Enjoyed this read, Bill! Funniest 'Dad as baseball coach' moment I have is when the kids who were 8 years old were playing a game and my husband was their coach. The umpire didn't show and my husband Peter reluctantly agreed to be the ump so the game could it go on! Our son Max was at bat and he hit a long one out to left field. The outfielder caught the ball and, immediately, his glove left his hand and fell to the grass with the ball still in the glove! We spectators were stunned! It was an amazing feat of aerodynamics (or something) that the ball didn't roll out of the glove when it flew off the outfielder's hand onto the ground. All eyes were on the (stand in) ump. Now Peter knew the call should have been SAFE because the catcher has to be in control of the ball when it's caught. But, not wanting to seem to favor his son, Peter called Max out. Moral? Double check that the umpire is indeed coming to the game!
Overcompensating is a hallmark of youth sports coaching (and umpiring), in order not to appear to favor your child. I like your addition to the checklist - umpires are almost as important to the game as snacks.
Enjoyed this read, Bill! Funniest 'Dad as baseball coach' moment I have is when the kids who were 8 years old were playing a game and my husband was their coach. The umpire didn't show and my husband Peter reluctantly agreed to be the ump so the game could it go on! Our son Max was at bat and he hit a long one out to left field. The outfielder caught the ball and, immediately, his glove left his hand and fell to the grass with the ball still in the glove! We spectators were stunned! It was an amazing feat of aerodynamics (or something) that the ball didn't roll out of the glove when it flew off the outfielder's hand onto the ground. All eyes were on the (stand in) ump. Now Peter knew the call should have been SAFE because the catcher has to be in control of the ball when it's caught. But, not wanting to seem to favor his son, Peter called Max out. Moral? Double check that the umpire is indeed coming to the game!
Overcompensating is a hallmark of youth sports coaching (and umpiring), in order not to appear to favor your child. I like your addition to the checklist - umpires are almost as important to the game as snacks.
Go Green Machines!
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