Did. Spent three years as an umpire and one as a scorekeeper in HS. Had to throw some coaches out of games, one particularly memorable event had two coaches whining and complaining about a missed tag on a runner coming home - I had called the kid out, but the kid ran 12 feet outside the baseline. The tag was irrelevant. Coaches didn't try to listen. I remember some bitter old bitch sitting behind me, anytime I yelled strike, she'd yell "Bullshit!".
I never use foul language around kids, but I do know the difference between officials that are doing their job, and those that are there because officiating beats the hell out of working at McDonalds.
Today, we got beat by 24 points by the first place team, but the officials did a good job keeping control of the game. I bit my tongue a few times, but all in all they did a good job. Kind of pissed me off that all of the other teams cell phones went off when our kids were on the free throw line... but whatcha gonna do.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish
BC old buddy:
As a guy who has officiated hundreds of kid baseball games I can only offer you this advice:
Pick up a striped shirt and make a difference. It's a tough proposition, since you have kids and they are at the age where you are father/Ass't coach. Your children will learn infinitely more from watching you handle the parents in a difficult situation that they will learn from you as an assistant coach. I know this from experience.
I was an umpire in the youth league at Lake Shawnee for many years when my kid played. I took a great deal of grief over all manner of issues. Mostly balls and strikes.
I took my kid with me on days I umpired so he could see how stupid some people could be. One particular biotchMom I'll never forget. Constantly griping about balls/strikes. I turned to her after she complained about a 3rd strike.
HER:"That was way high! How could you call that"?!!
ME: "The job's open lady. You seem to want to help. Grab a blue shirt and do your talking from this side".
[Crowd chuckles]
It was glorious silence from that point forward.
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