Frustrating, yes, I get that. But a bad bounce from a ball hitting a rock is frustrating as well. A 30 MPH gust of wind blowing in just as DD hits a warning track shot is frustrating. The umpires ARE part of the conditions of the game, they can be frustrating.
Again, I am not exonerating bad judgment nor am I saying umpires not knowing the rules and mechanics is justifiable. I am saying that the bad breaks go both ways (unless you truly have evidence of a vendetta against your DD or her team). They tend to even out, just like the seeing eye, pool-cue shot off the end of the bat that manages to get through the infield for an RBI single' evens out.
There is a dire shortage of sports officials in the country, all levels, all sports. Would you rather have a poor umpire that stinks it up for both teams and, yes, frustrates the bejeezus out of HC, parent and DD alike (and guess what, it frustrates their partner just as much if not moreso, because we also have to deal with the fallout and we can get lumped in as part of 'that horrible crew we had last weekend') or have no game at all because there isn't an umpire available?
I will say it again, I AM NOT EXONERATING POOR OFFICIATING. But until the number of officials increases, it is a situation that will take time and training to rectify. Recruit officials, take on the task yourself, give the new/poor umpires the chance to improve and learn, these are the tools YOU have to help us all get the pool of umpires larger and better, something that we ALL want.
Again, I am not exonerating bad judgment nor am I saying umpires not knowing the rules and mechanics is justifiable. I am saying that the bad breaks go both ways (unless you truly have evidence of a vendetta against your DD or her team). They tend to even out, just like the seeing eye, pool-cue shot off the end of the bat that manages to get through the infield for an RBI single' evens out.
There is a dire shortage of sports officials in the country, all levels, all sports. Would you rather have a poor umpire that stinks it up for both teams and, yes, frustrates the bejeezus out of HC, parent and DD alike (and guess what, it frustrates their partner just as much if not moreso, because we also have to deal with the fallout and we can get lumped in as part of 'that horrible crew we had last weekend') or have no game at all because there isn't an umpire available?
I will say it again, I AM NOT EXONERATING POOR OFFICIATING. But until the number of officials increases, it is a situation that will take time and training to rectify. Recruit officials, take on the task yourself, give the new/poor umpires the chance to improve and learn, these are the tools YOU have to help us all get the pool of umpires larger and better, something that we ALL want.