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I was an umpire during the summer for 6-8th grade little league about 2 years ago. We had to go through training to make sure we knew all the rules and signals & whatnot and I didn't have any problems behind the plate. I guess I was pretty popular with most of the coaches because I knew all the rules and called a fair game and whatnot (got requested to come back last year, but couldn't because of schedule conflicts). Between innings, I would go talk to a coach while the pitchers & infielders were warming up and make sure they didn't have any big complaints and just bullsh*t around with them.
But one time when I was the field ump, I completely fracked up a call at 2nd (kid stole, slid into the base & was tagged out, but the 2B dropped the ball, so the runner was safe. I punched him out before seeing the ball on the ground and basically overrode my own call & called him safe). Talked with the home plate ump and he agreed that the correction should stand, so I went to each coach & let them know that I messed up and what happened. The coach of the defensive team (thought the original call should stand) took me about 10 feet from the rest of his team and said (very serious look on his face) "you know that's bullsh*t, right?" I told him that it was my fault and that I should have waited until the end of the play to make a call, but that the correction would stand. He started laughing and said that he was just joking and that he was glad I admitted my mistake. No harm, no foul I guess...
The supervisor had a nice laugh about that. I think I may try umping again this summer...
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