for those in the baseball scene: you can tell what kind of umpire you will have based on whether or not you can see his shin guards and the direction of his hat (if he’s even wearing one). If the shin guards are exposed and the hat is backwards, don’t expect great calling or knowledge. The guy with his hat on straight with shin guards underneath the pants will be more experienced. Side note, if you get a guy that is dressed correctly and holds his indicator in the left hand and takes the mask off left handed as well, then you’ve got a shot at decent calling.

We are in 6 u coach pitch at the moment but it wasn’t a great officiated game. IMO. I’m glad there are guys out there that’ll do the job.