We’re not just umpires. We’re Little League Umpires.
Last year during the Little League World Series, someone said “those aren’t Volunteer Umpires, those are Umpires that Volunteer.” That made me angry – we aren’t either of those things. We’re not just umpires. We are Little League Umpires.
Teamwork, community, inclusion, fun, and integrity. These are the core values of Little League and as Little League Umpires we are responsible for teaching life lessons and leading by example as we adjudicate softball and baseball games. In fact, as role models for the youth in our community, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard than just being an umpire.
We often find ourselves in confrontational situations with parents, coaches, and even players. This is amplified by the current national culture of blaming/attacking officials at all levels. But we can’t lose sight of our responsibilities as a Little League Umpire. At all times we must fairly adjudicate the game and demonstrate respect to everyone. As umpires, developing the youth of our community starts with always modeling the very behaviors we are teaching.
Yes, we have rules to enforce, but we must do it with respect to everyone involved. We don’t yell across the field and we never belittle or berate coaches, players, or parents.
Yes, we must be decisive in our calls, but we should never be rude, dismissive, or disrespectful when approached by a manager or coach. We don’t go on to the field looking for ways to eject people – we must diffuse situations before they require an ejection. These are the things that Little League wants to teach the kids, so these are the things we must do as Little League Umpires.
Yes, there will be times when someone is clearly over the line and removing them from the game is necessary. But even then, we must not argue or escalate the situation – we must do this calmly and respectfully. When tempers flare on the field, we have to rise above it.
We are a critical part of Little League’s mission to teach life lessons through the games of softball and baseball. Every game is an opportunity to improve the lives of at least eighteen kids and countless adults. We must never forget how important our behavior is on the field.
So the next time someone asks you if you are an umpire, be sure to proudly tell them you’re not just an umpire, you’re a Little League Umpire.
