I saw the following this morning on the SIFG Facebook site. It directly links to the FB page of an umpire, named Kristi Moore, who lists herself as the Mississippi UFSA state UIC...
"Ssoooo, this is embarrassing if I’m going to be open and honest about it. But, it’s real life and it’s unfortunate that it has gotten to this place. The next time you go to a tournament and you only have one umpire on the field…this is why. When you have brand new umpires on the field that may not know everything they should know yet…..this is why. When you don’t feel you have the quality of umpires you should….this is why. When the day comes that your kid can’t play a ballgame because there are no longer officials to call it….THIS.IS.WHY."
"Before you post the next “funny” meme about umpires that suck, or are blind, or have missed callls on their phone or whatever it is, before you post about how an umpire was so awful and terrible and lost the game for you…….why don’t you sign up? Get on out there and give it a go."
"I got punched coming off a field last night. There is no excuse for this. If you think this is ok, please remove yourself from my friend list. Umpires are not perfect. We never will be. But guess what? No one is."
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She includes a photo of an obvious black eye. Apparently, and unsurprisingly, this was a 12U game. https://www.facebook.com/kristi.m.howard
Different game in a different state...I was watching a "friendly" yesterday between two pretty good older teams. On a close DP call at 1B...a "bang, bang", a younger female field umpire called the runner out. Some parents behind the fence got vocal...not quite ugly, but making a bigger deal of a close call than necessary, especially with a friendly. Coincidentally, a very experienced umpire who I typically see working the highest level TB games stepped onto the field and started working with her. He wasn't there to correct her call or show her up; he was already there intending to give a new umpire some OJT during an early-season practice game that meant nothing. I don't know if it was the realization that this younger umpire was still learning, or the trainer was an older and larger guy who doesn't put up with BS, but the previously vocal parents never said another word.
"Ssoooo, this is embarrassing if I’m going to be open and honest about it. But, it’s real life and it’s unfortunate that it has gotten to this place. The next time you go to a tournament and you only have one umpire on the field…this is why. When you have brand new umpires on the field that may not know everything they should know yet…..this is why. When you don’t feel you have the quality of umpires you should….this is why. When the day comes that your kid can’t play a ballgame because there are no longer officials to call it….THIS.IS.WHY."
"Before you post the next “funny” meme about umpires that suck, or are blind, or have missed callls on their phone or whatever it is, before you post about how an umpire was so awful and terrible and lost the game for you…….why don’t you sign up? Get on out there and give it a go."
"I got punched coming off a field last night. There is no excuse for this. If you think this is ok, please remove yourself from my friend list. Umpires are not perfect. We never will be. But guess what? No one is."
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She includes a photo of an obvious black eye. Apparently, and unsurprisingly, this was a 12U game. https://www.facebook.com/kristi.m.howard
Different game in a different state...I was watching a "friendly" yesterday between two pretty good older teams. On a close DP call at 1B...a "bang, bang", a younger female field umpire called the runner out. Some parents behind the fence got vocal...not quite ugly, but making a bigger deal of a close call than necessary, especially with a friendly. Coincidentally, a very experienced umpire who I typically see working the highest level TB games stepped onto the field and started working with her. He wasn't there to correct her call or show her up; he was already there intending to give a new umpire some OJT during an early-season practice game that meant nothing. I don't know if it was the realization that this younger umpire was still learning, or the trainer was an older and larger guy who doesn't put up with BS, but the previously vocal parents never said another word.
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